Spatial Plan for Durmitor Region and Durmitor National Park

The Durmitor Region and National Park Spatial Plan is intended to guide physical, social and economic growth in an environmentally-sensitive area in the northern region of Montenegro. It also focuses on developing a sustainable, eco-tourism strategy for the region spanning an area of approximately 1,200 km2 and includes parts of five municipalities: Žabljak, Pljevlja, Plužine, Šavnik, and Mojkovac.

As part of the planning process, IBI Group was also responsible for updating the Durmitor National Park planning document, including the 338.95 km2 National Park, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Tara Gorge Biosphere Reserve, which is the world’s second deepest river-valley gorge after the Grand Canyon.

The Plan was developed to address the challenges and opportunities facing the region, such as depopulation and outmigration; degradation of the natural environment; natural resource exploitation; existence of informal settlements; trends towards mass tourism versus maintaining a high quality, sustainable / eco-tourism visitor experience; economic dependence and limitations in attracting investment; lack of human resources, transportation and infrastructure; and lack of a regional identity and branding.

The success of the Spatial Plan lies in the three-pronged, eco-tourism, agri-industry approach, and a Knowledge Based Economy (TAK) strategy which guides the implementation and the economic revitalization of the region. The tourism development strategy emphasizes sustainable / eco and cultural tourism, while respecting the ecologically-sensitive areas within the heritage site.