The prices of the ski center "Kolašin 1600" are on average higher by a fifth compared to last year, so snow lovers will have to shell out 25 euros for a one-day ticket, while the combined ski pass and use of the services of the ski resort "Kolašin 1450" will cost 35 euros. , if the state and private companies reach an agreement.
This is what the director of the Ski Resort of Montenegro said in an interview with "Vijesti". Djuro Milošević. He clarified that the decision on the unified ski pass is not yet official, but that they are on the threshold of an agreement with the neighboring ski center, owned by Zoran Ćoć Bećirović.
The lack of snow in December brought a loss of 2022 euros to the state-owned company at the end of 230, and this was also affected by the delay of the ski season, more employees due to the opening of the six-seater cable car K7 and the opening of ten kilometers of new slopes.
The same is happening this year as well, there is not enough snowfall, and the weather forecasts do not inspire optimism at the moment...
Milošević emphasized that they do not have final figures, but that in 2023 they finished with a surplus, which he estimated at around 50 thousand euros. The State Ski Resorts manage the ski centers "Kolašin 1600", "Cmiljača", "Žarski", "Jelovica", "Torine", as well as the mountain center "Komovi".
Price increase "in proportion to the increase in the standard of living"
The prices of services at the Ski Center "Kolašin 1600" compared to the previous winter season, were increased by an average of 20 percent, and this was done in proportion to the increase in living standards, said Milošević.
Thus, a ski pass for one person will cost 25 euros this year, with discounts for purchasing a multi-day ski pass.
"Specifically, 105 euros should be allocated for a seven-day ski pass, so it turns out that the daily price is 15 euros. For children up to 14 years old, a one-day ski pass is 16,5 euros, while a seven-day ski pass is 75,5 euros. In the adopted price list, we have discounts for residents of the municipalities of Kolašin, Mojkovac, Berane and Andrijevica, as well as for members of the Mountain Rescue Service and the Skiing Association of Montenegro," Milosevic emphasized.
Last year, a one-day ski pass cost 20 euros, while for 25 it was possible to use the services of Ski Center "1600" and the neighboring "Kolašin 1450", ten less than this year.
Although he initially announced that these double tickets would not be available due to the failure to reach an agreement on the distribution of profits, Milošević emphasized that they are now on the threshold of cooperation with the neighboring ski resort. He explained that they had reached a verbal agreement and that he is now waiting for confirmation from the company "Kolašin 1450", after which the final decision must be adopted by the Board of Directors.
He clarified that the Ministry of Economic Development insisted on this type of agreement the previous year, but that the contract on profit distribution was not signed then. He stated that the two ski centers have different views on the parameters for profit distribution, and that the state-owned company is self-financing and must protect its interests.
The lack of snow in December and January this year also has a significant impact on the number of visitors to Kolašin, and "Vijesti" previously announced that reservations in private accommodation were massively cancelled.
Milošević said that due to the lack of snow they are also suffering and that, unfortunately, they are still waiting. As he emphasized, it was similar last year, when they started active work on January 21.
Asked about the artificial snow project, which partially enables business when there is not enough precipitation, Milošević stated that in 2023, the Capital Projects Administration (UKP) announced a public call for bringing water to ski centers and hotel complexes that are under construction, but that the project was not implemented due to problems with the locals and changes to the planning documentation. He added that without artificial snow, the winter season cannot be planned with certainty, but that step cannot be taken without water.
"The obligation of the Ski resort of Montenegro is to submit the project assignment to the competent ministry for further processing after receiving the urban planning and technical conditions from the competent authorities. After the start of implementation, and we hope that it will be in the near future, our obligation is to monitor the implementation of the project itself, to give suggestions and remarks", emphasized Milošević.
He pointed out that the economic profitability of the project is not only related to that ski center, but to the entire municipality, especially since during 2023 they had (only) 50 ski days with full capacity.
Focus on sports offer
Milošević emphasized that he is working with the Government, that is, the Ministry of Tourism, Ecology, Sustainable Development and Development of the North, and UKP to improve the sports infrastructure. He pointed out that they want a bigger offer and income, so they are currently working on a bobsled on a rail, the project task of which they submitted to the Ministry of Tourism and which they expect to be realized in 2024.
Milošević said that they are planning the improvement of bicycle paths and the development of that discipline, as one of the main parts of the offer. He stated that the construction of a 400-meter long ski lift is nearing completion, while the next one, 800 meters long, will be offered next winter season.
For a seven-day ski pass, you need to allocate 105 euros, so it turns out that the daily price is 15 euros. For children up to 14 years old, a one-day ski pass is 16,5 euros, while a seven-day ski pass is 75,5 euros.
Ski resorts in October, November and until mid-December, as explained by Milosevic, do not generate income, but work on regular overhauls, servicing and other preparations for the start of the season. He stated that their total income for the nine months of 2023 was 1,72 million euros, and their expenses were 1,37 million euros, and that they ended the year with a surplus of about 50 thousand euros.
"After the third quarter of 2023, the company made a profit in the amount of 345.827 euros," Milosevic emphasized.
He added that their revenues from the sale of services compared to the same period in 2022 are almost 60 percent higher, but from catering, 17 percent.
Milošević claims that the income from advertising for the same period is a fifth higher, and that their expenses are about ten percent lower.
He also stated that in the spring they achieved a turnover of about 190 thousand, which is a quarter more than in 2022.
When asked how they did business this spring, considering that the year before that they had problems with the power supply due to construction work on the Jezerina-Tunel-Klisura section, during which the power cables were damaged, Milošević emphasized that there were no such problems this summer and that eliminated. He also stated that for that tourist season they achieved a turnover of about 190 thousand, which is a quarter more than in 2022.
They employ about 60 workers
The ski resorts of Montenegro have 61 full-time employees who work in the management and administration in Podgorica, the ski center in Kolašin and the office in Mojkovac, but also in the cafe bar "Stari most" which is leased in the same town, they told "Vijesta" earlier from those companies.
At that time, they pointed out that about twenty workers were hired through the Employment Agency, two under a work contract, while eight trainees were hired under the state program for professional training.
Less and less snow
According to the National Strategy for Climate Change from 2015, climate change is the biggest obstacle to the development of winter tourism in Montenegro.
The state, through the decision to develop ski resorts with slopes below 1.800 meters above sea level, ignored the strategy. According to the document, snowfall will decrease by 2030 percent by 25, and by 50 percent after that.
The strategy proposes moving ski slopes to altitudes above 1.800 meters and investing in artificial snow systems.
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