Montenegro, once a favorite destination for Israeli tourists, is now facing a serious tourism crisis. Thanks to the untouched nature of Durmitor and affordable prices, Žabljak has been a magnet for Middle Eastern visitors for years. But war and instability in the region have thrown a cold shower on this idyll. Israelis are canceling bookings en masse, and hoteliers in the north of the country are already feeling the impact. Nikola Radulović, a hotelier from Žabljak, admits that cancellations have become a daily occurrence in the last few days, while Mirko Vuković from the same town describes the situation as “silent” with low turnover. A similar scene is unfolding in Kolašin, where director Zorica Milašinović points out that hoteliers and travel agencies suffer the most. Mountain resorts and coastal towns are seeing cancellations, and flights from Tel Aviv to Montenegro are canceled until June 30. Although flights are planned to resume from July 1, with three airlines operating 30 rotations weekly, the damage is already done. The mayor of Tivat municipality, Željko Komnenović, warns that about 20% of the announced Israeli tourists have already canceled their arrival, while Kotor’s director Jovan Ristić emphasizes that Israel was supposed to be a key market this year. Israelis have canceled more than 70 flights to Tivat planned for the end of June, a serious blow to Montenegrin tourism. This unpredictable situation casts a shadow over the tourist season, and hoteliers hope that the resumption of flights will bring at least partial relief. If you thought this was just another seasonal crisis, think again — this is a real test for Montenegrin tourism and its resilience to global turbulence. What do you think, can Montenegro pull through or is it already packing its bags? Drop a comment, let’s see who’s optimistic and who’s already checking out!
