On October 19th the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center Tehnopolis organized a round table within the BioTourS project in partnership with the Institute of Marine Biology in Kotor, Jonian Dolphin Conservation, Municipality of Termoli and Della Luna Onlus Cooperative from Italy, and the National Tourism Organization from Albania.

The round table was attended by representatives of relevant public institutions responsible for the protection of marine biodiversity and tourism, as well as civil society organizations and the private sector.

Experiences in research observation of dolphin habitats at the Jonian Dolphin Conservation from Italy were shared with the audience by biologist Alberto Tonoli, emphasizing the potential of this research area for tourism purposes. Graduate engineer of marine fisheries, Dr. Zdravko Ikica from the Institute of Marine Biology in Kotor presented the best example of the practice of valorization of scientific research achievements for tourism purposes in Montenegro, on the example of the Aquarium "Boka" which opened in June this year and has been visited by over 100,000 domestic and foreign tourists so far. A young researcher and project coordinator of a multi-year transnational dolphin study program in Montenegro (Dolphin Research Montenegro), Natasa Nikpaljevic presented the results and achievements of five-year research in this field.

Since one of the goals of the BioTourS project is to analyze the opportunities and challenges in the development of green tourism in Montenegro, with special emphasis on development potentials that rely primarily on scientific research activities of marine biodiversity, Anisa Muric, Advisor to the Director spoke on behalf of the National Tourism Organization - presenting the current legislative and strategic frameworks in sustainable tourism.

After the presentation, a discussion was held with participants on the challenges in the development of sustainable tourism in areas based on scientific research, such as the study and observation of whales and dolphins in the Adriatic.