Official Launch and Presentation of the Project 'Developing Outdoor Tourism through Skills Improvement and Business Cooperation'

On Friday, 4 March 2011 at 12 p.m., at the Hotel "Petka" in Dubrovnik, the official launch and presentation of the project "Developing Outdoor Tourism through Skills Improvement and Business Cooperation" was held (Cross-Border Programme Croatia-Montenegro under the EU Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, IPA).

The official launch of the project was attended by representatives of the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Montenegro, the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Croatia, the Dubrovnik-Neretva County, local tourism organisations, tour operators, rescue and environmental protection services, non-governmental organisations from the field of outdoor tourism, as well as many other guests whose interest lies in the implementation of the project's activities and the achievement of its objectives.

This event officially marked the start of the project's implementation, in which, besides the main applicants — the Centre for Sustainable Tourism Initiatives and the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service — their partners, the UNDP Office in Montenegro and the NGO "Sunce" from Croatia, also take part. The presentation introduced the wider public to the project, its set objectives and activities. It also confirmed the justification for connecting border regions in the field of outdoor tourism and improving the tourism offer by increasing the level of visitor safety.

At the coordination meeting held after the official launch and presentation of the project, the applicants, partners and representatives of the Joint Technical Secretariat of the Cross-Border Programme Croatia-Montenegro agreed on numerous details significant for mutual cooperation and the successful implementation of the project.

In Montenegro, the project was financially supported by the European Union with 84.09% of total funds amounting to €234,189.94 through the IPA fund, UNDP Montenegro with 14.48%, and the Ministry of Tourism with a 1.43% share, and will be monitored by the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro.