The number of overnight stays in all types of accommodation for the period January - June this year is 272 thousand or 5,4 percent lower than the same period last year, Monstat officially announced to "Vijesti" - the only legally competent institution to publish accurate data, including on tourism.
The number of overnight stays is the basic data on which tourist traffic is measured because it is multiplied by the average tourist consumption, which has its own methodology, and thus the value of tourist traffic is obtained, which is the most significant item in Montenegrin gross domestic product.
According to official data, tourist traffic in 2024 decreased by 3,4 percent compared to 2023, and this is now a new decline on top of that decline.
Figures from key tourist cities show that this negative trend continues even in the peak season. The Ministry of Tourism did not specifically tell "Vijesti" whether they are satisfied with the current summer season, revenues, the structure of visits, or their opinions on a possible decline in the number of tourists.
Instead of comments and assessments, the Ministry provided the editorial staff with data on the increasing number of tourists, although their stays in Montenegro are becoming shorter, as well as figures on border crossings by car and the number of flights, although it cannot be determined whether these are only visitors passing through Montenegro. The Ministry did not provide analytical reviews of current challenges, regional differences or market trends...
The latest data provided by "Monstat" to "Vijesti" shows that in the first six months of this year, Montenegro recorded 940.771 tourist arrivals, as well as 4.825.625 overnight stays. Last year, 885.186 tourists arrived in the country in the same period, or 55,58 thousand more now, while visitors then recorded 5.098.139 stays.
This means that Montenegro recorded a decrease in the number of overnight stays of 272.514 in the first six months of this year, compared to the same period last year.
"In the period January-June 2025, 612.500 arrivals and 1.833.265 overnight stays in collective accommodation were recorded, which is an increase of 4,2 arrivals and a decrease of one percent in overnight stays compared to the same period in 2024. In the same period in 2025, 328.271 arrivals and 2.992.360 overnight stays in individual accommodation were recorded, which is an increase of 10,3 percent in arrivals and a decrease of 7,9 percent in overnight stays compared to 2024. We have an increase in arrivals in the municipality of Budva by 2,3 percent compared to the same period last year, while overnight stays decreased by 4,3 percent, Podgorica recorded an increase in arrivals and overnight stays of 5,3 and 6,1 percent, while Herceg Novi recorded a decrease in arrivals and overnight stays of 5,6 percent and 4,5 percent in the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024," they emphasized. are from Monstat.
This data shows a continuation of last year's trend - that there are substantially more tourists, but that they stay in Montenegro for a shorter period of time.
Most Russians, more Chinese
The Ministry of Tourism did not tell "Vijesti" how satisfied they are with the current season or what kind of income they expect. Asked whether the assessments about the decline in tourist traffic are accurate and what their data show, they pointed out that the latest Monstat data show that in the first half of the year, 940.771 tourists were registered in individual and collective accommodation, which, they claim, is 6,3 percent more than in the same period last year.
They emphasized that in June alone, 342.207 tourists were registered, or 7,6 more than in the same month last year, and that collective accommodation recorded a 3,3 percent increase in the number of tourists, with an increase in overnight stays of 0,3 percent.
In their responses, they did not acknowledge the key problem that there is a significant decline in overnight stays and that this trend is continuing.
"In the structure of foreign overnight stays, the largest number was achieved by tourists from Russia (21,3 percent), Serbia (17,9 percent), Bosnia and Herzegovina (5,5 percent), Great Britain (4,7 percent) and Germany (4,4 percent). In all types of accommodation, during the first six months, an increase in the number of tourists from distant markets was observed: from China 53,24 percent more tourists and 48,05 percent more overnight stays, from Israel 57,43 percent more tourists and 53,6 percent more overnight stays, from Azerbaijan 87,19 percent more tourists and 123,79 percent more overnight stays. In the same period, an increase was also achieved from the US market, namely 17,37 percent when we talk about the number of tourists and 12,60 percent when we talk about overnight stays. Also, income from the tourist tax increased by almost 2 percent compared to the previous year, or by 26 percent compared to the record year 2019," they emphasized.
