Relations between Montenegro and Austria are good, but there is potential for their improvement, assessed the Minister of Tourism Simonida Kordić and the Austrian Ambassador to Podgorica, Christian Steiner.
Steiner stated that Montenegro and Austria have a similar situation when it comes to tourism, and that, although this industry does not account for 30 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP), it occupies a very important place.
They also face the same challenges due to climate change and lack of snow, which is why they, like us, are committed to diversifying their tourism offering.
Kordić introduced Štajner to the first artificial snowmaking project at state ski resorts, which the Ministry she heads provided in Žabljak.
She also stated that the north of Montenegro is ideal for new investments, and that the goal is to expand tourism to the entire country, but also to extend the season to the entire year.
During the meeting, Steiner stated that the number of Austrian tourists visiting Montenegro is constantly growing. Kordić emphasized that Austria is a very important and interesting source market for us, which is why additional efforts are needed to increase turnover and make our offer more visible.
She also pointed out the fact that the two countries still do not have a signed Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of tourism, so the possibility of concluding it should be considered in the coming period, because such a framework can significantly contribute to the implementation of specific activities.
Kordić also praised Štajner's initiative for knowledge exchange and additional education of professionals in the tourism sector, assessing that investing in human resources is the key to improving the quality of the tourism offer.
Speaking about the importance of regional cooperation, Kordić introduced Štajner to the Destination Balkans project, which promotes the idea of connecting these countries to distant markets.
"The similarities, but also the differences, between the Balkan countries make this destination a unique experience for tourists, from which we can all benefit," said Kordić.
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