Sustainability policy
SUSTAINABILITY MISSION STATEMENT
At Doclea Travel & Tours, our mission is to redefine travel through authenticity, art, and history. We are dedicated to curating unique, local experiences that connect travelers with the heart and soul of Montenegro. Beyond exploration, we are committed to fostering sustainable practices, aiming to set industry standards. Our goal is not only to create memorable journeys but to inspire a new era of responsible and enriching travel, setting a precedent for a sustainable and thriving business model.
Tourism can have both positive and negative impacts, and since we believe our work should reflect our values, we are committed to doing our job in a sustainable way. But what does this really mean? And why is it important?
Every entrepreneur leaves their personal imprint on their work. When you look at a company, you are actually seeing the people behind it, their beliefs, their efforts, and their passion. This segment is meant to tell you a bit more about us, how we operate, and why sustainability is at the core of what we do.
We want things to change, for the better. And we are proud to say that we’ve already influenced positive changes in our community.
We work exclusively with local people. While we’re happy to accommodate our guests in the finest hotels after a tour, we want that luxury to be something you appreciate even more, because during the day, you’ve experienced something entirely different. You’ve met real people. Farmers working in remote villages, winemakers dedicating their lives to cultivating the best Vranac wine, local guides giving their heart and soul to their work during the short summer season. You’ve seen people bringing back traditions and preserving them from being forgotten.
Tourism in Montenegro should be realistic, and unpretentious. The best things in life are simple, but it takes a lot of effort to make them simple. That’s what we strive to create, a full experience where you learn, contribute, and feel a deeper connection to the place you’re visiting. This is what traveling should be, under your own conditions, guided by our expertise.
In 2019, we started the Balabani Local Stay project, a small, family-owned farm offering local experiences, homegrown food, delicious meals, and culinary lessons. Located near Skadar Lake and the capital city, the entire family is involved in the project, sharing the local way of life with curious travelers who want to meet real people and learn about living in Zeta, Montenegro.
Since we launched this project, we’ve seen the positive influence we’ve made. More and more small agro-tourism businesses are popping up around us, like mushrooms after the rain. People saw the potential that we always knew existed, and now they are replicating the model. There’s a common stereotype that Montenegrins are lazy (okay, maybe sometimes we like to enjoy a sunny day doing nothing) , but the truth is, people want to work. They want to be appreciated, paid fairly, and will give you incredible hospitality.
We believe Montenegro’s natural beauty and warm hospitality are our greatest assets. But those alone are not enough to build a sustainable economy. They are just the foundation, and for real change to happen, local institutions, strategies, and the state need to step in and support small and medium businesses. We must learn to play together if we want to succeed as a destination, in a sustainable way. This is the only way forward.
In the tourism chain, local services and production must be appreciated before anything else.
Our sustainability efforts focus on working with local suppliers, boosting the local economy, and supporting small and medium businesses, a powerful part of the economy. When you book with Doclea, you’re not just making a vacation, you’re contributing to a bigger, more meaningful goal.
Thank you for being part of that journey.