The growth in the percentage of guests from these countries obscures the real picture, because for example, guests from China accounted for 1,8 percent of the number of overnight stays in June, Azerbaijanis 0,8 percent, Americans 2,6 percent, and Israelis 4,4 percent.
The Ministry states that there are 14 percent more tourists in private accommodation, with a decrease in the number of overnight stays of about three percent, and states that there is still a pronounced gray economy in this sector and that guests often do not register. Monstat data shows that in this form of accommodation, the decrease in overnight stays is 7,9 percent.
"According to the UN World Tourism Organization's UN Barometer report for the first quarter of 2025, Montenegro ranked sixth in the world in terms of growth in tourism revenues compared to 2019, with an impressive growth of 87 percent. When it comes to tourism spending, our country is ranked ninth globally, which further confirms the strong recovery and confidence of tourists," the Ministry stated.
Ulcinj: Drop in private accommodation and weaker end of July
In the first seven months of this year, Ulcinj recorded a total of 93.442 arrivals and 530.050 overnight stays. Of the total number of overnight stays, 98,7 percent were made by foreign tourists, and 1,3 percent by domestic tourists. This was confirmed to "Vijesti" by the Ulcinj Tourist Organization (TO).
The letter states that the highest number of arrivals were made by tourists from Kosovo (23,5 percent), Serbia (18 percent), Bosnia and Herzegovina (13,5 percent), Germany (8 percent), Albania (5,3 percent), three percent each from North Macedonia, Poland and Switzerland, as well as two percent each from Russia, Hungary, and one percent each from Belgium and Ukraine...
When it comes to the number of guests in individual accommodation, there are 7 percent fewer guests this year than last year, 20 percent fewer than in 2023, three percent fewer than in 2022, and 11 percent more than in 2021. The number of overnight stays by the end of July is 4,5 percent lower than in the same period last year, 17,4 percent lower than in 2023, 0,03 percent lower than in 2022, and 19 percent higher than in 2021.
"This is data from our "RB90" system, mainly individual accommodation and some hotels that register guests with us at info points and via online applications," the TO points out.
In the last week of July, a total of 36,4 thousand tourists visited Ulcinj - which is 12 percent less than last year, 22 percent less than in 2023, and 4 percent less than in 2022.
Budva: Full hotels, but lower overall occupancy
According to the latest breakdown of tourist traffic in Budva and data from the Montenegrin tourism metropolis, on July 31, 39.812 guests stayed in this city, which represents a one percent decrease compared to the same day last year.
Of the total number, 16.182 guests are staying in hotels, while 23.630 are staying in other types of accommodation, including private accommodation, campsites, hostels and resorts. The most numerous guests in collective accommodation are from Serbia, Great Britain, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, Israel, Russia, Turkey...
"Vijesti", comparing statistical data for the previous four years, determined that the current occupancy is still better than in 2023 and 2022, but significantly lower than in 2021, when as many as 54 thousand guests from Jaz to Buljarica were registered on the last day of July.
There were fewer tourists on the last day of July 2023 than now, when 37.755 were registered, while in 2022 there were about a thousand fewer than the current occupancy, when there were 38.942. When it comes to hotel occupancy, the highest number of tourists is currently registered in hotels compared to the previous four years.
However, it must be taken into account that the number of beds in hotel capacities has increased in the past four years, and now there are almost 20 thousand, which means that the currently registered 16.182 proves that hotels are not XNUMX% full during the peak summer season.
At the end of July 2023, 15.861 guests stayed in hotels, compared to 2022 in 16.070, while 2021 were registered in 15.800.
The occupancy rate of private accommodation in Budva is decreasing year by year, while on the other hand, the number of beds in domestic accommodation is increasing.
