Tourism in the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro: Sustainable Management Strategies

The Bay of Kotor in Montenegro is a UNESCO World Heritage site that has faced increasing environmental and social pressure driven by the expansion of cruise ship tourism. In recent years, the historic town of Kotor has experienced a dramatic increase in cruise ship traffic, bringing negative social and environmental externalities. This project will evaluate the impact of tourism in Kotor and develop feasible management strategies to optimize the relationship between environmental impact and socioeconomic benefit. Management strategies will be informed by socioeconomic and environmental models.

A critical piece of this project includes understanding how local businesses in Kotor experience and depend on cruise tourism. By balancing environmental protection with economic and social considerations, the proposed strategies seek to center equitable outcomes for local communities and enhance residents’ quality of life while maintaining the long-term viability of the tourism sector. As global tourism continues to expand and place increasing pressure on natural and social systems, this project aims to develop evidence-based sustainable tourism models that can be applied to destinations worldwide.