In the midst of the peak summer tourist season, legitimate questions are being asked: Is 2025 another missed opportunity for Montenegrin tourism? Have we learned anything from previous mistakes when it comes to the lack of infrastructure, dirty beaches and promenades, and the shadow economy at every turn, said Radinka Ćinćur, an independent MP in the Parliament of Montenegro, today.
According to her, the Ministry of Tourism persistently avoids providing a clear assessment of the current course of the season in Montenegro.
"Instead of serious analysis and responses to key challenges, figures that mean little are being presented to the public: the number of cars that have crossed the borders of our country and the number of international flights at airports has increased! This is how we arrive at the figure of around 941 tourist arrivals and 000 overnight stays in the first half of the year, but without a deeper context and proper interpretation. Do all entries at border crossings represent tourists? Of course not," said Ćinćur.
She pointed out that although the data presented by government representatives seems encouraging at first glance, these are mainly transit visitors, not tourists who spend a significant amount of time in the country.
"In fact, the key challenge is the increasingly short stay of tourists in Montenegro, which our officials persistently ignore, even though this very fact directly affects the reduction in revenues and overall tourist turnover. Let's remember: Revenues in June from VAT lower than planned by 11,4 million euros or 9 percent, revenues from excise duties lower than planned by 3 million euros or 7,4 percent, revenues from contributions lower than planned by 5 million euros or 15 percent," she said.
However, Ćinćur points out, official data from the Statistical Office (MONSTAT) speak much more clearly: The number of overnight stays for the period January - June 2025 is 272.514 or 5,4 percent lower than the same period last year.
"On the other hand, collective accommodation recorded a 1 percent decline, while individual accommodation recorded a 7,9 percent decline. This discrepancy between the growth in entries into the country and the decline in overnight stays, i.e. revenue, points to two problems: increasingly shorter stays for tourists and a pronounced shadow economy - undeclared accommodation and unregistered stays," Ćinćur pointed out.
She assessed that the situation is further aggravated by numerous infrastructure and communal problems that were expected, which, as she said, have not been resolved for years: the lack of beach furniture, dirty beaches and streets, illegal landfills at every turn, continued construction work on key roads during the summer months, as well as traffic jams, collapses and hours-long waits, especially in coastal cities.
"Here we must not forget the enormous price jump - between 30 and 50 percent, which is in no way in line with the quality of service that tourists receive. Such conditions in the tourism and hospitality sector not only influence tourists' decisions to shorten their stay, but also threaten Montenegro's reputation as a desirable tourist destination," she stated.
To make matters worse, adds Ćinćur, the maritime industry, once a strategic branch of the Montenegrin economy, is facing a serious crisis.
"Instead of revitalization and investment, we are recording a series of failures, or rather, devastating facts: the long-awaited line to Croatia (Dubrovnik) has been interrupted, while the line to Italy (Bar - Bari), although established after a multi-year break, is functioning with difficulty, with several hours of delays due to technical difficulties. The bulk cargo ship "Kotor", which not so long ago, after being held in a port in the USA for several weeks, was again held in the British port of Tyne after an inspection due to technical and procedural irregularities. The Port of Bar and other maritime capacities are stagnating, without a clear vision or state support, with subtle indications that they will be privatized soon," she said.
Ćinćur asked whether anyone would be held accountable for such a catastrophic situation in the maritime sector.
In short, she said, Montenegro, both as a tourist destination and as a country with maritime potential, is facing a serious decline in quality, competitiveness, and strategic vision.
"Urgent and fundamental reorganization of these sectors is needed. It is time for a reset, not for denying reality! Because, unfortunately, the authorities this year have not shown the ability to plan the season in accordance with real challenges and market needs. Instead of strategic leadership, we are witnessing the blurring of statistics, lack of transparency and avoidance of responsibility. And in the maritime economy, a collapse, caused by dilettantiism and signs of corruption. If this approach continues, 2025 will be remembered not for development, but for stagnation and loss. Or, as Borisav Pekić wrote - it will be another 'year eaten by locusts'", concluded MP Ćinćur.
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