There is room for improving cooperation in tourism with Bulgaria and Greece

Montenegro can improve tourism cooperation with Greece and Bulgaria, it was assessed during a meeting between Tourism Minister Simonida Kordić and her Greek and Bulgarian colleagues Olga Kefaloyani and Ilina Dimitrov.

Kordić, who is also the Chair of the UN World Tourism Organization's Commission for Europe, is participating in the 126th meeting of the UN Tourism Executive Board and the 1st meeting of the Committee for the Celebration of the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism in Toledo, Spain, where, in addition to Montenegro, she also represents the European region within this organization.

"Montenegro's significant positioning in high-level international multilateral forums significantly contributes to the opening of new markets and increasing tourism commitment," the statement said.

Kordić and Dimitrov agreed that there is significant room for cooperation in the field of tourism education, namely the possibilities of establishing joint activities through the Erasmus program.

The importance of continuing communication between the two sides regarding the establishment of a direct flight between Podgorica and Sofia was also highlighted.

Dimitrov praised Montenegro's presence on the world tourism scene, highlighting the Bulgarian side's interest in continuing the activities implemented through the Bridging Destinations initiative, whose last conference was held in November last year in Montenegro.

They also discussed the exchange of experiences in organizing investment events, bearing in mind that the Ministry of Tourism of Montenegro is organizing an international investment forum in Podgorica in October.

Kordić also met with Kefalojani, with whom the substantive cooperation between the two countries in the field of tourism was confirmed and her official visit to Montenegro was agreed upon, during which a Memorandum of Cooperation between Montenegro and Greece in the field of tourism will be signed.

During the talks, the next steps within the Bridging Destinations initiative were discussed, with a particular focus on the joint appearance of the countries of the region at a major international tourism fair in one of the distant markets.

The interlocutors also pointed out the need to intensify cooperation between the tourism industries of this part of Europe and the markets of Latin America.

Kefaloyani particularly emphasized Greece's support for Montenegro's European path and praised the results that our country is achieving in the European integration process.

She emphasized that Greece will hold the presidency of the European Union next year, and said that Montenegro can count on strong support from Athens during that period, especially when it comes to further progress towards full EU membership.