The Kotor-Lovćen cable car, for which representatives of the Government and the Leitner - Kotor 1350 cable car consortium signed a construction contract today, should be completed within the year, announced the Minister of Economic Development, Jakov Milatović.
He said that the signing of the contract will directly affect the business environment of the entire area and create conditions for a special experience of Lovcen and the Bay of Kotor, but also encourage additional development.
Milatović, on the occasion of the signing of the contract between the Government and the consortium, consisting of Novi Volvox from Podgorica and Italy's Leitner, said that the total investment was estimated at 20 million euros.
"The offer of the future concessionaire includes a fee of 15 percent of the net profit value of the management of the cable car and accompanying facilities, which include a restaurant, parking lot and souvenir shop for a period of 30 years. After that, the cable car and its accompanying facilities become the property of the state," explained Milatović.
He stated that the cable car is expected to operate for a minimum of seven months a year, and the projected revenues are between four and nine million euros.
Milatović said that he is very happy with such news because it is happening at a time when he is the head of the Ministry and when he is a member of the Government, which in a few months managed to complete the negotiations for that important project.
He assessed that the cable car will be one of the most beautiful structures of its kind in Europe, thanks to the fact that it connects Kotor, which is under the protection of UNESCO, and the Lovćen National Park.
"During the 12-minute long journey, visitors will have the opportunity to experience the entire environment in a new way. It will be possible for them to get to know Lovćen and Prijestonica, which is our historical and cultural center," explained Milatović.
He said that he believes that the people of Cetinje welcome this news as much-needed optimism that they were deprived of due to other people's inertness, and that the cable car represents a chance for the local population.
"Recognizing the importance of tourism and the promotion of our country, I am pleased to be here today and that our efforts were crucial for the final realization of this project," added Milatović.
The representative of the Leitner consortium, Martin Leitner, said that he got the idea for the construction of the cable car towards Lovcen four or five years ago when he visited Kotor.
He said that the Leitner company was founded more than 130 years ago and that they have built many cable cars around the world, but that the project to Lovcen will be one of the best they have ever built.
"I am 100 percent sure that this project will be a success story for the whole of Montenegro. We will have a great view at the top of that installation, and I'm sure it will be an additional tourist attraction," said Leitner.
He explained that the cable car is an ecological way of transporting people to the mountain, because it has only one electric motor that drives 40 cabins.
"Imagine now how crowded it would be if you went by cars and buses. So, from an ecological point of view, it is an acceptable project and I hope that in the spring of 2023 we will have a nice opening ceremony," said Leitner.
The President of the Municipality of Kotor, Vladimir Jokić, said that he is satisfied that the contract on the construction of the cable car is on the table.
He reminded that the construction of the cable car is one of the projects that have been discussed for a long time in Kotor, especially every four years in the last 20 years.
"Today we have a signed contract, set deadlines and a good message that everything that stood as uncertain for 20 or 30 years can now be realized in six months formally, and on the field in a year or a year and a half," said Jokić. .
When asked to draw a parallel between that project and cruise tourism in Kotor and visiting the ramparts, Jokić replied that from 2017 to 2019, earnings on the ramparts increased from some EUR 300 per year to EUR 1,4 million.
"Certainly, this project will mean something for the city, not only in terms of relieving the congestion that is created in Kotor by people who come from cruise ships and tourists during the year. The trip to Lovcen will be shortened for tourists, which will enable them to stay in the city significantly longer," said Jokić.
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