The National Parks of Montenegro (NPCG) is expecting a successful tourist season, and the latest data for the first half of July show that visits to protected areas are six percent higher than in the record year of 2019, it was announced at the Management Board of that company held today.
The NPCG said that the data for the first half of July 2019 and for the same period this year show that in the Biogradska Gora National Park (NP) the income was more than 28 percent, in Lovćen NP 49 percent, and in Skadarsko Jezero NP 26 percent.
"In Durmitor National Park, compared to 2019, the number of visits and income is 90 percent, while in Prokletije National Park, that percentage is 87 percent," the announcement states.
The President of the Board of Directors, Marina Jočić, introduced the members of the board to the numerous initiatives that were launched in the previous period, but also pointed out the problems with the bureaucracy and state administration, which slows down the work of the company, and therefore represents a brake on better business.
"The state is holding us back. We are still waiting for the Plan of temporary facilities for the National Park to be adopted, and the tourist season is in full swing. The decision on fees for the use of NP assets is also waiting in the drawer of the relevant Ministry. There are many initiatives and great ambitions, but we are being slowed down by bureaucracy and waiting for answers from the competent state authorities," Jočić said.
It is stated that in the previous period, the Board of Directors and the Management of the company launched numerous initiatives, among which were the drafting of a Collective Agreement to improve the status and earnings of NPCG employees, the takeover of a restaurant on Lake Skadar, the opening of coffee bars on Lake Black and Lake Biograd, organized trips tourist buses in Lovćen and Durmitor National Park, as well as arranging and renting out bungalows on Lovćen.
Initiatives for the opening of new souvenir shops in the Administration Building of NP Biogradska Gora in Kolašin and Žabljak were launched, and work was done on four new IPA projects.
"The completion of the infrastructure and the reconstruction of the Administration building in NP Skadarsko jezero, the opening of a theme center in Virpazar, the realization of a partnership with the Turkish Cooperation Agency Tika, and the commissioning of the Sušica mountain lodge have been initiated," NPCG said.
As they stated, the initiatives were also launched for the opening of new toll booths at Rijeka Crnojevića, Sušica and Todorovo dol on Durmitor, the installation of water surface surveillance cameras in the NP Skadarsko jezero, the procurement of vans for the organization of rafting on the Tara River, the arrangement and management of the parking lot at Virpazar.
"Also, the procurement of the first tank for the Skadar lake NP fleet has been initiated, which will enrich the tourist offer of this park," said the NPCG. The announcement states that the Board of Directors has made a decision to call for a public call for the purchase of land for the construction of a facility for the needs of employees in NP Prokletije, which will include a souvenir shop and a workshop for making souvenirs and wooden products.
"A decision was also adopted to lease state-owned land in the NP Skadarsko jezero, as well as a decision to grant aid in the amount of one thousand euros to Julka Popadić from Žabljak, whose house burned down a few days ago," NPCG said.
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