Consultant for Cultural Tourism

Work percentage: 70 days

Availability: 1 April 2010

Term: until December 2012

Project Region: North-East of Montenegro, region of Bjelasica, Komovi and Prokletije mountains

Reporting to: National Project Director

Regional Development Agency for Bjelasica, Komovi and Prokletije Region (RDA), was founded as an NGO under the rules of the Montenegrin law in September 2009. The aim was reduction of the regional development gap in Montenegro – improvement of the socio-economic conditions of the Bjelasica – Komovi – Prokletije region through improved capacity of the Bjelasica – Komovi – Prokletije region to plan and implement regional development projects through strengthening of a Regional Development Agency (RDA). The goals and activities will be implemented through six modules: regional development, mountain tourism, agro tourism, cultural tourism, national parks, and community development. The modules are not strictly divided, activities within each module are implemented in a complementary manner, in order to create larger synergetic effect. Innovative projects, introducing new approaches in order to improve the livelihood situation of the population, will also be implemented. All actors of the society will select the projects in a participative decision process on the basis of the local development plans.

The RDA has overtaken both large parts of the organizational capacity as well as working methods of the Austrian Montenegrin Partnership (AMP) – www.bjelasica-komovi.co.me -, which was established in 2004, and conducted a six year long project activity on tourism and regional development in the Northern part of Montenegro. The project strategy was rooted in a holistic, integrated and a strictly sustainable approach for this development, where all products and activities were based on the authentic, traditional regional resources.

At the end of the project in 2012, the Regional Development Agency is to develop full ownership and become capable of identifying financial possibilities for the sustainable development of the region at both national and international level, especially within the EU framework.

Responsibilities:

• Responsibilities of international consultant include:
• Review and analyses of resources available for development of cultural tourism as one of the ways to diversify tourism offer of Bjelasica, Komovi and Prokletije region;
• Preparation of market study for cultural tourism in the region;
• Identification of training needs among the stakeholders in this sector;
• Provision of specific trainings for stakeholders in cultural tourism sector;
• Assist Regional Development Agency in designing criteria for selection of feasible projects in this sector, and participate in project selection process;
• Preparation of promotional materials for selected cultural destinations and/or events and identification of best approaches for their successful marketing and linking with other tourism offers in the region;
• Reports to National Project Director.

Qualification/Skills required:

• Education or Training in Tourism, i.e. tourism school, university degree or equivalent;
• Experience in cultural tourism, especially in development of  touristic offers and organisational development;
• Marketing of specific traditional, historical and cultural assets of  the region;
• Experience in working in complex and different cultural environments;
• Excellent command of English;
• Knowledge of local language an asset;
• Willingness to travel within the region, sometimes on a short notice;
• Computer literacy.

Please send your CV, motivation letter and the names and contacts for 3 referees with the heading: “International consultant for Cultural Tourism” to office@bjelasica-komovi.co.me or apply via www.prekoveze.me.

The deadline for application is March 20^th, 2010. Application submitted after this date will not be considered. Only those candidates who are being pre-selected for an interview will be contacted.