At FitCamp Montenegro, our commitment to sustainability and responsible tourism drives everything we do. If you’re reading us for the first time, check out our development goals here. Recently, our efforts were recognised by Euro Cluster Rural Tourism (ECRT) as part of the COSME project, which helped us introduce innovative enhancements to our services that benefit both our guests and the local environment.

Overview of Improvements

Thanks to ECRT’s support, we implemented several key initiatives:

• Creation of the Barefoot Trail
• Achievement of Bike-Friendly Standard
• Development of a Recycling Yard and Community Education
• Preservation of the Visit Dark Skies license for Stargazing

Let’s dive deeper into the details of each initiative and service that we improved or introduced.

Creation of the Barefoot Trail

Inspired by successful models in Germany and the Netherlands, our new Barefoot Trail deepens our guests’ connection with nature, seamlessly integrating with our holistic well-being programs.

If this concept is new to you and you think we’re crazy (again), here are some reasons why walking barefoot or practising grounding/earthing is beneficial:

🌿 Naturally improves eyesight (believe it or not)

🌿 Relieves stress

🌿 Keeps feet healthy

🌿 Promotes better sleep

🌿 Removes negativity

🌿 Builds mindfulness and enhances sensory experience.

You can also read the article that Andjela, our founder, wrote for Green Destinations here.

This amazing new service allowed us to clean up another part of our property that hadn’t been used before, enrich our offerings, improve the quality of our Mindfulness Classes with Kristina, and much more. We even installed a badminton court next to the trail and created a BBQ area, making it our favourite spot to spend a relaxed day in nature with a variety of activities.

Bike-Friendly Standard

Considering our love for nature and environmental preservation, the bicycle is definitely one of the transport modes we value most. Additionally, being located along one of Montenegro’s top cycling trails gave us extra motivation to pursue the regional Bike-Friendly Standard, positioning FitCamp as a welcoming destination for cyclists.

Your bicycles will be safe with us in our equipped storage while you enjoy nature and rest in one of our apartments or our camping zone. We can also assist you with basic bike maintenance, providing spare parts, bike washes, or simple repairs.

This Bike-Friendly Standard is regionally recognised throughout the Balkans. If you’re cycling in this area, feel free to check out the list of places that can support your cycling holidays in Montenegro or the Balkans.

Benefits of Cycling Holidays:

• Promotes health and wellness
• Reduces carbon footprint: Biking is a zero-emission mode of transport, helping to combat climate change
• Minimises traffic congestion
• Supports local economy and enhances community engagement: Cyclists are more likely to stop at local businesses, boosting the local economy and fostering community connections
• Preserves natural surroundings
• Encourages sustainable tourism
• Improves mental well-being: Regular cycling reduces stress, anxiety, and depression, contributing to better mental health
• Increases accessibility.

Recycling Yard and Local Community Education

Facing numerous issues with waste disposal in our local community (and in the city and country in general), we’ve developed a small Recycling Yard to meet our operational needs and benefit the local community. Thanks to the support we received, we were able to take several actions to make this happen:

• Educational workshop for the local municipality and community
• Purchase of necessary waste separation bins
• Formation of compost zones in various locations on our estate.

An educational workshop, led by eco-travel expert Kirsi Hyvaerinen, gathered villagers, local municipality representatives, and small travel businesses from the area. It was a great opportunity to brainstorm and emphasize the importance of waste disposal, recycling, and composting, fostering a culture of sustainability. A local portal, Omladina, supported our story; you can see it at this link.

Our Recycling Yard, located at the parking lot, is now available for us, our guests, and our nearby neighbours, who will separate waste with us and hopefully learn more about reuse and composting. Together, we aim to create a better future for our village and country by introducing the concept of a sustainable lifestyle.

Preservation of Visit Dark Skies Stargazing

As one of only three businesses in Montenegro with an official Visit Dark Skies Stargazing license, we’ve extended this license thanks to ECRT’s support, allowing us to continue minimising light pollution and promoting the beauty of unpolluted night skies.

We can’t wait to welcome you so you can experience the Milky Way with your own eyes and enjoy the stunning audio guide that leads you through the starry night.

Impact and Outcomes of Our Collaboration with Euro Cluster Rural Tourism

• Empowered Local Community: Our workshop and recycling yard have educated the local community, creating environmentally conscious citizens who value sustainability.
• Enhanced Waste Management: The recycling yard has improved waste management practices, reducing environmental hazards.
• Promotion of Dark Skies: Our stargazing experiences highlight Montenegro’s pristine night skies, attracting nature enthusiasts and photographers.
• Combating Climate Change: Our sustainability efforts contribute to climate change mitigation on a micro level.

Conclusion

The support from Euro Cluster Rural Tourism has been instrumental in improving FitCamp Montenegro’s services during 2024 and beyond. We’re grateful for the opportunity to enhance our offerings and contribute to sustainable tourism in Montenegro. Above all, we are proud to be recognized by the European community that shares our vision for sustainable tourism development.

Visit us to experience these improvements firsthand and join us on our journey towards a greener, more sustainable future.