Montenegro is facing a true tourism drama this year! On one hand, Durmitor National Park and the northern part of the country are attracting tourists from Baltic countries, with groups of 40 people arriving almost every week to enjoy the untouched nature and mountain beauty that Lithuania lacks. Tourists from the Netherlands and Lithuania are thrilled by the nature, sea, and cities like Kotor and Budva. But while the north is booming, the coast is struggling with catastrophically low hotel and private accommodation occupancy rates, not exceeding 50-60% even in the most visited destinations like Budva!
Experts blame unreliable air traffic, flight cancellations from Eastern Europe and Asia, poor infrastructure, and the lack of a unified tourism development strategy. The war in Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East, and fear of terrorism have further discouraged arrivals. Hotels suffer huge losses because flight cancellations mean loss of revenue, and pressuring partners can lead to losing cooperation.
Nikola Pejović, president of the Montenegro Hotel Association, reveals that currently, the largest hotel complex on Slovenska Plaža in Budva has a catastrophic occupancy rate — only 3% of beds are occupied! Private accommodation is no better, and the problem also lies in a chaotic guest registration system, where each institution uses its own software and no one knows the exact number of tourists in the country.
However, there are bright spots — tourists from Israel, China, and Western Europe are coming, but mostly for short stays of one to three nights. Will they return? That’s the question troubling everyone in the tourism industry.
On the other hand, the “Connect with Montenegro” campaign at Podgorica and Tivat airports reports a 6% increase in air traffic and a 7% increase in passengers in the first half of the year, with promoters giving guests gifts and information to make the best first impression.
So, while northern Montenegro flourishes and attracts tourists from faraway countries, the coast sinks into crisis. Will Montenegro wake up and finally make systemic changes, or will the ad hoc season become our new reality?
If you have your own take on this tourism drama, or maybe you’ve already experienced the charms or struggles of Montenegro, drop a comment below — let’s laugh together or wonder what to do next!
