The fiasco of the winter tourist season in Kolašin will be evident after the arrival of official data on the number of guests and overnight stays in February, according to the local Tourist Organization (TO).
Monstat's statistics for December last year and January this year do not sufficiently reflect the losses of the tourism industry in that city, because the New Year and Christmas holidays, when snow was still expected, "pulled out the average". After that, there was a massive cancellation of reservations, and most of the accommodation capacities have remained completely empty until now.
However, the visit to Kolašin in the second half of December and during the first part of January was better than last winter. Thus, in December 2023, 8.051 overnight stays were made, and in the same month of the previous year, about 6.700. The number of overnight stays in January this year was 11.116, which is about 1.500 more than in the same month last year.
"Regarding February of this year, the official data has not yet been published, but according to the registration of guests' stay and the collection of the residence tax, February was drastically bad, when it comes to the number of guests and overnight stays. In February of this year, TO had an income of 2.886 euros, of which 2.274 euros were paid by the hotel "Bianca". How bad the visits in February are is shown by the fact that in February of the previous year, the same hotel paid the TO the amount of 5.019 euros based on the payment of the tourist tax", explains the director of the TO Zorica Milašinović.
During January and February of this year, the ski resorts of Montenegro achieved only 5,14 percent of the planned revenue from the sale of ski tickets and 11,45 percent from catering services. This is part of the illustration of the failed winter tourist season from the letter sent from the state enterprise to the Municipal Assembly (SO) of Kolašin.
The Ski Resort reminds that there was not a single skiing day at the "Kolašin 1600" Ski Center due to the unprecedented lack of snow.
"In the financial plan for 2024 through the revenue side of the budget, it is planned that the income from the sale of services during the winter season will be 880.000 euros, while during January and February the income of 45.249 euros was realized. The planned income from hospitality was 450.000, and the income achieved so far is 51.528 euros. There is no income from parking fees, and the income from renting business inventory and equipment (rental of ski equipment and sledges) is minimal," says the letter signed by the Executive Director of the Ski Resort Đuro Milošević.
He informs the Assembly that during December of last year and January of this year, the temperature was suitable for making artificial snow, i.e. lower than -3 degrees for more than 40 days. In view of this, claims the executive director of the ski resort, "it can be concluded that with the system for artificial snow, the Ski Center "Kolašin 1600" could have had a very successful winter ski season, and therefore the whole of Kolašin".
"Ski resorts in the region, which had the same atmospheric conditions and have artificial snowmaking systems, opened the ski season in mid-December last year and the season is still going on. Cme Gore ski resorts are of the opinion that the artificial snowmaking system must be built as soon as possible, and that the next winter season should not be met in this way. The consequences of this kind of season are widely felt, while we will feel the greater consequences especially at the beginning of the next winter season, which will be very difficult to prepare and attract guests after such bad advertising. Only by building a system for artificial snowmaking, respecting the valid planning documentation in all respects, can we be competitive with the ski resorts in the region and have a guaranteed ski season," said Milošević.
According to him, the problem with bringing water to the ski center on Bjelasica should be solved as soon as possible, and that "through this solution, the amount of water that the Ski Center 'Kolašin 1600' will use to fill the artificial lakes should be predicted". He also adds that when there is no need to use water for making artificial snow, other facilities that use the same water supply system could use that water.
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