As they estimated for "Vijesti" from TO Budva, based on preliminary Monstat data, the municipality of Budva achieved a total of 2025 arrivals and 244.809 overnight stays of guests in collective accommodation in the period January-June 792.854.
"Compared to the same period last year, there was a two percent increase in the number of arrivals, while the number of overnight stays decreased by four percent. Budva's share in the total tourist turnover of Montenegro, when it comes to collective accommodation for the period January-June, is 40 percent in arrivals and 43 percent in overnight stays," the TO announced.
They emphasized that they do not have data on the occupancy of individual accommodation, because Monstat will not publish it until the beginning of next year.
Bar: Eight percent drop in July
Teodora Covic from TO Bar told "Vijesti" that August has just begun, so they are focused on making the most of this period. She pointed out that the challenges are mostly related to the load on the infrastructure during the peak season.
"Every year, during July and August, the Tourist Office of Bar conducts a survey among tourists, with the aim of better understanding their needs, expectations, but also potential shortcomings that they recognize during their stay. Based on the feedback, we strive to improve the offer and conditions of stay in the coming seasons within our competence," emphasized Čović.
According to information from the Bar Tourist Office, in July, 23.090 guests stayed in hotels on their Riviera, which is two percent less than in 2024, while the number of guests in private accommodation was 46.538, which is five percent less than in the same period last year. According to unofficial data from the Bar Tourist Office, 36.723 guests were registered in June, which is an increase compared to the same period last year, when 35.467 were registered.
"According to the latest population survey, conducted in July 2025, there are 13.760 registered guests staying on the Bar Riviera, which is eight percent less than the previous year," the TO said.
A little less money than a residence permit
By July 31st of this year, revenue from the residence tax amounted to 1,11 million euros, which is half a percent less than in the same period last year.
This was officially stated to "Vijesti" by the National Tourism Organization (NTO).
They explained that total earmarked revenues, or rather the part of them that goes to the state treasury and consists of residence and tourist taxes, membership contributions, were collected in the amount of 2.144.564 euros as of July - which, they state, is 3,7 percent more than last year's revenues in the same period.
They pointed out that the amount is 7,4 percent higher than in 2023, 34,8 percent higher than in 2022, as well as 68,6 percent higher than in 2021, and 35,4 percent higher compared to 2019.
"The revenue from the residence tax collected as of July 31, 2025 amounted to 1.119.972 euros, which represents an achievement of 99,6 percent compared to the revenue generated from the residence tax in the corresponding period in 2024, an increase of 1,22 percent compared to 2023, an increase of 45,8 percent compared to 2022, an increase of 113 percent compared to 2021, and an increase of 29,8 percent compared to 2019," the NTO pointed out.
The situation in the north is better, but the numbers are small.
Director of the Kolašin Municipal District Zorica Milašinović told "Vijesti" that the summer tourist season in that city is significantly better compared to the previous four, and that since mid-April they have been recording a significant increase in the number of guests.
She stated that from the beginning of May to the end of July, they recorded 22.109 overnight stays, of which 15 percent more were in private accommodation in June than last year. She also claims that they had 25 percent more overnight stays in July than last year, and attributes the success to the events they organized, such as the two editions of the "Kolašin Echo Festival"...
"In the second half of June, due to canceled flights from Israel to Montenegro, we had a significant drop in the number of tourists when it comes to hotel capacities, but since July 2nd, that situation has stabilized. The announcements for August and September are excellent, we hope that the weather conditions will also serve us well because the mountains are at their most beautiful then, and tourists visit Kolašin precisely for nature and active vacations," she emphasized.
Director of the Žabljak Municipal Office Stojan Abazović told "Vijesti" that their season is also better than in the last four years, and that in the first six months of this year they had 27 percent more guests than in 2024.
"As for hotels and private accommodation, interest is the same as last year. So far, interest for August is satisfactory. There are good announcements in both hotel and private accommodation," Abazović pointed out.
In total tourist traffic, Kolašin accounts for 0,9 percent, and Žabljak for 0,8 percent.
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