For the success of the summer tourist season in Montenegro, the results of the tourist industry in Budva, which for decades has generated half of the country's tourist traffic, have a decisive influence.
Judging by traffic, the number of guests and the income of restaurateurs, the capital of Montenegrin tourism is about to have an excellent main season, better than the record 2019.
There are also optimists in Ulcinj, but the president of the Association of Beach Tenants Prelja Škrelja says that he is not satisfied with the way the pre-season is going and claims that there are even 35 percent fewer guests than last year.
He pointed out that at least for now there are no indications of "some kind of record season".
"These are stories from various cabinets, we on the ground know best how things are," Škrelja told "Vijesti".
A record four months in Budva
Director of the Tourist Organization (TO) Budva Nemanja Kuljaca states that during the first four months in collective accommodation, there was a significant increase in arrivals, but also in the number of overnight stays.
"In the mentioned period, there were 95.688 arrivals and 232.038 overnight stays, which compared to the same period last year represents a growth of 74 percent in arrivals and 49 percent in overnight stays. That is, 11 percent in arrivals and 33 percent in overnight stays compared to the same period in 2019. Guests from Serbia, Albania, Germany, France, the Russian Federation, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and Croatia made up the largest share of the total number of arrivals. When it comes to non-European countries, the largest number of arrivals came from the markets of China, Israel and the USA," Kuljača emphasized in an interview with "Vijesti".
He pointed out that he believes that the positive trend will continue in the coming months and at the end of the year will lead to an increase in tourist traffic compared to previous years.
When it comes to income for the past six months, from the residence, tourist and excursion tax, as well as from the membership fee, there was a percentage increase compared to the previous year by 56 percent, i.e. 50 percent compared to 2019, specified Kuljača. , director of the strongest Montenegrin tourist organization.
Even in the largest state hotel company - Hotel Group "Budvanska Riviera", they are satisfied with the results achieved so far.
This was confirmed for "Vijesti" by the president of the Board of Directors of HG "Budvanska Riviera". Mijomir Pejović.
"In the first five months of operation, HG 'Budvanska Riviera' achieved 79 percent more overnight stays than in 2022 and three percent more than in 2019. The realized net income from arrangements in the first five months is 117 percent higher than last year, i.e. 20 percent higher than in 2019. Net income from core activity for five months is 99 percent higher than last year, i.e. by 28 percent compared to 2019. The dynamics of income growth continues in June, so the expected realization of net income from core activity for June is 110 percent higher than realized in the same month of 2022. The number of overnight stays for six months is 83 percent higher than in 2022 and is at the level of 2019. The expected realization of net income from the core activity for six months is 100 percent higher than in the first six months of 2022, i.e. by 12 percent than in 2019," Pejović emphasized.
Tourists or employees and weekenders?
The Tourist Organization of Ulcinj announced that almost 12,5 tourists officially stayed in the city on Thursday, of which more than 97 percent were from abroad. The total number of tourists in the city is lower by about 10 percent compared to the record 2019. Growth is evident in private accommodation, where more than eight thousand guests are officially staying, which is nearly three percent more than four years ago. Compared to the same year, hotels recorded a decrease of 17,7 percent, while in the camps, where a total of 216 tourists are currently staying, only 26,4 percent of the record season was achieved...
Škrelja, however, says that the statistics are something else, because, in addition to the others, there are also workers who "we all have to report".
"There are also weekenders who do business, and they pay the residence tax, but neither the first nor the second are tourists," said Škrelja.
Most foreign guests stay in private accommodation in Ulcinj, while domestic tourists mostly choose hotels for their vacations.
Director of the TO there Ćazim Hodžić he rated the current visit as encouraging.
"It is an incentive for us that we, as a tourist organization, worked well during the previous months to promote the tourist offer of our city. Most of the hotels opened their doors already in mid-April, and we are happy that more and more of them are working with organized tour operators and agencies, which certainly leads to an extension of the season and a good occupancy of accommodation capacities when it comes to hotels. It's a bit slower with private accommodation, where they work more with individual guests," said Hodžić.
Bad weather is blamed for the fall in June
During May, he stated, there was exceptional attendance and very good occupancy of accommodation facilities, but after that, due to weather problems, a slight decrease in the number of tourists was recorded.
"However, already at the end of June and the beginning of July, we expect an even greater influx of guests from the region and other European countries than now, so we can say that the main tourist season is starting. TO is certainly ready for the main season, we are opening information points in the most frequented parts of the city. In addition, we have already informed the public that TO made an online application for guest registration and thus offered relief to all landlords who want to register guests," said Hodžić.
And Škrelja confirmed that the poor visit during June was also influenced by unfavorable weather conditions.
"These days we also have the big Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, which our traditional guests mostly spend in their homes with their families," said Škrelja.
He stated that in the last few days, however, a "slight increase in the number of tourists, mainly from the region, is noticeable, while the diaspora is expected in 10 to 15 days".
"Nevertheless, all of this is far from arbitrary, that is, flat-out cabinet stories about records," said Škrelja, the tenant of "Kopakabana" on Velika plaža.
In the Ulcinj Riviera, where the nudist resort on Ada operates, they are not hiding their satisfaction with the visit for now.
General Manager Camil Hodzic he said that the number of tourists compared to last year in the same period was 40 percent higher, reminding that there is no charge at the entrance ramp:
"I think we are a few percent worse than the record 2019. I still believe that we can do better than then by the end."
A caterer Luka Vuckovic, the owner of the "Mozart" restaurant in the Old Town, points out that the season this year started above all expectations, even better than the record-breaking 2019.
