Last winter, the state enterprise Ski Resorts of Montenegro and the private Ski-center Kolašin 1450 operated without any contract, which would specify the method of dividing the profit from the sale of a single ski pass for the combined infrastructure of the two ski resorts.
This was confirmed to "Vijesta" by the executive director of the Ski Resort Djuro Milošević, who says that the contract has not been concluded, because it is with a private ski center Zoran Ćoć Bećirović they could not agree on the criteria according to which earnings would be shared.
Due to such a situation, he explains, the state ski resort Kolašin 1600, after the end of the last tourist winter, kept the profit from the unique ski passes that they sold themselves.
The same, as he claims, was the case in private.
Milošević emphasizes that the state enterprise was not damaged by such a division.
The absence of an agreement on the criteria according to which the earnings would be shared is said to have resulted in no single ski pass being offered before the new tourist season, which should begin on December 20. Both ski resorts, each for themselves, have created prices that are valid only for the individual infrastructure.
This means that by purchasing one ski pass, you will not be able to ski at both ski resorts, as was the case last year.
Milošević reminds that the unification of ski infrastructure with a single ski pass was initiated last year by the Ministry of Economic Development and Tourism.
The physical connection of the two ski resorts was made possible by the state with the construction of the K7 cable car, which opened at the end of February 2022...
Last year's enthusiasm
The private ski resort Kolašin 1450 did not answer the questions of "Vijesti", which were related, among other things, to the reasons for which there was no agreement with the neighbors at the state ski resort before the new season.
In the company Ski Resort Kolašin 1450 last year there was a lot of enthusiasm when it comes to unifying the ski infrastructure in Bjelasica into a unique tourist product. Executive Director Milica Šćepanović then she announced that there are no longer two, but a single Kolašin ski resort.
“In your question, you mention 'both ski resorts'. We would like to draw your attention to the fact that there are no longer two ski resorts, but the unique Kolašin ski resort, for which you pay one unique ski pass. On the other hand, next to the Kolašin ski resort, there are two planned tourist complexes - Kolašin 1450 and Kolašin 1600. The activity of these tourist complexes is not related to the Ski Resorts of Montenegro. The price list for the unique ski pass for the Kolašin ski resort is jointly determined by the Ski Resorts of Montenegro and the company Ski Resort Kolašin 1450", she replied to "Vijesta" at the time.
On December 23 last year, the Board of Directors of the Ski Resort passed a Decision approving the establishment of cooperation between a state-owned enterprise and Ski Resort Kolašin 1450.
In the minutes of the meeting, it was specified that "revenues from the unified service and the sale of ski passes will be divided according to the algorithm". It also says that the alogorithm "for the needs of both ski areas will establish a supplier selected to maintain the skier access control system".
"The calculation of revenue sharing will be done, taking into account the following criteria: number of skiers passing through the gates, type, size and condition of equipment for transporting skiers and types, length and condition of ski slopes. The cooperation approved by this decision will be more precisely defined by the agreement to be concluded between the LLC. Ski resorts of Montenegro and doo. Ski Resort Kolašin 1450", it says, among other things, in the minutes of the meeting of the Board of Directors.
The decision was supposed to enter into force "on the first day, after receiving a confirmation from the selected supplier on the fulfillment of the conditions for establishing a single ski pass service".
Deal possible?
Milošević, however, claims that such conditions did not suit the private ski resort.
However, he does not rule out the possibility that an agreement will be reached.
"Our goal is, above all, to protect the business interest of the ski resort. We believe that passing through the six-seater gate and through the ski lift cannot be treated equally. According to those criteria, we cannot distribute the profit, and that is the proposal of a private ski resort. For now, there is no agreement, because both the state and private ski resorts are trying to protect their business interests. I do not rule out the possibility of reaching a model that will be satisfactory for everyone, I would like it because it is certainly more attractive for guests to have the entire ski infrastructure at their disposal in Bjelasica", Milošević told "Vijesta".
Until December 1, the ski resorts of Montenegro were selling ski passes that will be valid for twenty kilometers of slopes of the Ski Center Kolašin 1600, i.e. cable cars K8 (Troglava) and K7 (Klisura).
During the winter season 2022/2023. a single daily ski pass was sold, which cost 25 euros, for about 45 km of tracks of both ski resorts. This will be the price for the used ski infrastructure of the state ski resort this year.
During the upcoming tourist winter, the seasonal ski pass for Kolašin 1600 will be 400 euros for adults, and 14 euros for children up to 250 years old. Promotional seasonal ski passes were sold at a significantly lower price.
The company Ski Resort Kolašin 1450 announced a few days ago that during the upcoming season, skiing at that ski resort will be free for the citizens of Kolašin, Andrijevica and Beran. The free ski pass, as announced, will be valid four days a week, from Monday to Thursday.
For the people of Kolasin, as they announced, there will be free ski equipment.
Bonus video:
