The Socio-Economic Forum of the "Durmitor" National Park held a working session today in Žabljak, which was attended by Azra Vuković, director of the JP NP CG, her associate Veselin Luburić, director of the "Durmitor" NP Tomo Pajović, representatives of the local administrations of Žabljak and Mojkovac, representatives of the rafters associations, tourist organizations and agencies and the non-governmental sector.
Tomo Pajović informed that the Durmitor National Park was visited by 130.000 tourists last year and that the revenue of 731.000 euros was generated. He expressed expectations that this season that number will at least be reached, supporting it with the data that so far this year, 18.000 tourists have visited the Park and 1.663 rafting guests, which is close to last year's visit for this period.
The participants of the Forum, which was constituted a little more than a year ago, noticed that order reigns in the park and nature has been preserved after the interruption of the illegal construction that damaged this space. Capital and current investments in the infrastructure of the Park were listed, as well as the intention to valorize, for the common good, other areas besides the Black Lake and Tara.
It was pointed out the wrong moves of the previous management of JP NP Montenegro, it was requested that the revenues be returned to NP "Durmitor" and that decentralization be carried out in that area. It was requested to resolve the issue of retail establishments next to the bridge and along the promenade where food products and beverages are sold in addition to souvenirs. In addition to preserving the image of the Park, the concession terms will be extended, which will further motivate the resident population. Improving the security situation during mountain hikes, an open bar on the Black Lake, installation of waste water purifiers, construction of changing rooms for rafting participants, investments in road infrastructure, visible garbage along the Tara waterway...
Branko Diki Kažanegra insisted that Montenegrin tourism should remain in Montenegro and pointed out that the mountains are a perspective.
"When I say that, I am thinking of Sveti Stefan, which will not be Montenegrin for a long time, or Budva, which the tourists from Budva do not ask about. These places should be preserved as a national brand with the inclusion of the local population. Planning must be long in advance, because this is what guests from around the world are looking for, and these rules must be followed. Durmitor is a brand and that must be improved," Kažanegra said.
The issue of all the concerns was the construction of a restaurant on the Black Lake, worth around 230.000 euros, started a year ago, the completion of which is not in sight.
Answering the questions of the participants, Director Vuković said that the building should have been completed in August last year.
"The work was extended because there were administrative errors in the Public Enterprise. Everything was activated again at the beginning of April. The previous contract expired, an annex to the contract had to be drawn up. But also to call for a tender for the second phase, worth an additional 300.000 euros, which implies meeting the environmental characteristics of the investment, which was not the case in the first phase. In addition, investment investments will be made at the Žugića port and the exhibition area. We will soon have a meeting with representatives of the Traffic Directorate regarding the problems of installing prefabricated buildings around the Tara bridge."
It was agreed that in the following days the rafters and the NGO sector will clean the steam around and from the bed of the Tara river, which was collected a few years ago but not taken away, so the incoming river returned it to its bed again.
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