Kordić: The winter tourist season is proceeding as planned, two snow cannons have been provided for Žabljak...

The winter tourist season is proceeding according to planned dynamics and good results are expected, it was assessed at the session of the Coordination Body for Monitoring Tourist Seasons, convened by the Minister of Tourism, Simonida Kordić.

She said that, taking into account climate change and decreasing snowfall, intensive work is being done to introduce an artificial snowmaking system.

"Two snow cannons have already been provided for Žabljak, while a hydrological and geodetic study was carried out for Kolašin last year, as well as the main design for the first phase of the artificial snowmaking system. By using the existing infrastructure and additional investments in catchment and accumulation, the establishment of the first operational system on the track is planned," said Kordić.

At the meeting of the Coordination Body, it was announced that about ten thousand ski tickets and about two thousand for a panoramic ride have been sold at the Kolašin 1600 ski resort so far.

As explained, eight trails, the "sidro" and "tanjir" ski lifts, as well as a beginners' slope are in operation, and according to data from the local Tourist Organization, hotels are recording high occupancy, with good results expected by the end of the season.

In Žabljak, in the Savin Kuk ski center, two "anchor" type ski lifts are currently in operation, and the Tourist Organization expects to compensate for part of the losses incurred due to the recent accident on the ski lift, if favorable snow conditions remain.

When it comes to the summer season, the meeting assessed that the previous year showed a positive trend of extending the season to September and October, which reduces pronounced seasonality. The north of Montenegro, as they said, is recording growth, so 28 percent more tourists were recorded in Žabljak during the summer compared to the previous year.

Last year, a 4,67 percent increase in the total number of tourists in Montenegro was recorded, with a significant increase in the number of arrivals from distant source markets, such as Azerbaijan, 68,31 percent, China and Hong Kong, 26,79 percent, Japan, 18,15 percent, the United States of America (USA), 11,65 percent, New Zealand, 43,61 percent, Israel, 46,37 percent, and India, 51,2 percent.

Kordić stated that this is the result of intensive work to increase the number of emitting markets, which reduces dependence on individual markets, extends the tourist season and distributes tourist traffic more evenly throughout the year.

Among the main challenges identified were the issue of visa regimes with certain growing source markets, as well as road works that particularly burden tourist traffic during the summer.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that they are aware of the problem and are working on resolving it, while the Traffic Administration said that the Tivat - Jaz boulevard should be completed by the beginning of the summer season.