BSc Tourism

In the second year, students conduct scientific research in a European destination as part of the International Field Project (IFP). This report is one of the research projects carried out during the 2024/2025 edition of the course, where students travelled to Montenegro by train, bus and ferry to investigate real-world tourism challenges through fieldwork.

Title:"Climate Risk Exposure in Montenegro's Tourism Sector: A Value Chain Analysis and Stakeholder Perspective from Bar and Ulcinj".

This study explores how climate change is affecting the tourism value chain in the coastal destinations of Bar and Ulcinj, Montenegro. Through interviews and (field observations) with tourism businesses, local authorities, NGOs, firefighters and community members, the research examines how climate risks such as heatwaves, flooding, droughts, wildfires and coastal erosion are already influencing tourism development and visitor experiences. Data was collected not only through interviews, but also through immediate field observations. A very interesting experience for this group was joining an Environmental day event with local NGOs and students, in which they listened to lectures, got interactive and informative tours and even got to volunteer by contributing to a collective beach clean-up!

The findings show that while local stakeholders are increasingly aware of climate-related challenges, stronger collaboration, destination management and long-term planning are needed to improve the resilience of the tourism sector. At the same time, the research highlights the important role of local communities, environmental organisations and businesses in working together towards a more sustainable future for tourism.

Are you interested in reading the full research article? Go check out the BUas Library!

Would you rather watch a video instead? The link below leads you to the video available on Youtube!

https://youtu.be/6bjZVpq10YM?si=NWKYDf6y4nGI8Gdz

Today we take a look into the soft-landing program; part of the IFP in which the 2nd years are welcomed in Montenegro through new experiences, activities and cultural immersion!

"In the first four days of the International Field Project, we had a soft-lading program with the entire class. Here, we got to explore different parts of Montenegro together! The program was packed with sightseeing, culture, adventurous activities, food tasting, and fun ways of education.

On the first day, we all met up in Herceg Novi, where we explored the town through a sort of treasure hunt, which ended in a fancy seafood restaurant. On the second day, we had lunch at a traditional village in the mountains. Afterwards, we hiked up to a mountain hut in Orjen mountains where we got to stay the night. The third day, we hiked back down and took a boat. We had the best lunch ever with unlimited wine. With very full stomachs, we had to mountain bike to Lustica, where we got an exclusive tour in a 5-star resort. From there, we took the bus to Kotor and spent the night there. On the last day, we got to explore Kotor in the morning and had interesting presentations in the afternoon, which were helpful for our project.

Overall, this was an intense but very fun week!"

This week's belated takes us into the world of Couchsurfing, where travellers connect with local hosts and experience destinations beyond traditional tourism.

This thesis explores how environmental sustainability is understood and practised within the Couchsurfing community. Through social media analysis, participatory observation, and interviews with Couchsurfing users, the research reveals that sustainability is often present, but rarely the main reason people participate.

Instead, Couchsurfing is primarily driven by motivations such as cultural exchange, authentic local experiences, personal growth, and meaningful connections. Interestingly, many environmentally sustainable behaviours emerge naturally through these practices, making sustainability more of a hidden value than an explicit goal.

The thesis highlights how alternative forms of tourism can contribute to sustainability in unexpected ways and suggests that there is significant potential to strengthen environmental awareness within the Couchsurfing community.

Interested in learning more? Read the full thesis via the link in our bio! 📚✨

takes us to Madrid, where growing tourism is bringing both benefits and challenges for local residents.

This thesis explores how residents perceive tourism and whether their voices are truly included in tourism planning. Through surveys and interviews, it is proved that while many residents appreciate tourism's economic and cultural benefits, concerns about overcrowding, housing affordability, and the loss of local identity are becoming increasingly important.

The thesis highlights the need to involve residents more actively in decision-making and reminds us that sustainable tourism is not just about visitors but it is also about the people who live in the destination every day.

Interested in learning more? Read the full thesis via the link in our bio! 📚✨