On Tuesday, 30 June 2026, Day 2 of the International Summer School “Sustainable Development of the Yachting and Cruise Industry” continued with a study visit to Porto Montenegro, one of the most recognised marina destinations in the Adriatic.
Organised within the Interreg IPA South Adriatic project “High LEVEL and market-respondent competences for a blue and digitalized ‘Smart and skilled South Adriatic’ - SKILLS”, the visit was part of Thematic Module 2: Contemporary Management of Marinas and Cruising Ports.
The activity was connected with Lesson 2.1: “Effective marina management and innovative marketing strategies. Operations, sustainability, customer experience and modern marketing tools such as digital platforms, branding and stakeholder engagement. Case study: Marina Porto Montenegro”.
The visit was hosted by Mr Aleksandar Drakulović, Porto Montenegro Environmental Protection Manager, who introduced participants to the practical aspects of managing a modern luxury marina with a strong focus on environmental responsibility, service quality and operational efficiency.
Participants had the opportunity to learn how marina management combines daily operations, environmental protection, safety, customer experience, stakeholder cooperation and destination branding. Special attention was given to the importance of sustainability in marina operations, including responsible resource use, environmental monitoring, waste management, protection of the marine environment and cooperation with relevant institutions and service providers.
The Porto Montenegro case study also highlighted how modern marinas are not only nautical infrastructure, but complex destination systems. They connect berthing services, tourism, hospitality, real estate, events, local businesses, digital tools, communication strategies and international markets into one integrated offer.
Through the visit, participants reflected on how innovative marketing strategies, branding, digital platforms and stakeholder engagement can support the development of marinas as competitive and sustainable Blue Economy destinations.
By connecting classroom learning with a real-life example, the Summer School enabled participants to better understand how high-quality marina management can contribute to sustainable nautical tourism, local development and the wider positioning of the South Adriatic as a smart and green maritime region.
Through this activity, the SKILLS project continued to strengthen practical, cross-border education and to support the development of new competencies for a smarter, greener and more sustainable South Adriatic Blue Economy.