"However, from the second half of May until now, a drastic decline compared to 2019 began. The reason for this probably lies in the fact that we had unfavorable weather conditions. Since a few days ago, Budva is obviously more crowded and I personally expect that we will have an extremely good peak season. Our guests are from the region and various parts of the world, and we have no complaints about prices and service. My opinion is that Budva has to build a season throughout the year, in order to keep the workforce and be liquid. This is a year of recovery from two extremely bad seasons, and the seven percent VAT on food and non-alcoholic beverages significantly helps in this".
Corporate sales director at the company "Beppler&Jacobson Montenegro", which manages the hotels "Avala Resort & Villas" in Budva and "Bianca Resort & Spa" in Kolašin, Jovana Đukanović he says for "Vijesti" that all parameters show that this season will be very successful.
"First of all, we had a very good pre-season in which the total number of nights was exceeded by 20 percent compared to 2019. According to the announcements, we are expecting a fantastic season, as well as the post-season, which according to current announcements will be extended and last until the end of November. Compared to 2019, the number of overnight stays is expected to increase by around 25 percent. This season we have guests from all over the world, and the most represented are from Israel, the Baltic countries, Western Europe and the region".
Kuljača: Budva is on the right track
The director of TO Budva, Nemanja Kuljača, points out that they are satisfied with the results so far, but even more so with the "numerous activities and events" that the city offers to guests and visitors throughout the year.
"And which include intensive promotional activities in the country and abroad, as well as the organization of the most diverse manifestations of a cultural and entertainment character and other significant events, the improvement and development of the tourist product, especially in the part of active and rural tourism and the valorization of cultural heritage, has a positive effect on the increase in tourist traffic in periods pre and postseason. The results just achieved in the first four months of this year show that Budva is on the right track when we talk about a quality and attractive destination throughout the year".
Numerous license plates in one place
While in Serbia and Kosovo they are arguing about the markings on the license plates, which the EU is also having fun with, in Ulcinj there is "nirvana" over that issue...
In the parking lot of the former Lido hotel, there are vehicles with license plates from Serbia, Kosovo, BiH, various European countries...
Many languages could be heard on the beach two days ago, and the visitors enjoyed the sunny day, warm sea, fine sand and as if they were sending a message - who cares about plates and politics.
Events for a better offer
The concert of the famous tenor from Kosovo, Rama Lahaj, held on Friday at the Pier under the walls of the Old Town, as TO director Ćazim Hodžić said, is an announcement of major events of an international character, which could significantly fill and refresh the tourist offer of the city in the hot days of July and August. .
Lahaj performed accompanied by Olivera Tičević, Egzone Salaj and Adhurim Grezda, and apart from TO, the organizers were the Municipality of Ulcinj, the Center for Culture and the Ministry of Economic Development and Tourism.
"I believe that we will have a lot of reasons to be happy that inspire hope and bring a smile back to the face of each of our citizens. Last year we had a very good tourist season, so I believe that Ulcinj will continue with the positive trend of growth in tourist traffic and justify the expectations of all of us", said Hodžić.
Hodžić, among other things, announces that the traditional Book Fair of international character will be held during July, then "Painting" on the Bojana River where the special guest will be the famous Sarajevo queen of sevdah Amira Medunjanin, Okra Days in August...
"We are planning other activities of an international character that we will organize in cooperation with other institutions, which we also believe can attract a large number of guests who will visit our city during the summer tourist season," said Hodžić.
He reminded that this is also the result of TO's successful performance at international fairs in several European countries and regions.
"During this month, we hosted journalists and tour operators from Azerbaijan, Germany, and Belgium, who will convey their impressions of our city. TO would like to thank all our businessmen with whom we always have good cooperation and who recognized the opportunity for a good presentation and promotional campaign of Ulcinj this time as well", said Hodžić.
Sunbeds and umbrella up to 14 euros
At most Ulcinj bathing areas, beach furniture can be rented for 10 to 14 euros, says Škrelja. He claims that Ulcinj is not part of the story in which an umbrella and two deckchairs cost 180 euros.
"As far as prices are concerned, Ulcinj is still the cheapest city on the coast. I think there is talk of a beach rental of 180 euros for the day, it concerns one or two beaches in Montenegro, but the question is what is included in that price. In Ulcinj, as far as I know, the prices for renting beach furniture have not reached the figure of 15 euros, not counting the beach chairs, which are on average 10-15 euros more expensive."
June rain messed up accounts for Kolasinci
Bad weather conditions significantly delayed the start of the summer tourist season in Kolašin, so the visit during June was significantly worse than expected, but also compared to the same time last year.
As the director of the local Tourist Organization, Zorica Milašinović, told "Vijesta", accommodation facilities only started to fill up last week.
"We expected that June would be much better when it comes to the number of tourists, however, due to bad weather and low temperatures, this did not happen. Visitation is significantly worse than last year in the same month. Accommodation capacities have only started to fill up a few days ago, more intensively in hotels, and less so in private accommodation. According to the information I receive from hoteliers, larger hotels are currently full, and private accommodation partially."
According to the announcements, Milašinović says that they expect a good July and August, but everything will again depend on the weather conditions.
He reminds that according to the reservations, there should have been many more tourists in Kolašin in June, but the reservations were canceled "in accordance with the weather forecast".
"We expect the 'statistics' to improve in the coming months. Announcements are great, but we have to remember that reservations can be easily canceled when lower temperatures or rainy days are announced. There will be several events in Kolašin during the summer, which involve a large number of participants, so this can improve the tourist balance to some extent. From July 5 to 9, the Inter-Municipal Sports Youth Games will be held, which will bring about 2.000 participants from the region and Montenegro to the city. We are also waiting for the Tango camp, which is also a mass manifestation".
Bonus video:
