The model for short-term reduction or resolution of traffic jams along the Montenegrin coast is the introduction of transit fees, so it is important that this issue be resolved before the Government, so that it is ready for the next season.
This is one of the solutions offered by the Minister of Tourism, Simonida Kordić, to prevent traffic jams that are common in the summer on the Montenegrin coast.
She pointed out that during the summer tourist season, most of the traffic is only on one road, so the everyday life of citizens and vacations of tourists are blocked, and that this is also the biggest complaint of those who visit Montenegro. Kordić emphasized that the construction of roads is a long-term solution, but until then a model for reducing traffic in the south of the country must be found.
"One of the models is the introduction of transit fees, so that all visitors on that route pay a fee, and if they spend more than 24 hours in the state, they are not charged. We must regulate transit by diverting it from that direction, to the Nikšić-Danilovgrad route - Podgorica is relieved, so there would be an impulse to develop the economy in that direction. This model solves part of the problem in the coming period, and it is important that this issue is solved by the Government, so that it will be available for the next season," she pointed out. is Kordic.
This was asked by New Serbian Democracy (NSD) MP Velimir Đoković, who was also looking for solutions to the uneven data on the number of tourists and income from tourism, because previously the increased number of beds was treated as an increase in the number of tourists.
They are working on a model for better tourist data
Kordić stated that this is one of the most sensitive issues in tourism management, and that precise data is necessary.
"Tourism has serious repercussions on all economic segments, every third euro in Montenegro came directly or indirectly from tourism. The only official data on guest visits comes from Monstat, which is not fast enough for tourism that changes daily, so other models are used to estimate the number of guests. The national tourism organization provides a breakdown weekly, and the most reliable data comes from municipal services based on the amount of garbage. In order not to guess who comes to Montenegro and how long they stay and where, we need to have a system that will count tourists, enable their registration, payment of taxes, facilitate the registration of tourist activities", she stated and added the key problem besides the absence of these data and the gray economy.
She emphasized that the Government has formed a working group working on this model, that the issue is interdepartmental and that Croatia has introduced it since 2016.
About the status of ski resorts in the north, i.e. in Bijelo Polje, Rožaj, Žabljak, Kolašin and the valorization of Đalovića Cave, and the status of "Ski Resort 1600", which recently requested 100 thousand euros in financial aid, so that they could pay salaries to employees, asked the representative of the Democratic Party of the socialist party Elvir Zvrko.
113 million euros invested, but they are working backwards
Kordić stated that six key projects "Kolašin 1600", Žarski, Cmiljača, Štedim-Hajla, Durmitor and Đalovića Pećina are being realized through the capital budget, including the reconstruction of roads, water supply, electricity, facilities, paths...
"113,7 million euros have been invested in these projects so far. The way in which they have been implemented since 2016 is unusual, and now we are working backwards. In Žarsko, we have installed poles for the cable car, on land that is private, these are all problems that continue complicate the realization, and now the land has a higher value...", said Kordić.
She explained that tenders for water supply, facilities and base stations are being held for the Žarski ski resort, that the necessary documentation has been obtained, and a team has been formed to monitor the project so that there are no omissions, and that 14 million euros have been invested so far.
Kordić pointed out that more than 17 million euros have been invested in the Cmiljača ski resort project, and the power infrastructure is currently being worked on and problems are being overcome, such as the transmission line that supplies the ski center. She stressed that they are working on a master plan for this ski resort, and that it is not clear to her how the documentation for this project, which was supposed to serve as an additional ski center for Žarsko, was completed first, while the paperwork for it was two years late...
She pointed out that the Cmiljača project was supposed to start working already in 2015, and in 2016, artificial snowmaking was supposed to be introduced, and in 2019, a contract was signed for a cable car, in a place where there was still no electricity.
"By skipping a step to the problem"
According to Kordić, more than 18 million euros have been invested in Đalovića Pećina so far, but the investment study has not been done, and the architectural and urban planning solution has already been accepted. Kordić excels in this project as well, starting without the necessary documentation.
"By skipping these steps, it could be expected that there would be problems, so the visitor center was completed, but there is still no electricity and water, and these problems are being solved. This would put a part of this area into operation," she added.
Kordić stated that more than 15 million has been allocated for the Štedim and Hajla ski resorts so far, that the location of the base station is being resolved, ski tracks are being built and that the Government plans to be ready for the 2025/2026 season. year.
As he claims, construction was also done on "Skijaliste 1600" and Savina kuk, and that more than 2021 million euros have been invested in them since 16, which is why they have new facilities, a six-seater cable car, nine kilometers of trails, a training ground for beginners...
She emphasized that "Ski Resort 1600" did not generate income due to the lack of snow, so they asked for money for salaries, but that this is a warning that the infrastructure must be multifunctional. Kordić added that the Kotor Lovćen cable car showed that projects can work independently of snow, because other facilities can be found at the top.
"We are going through drastic changes and depending on snow as a business model, and there has been a change in tourists' tastes, they want an untouched priory, walks, gathering teas and mushrooms, and we have these facilities in the north," she stated.
Zvrko said that he is concerned that from 2021 until today, 33 million euros have been invested, of which 16 million euros are in Kolašin and Durmitor and 17 million euros are for the rest. That is why he believes that the money is not distributed properly.
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