Director of the Ulcinj Tourism Organization Gzim Hajdinaga said that the expectations for the coming season are positive and that he is convinced that it can be at the level of 50 to 60 percent compared to the record 2019.
He derives reasons for mild optimism from the fact that vaccination has started in the country and the city and from research according to which tourists will choose only safe destinations, which Ulcinj, as he stated, is positioned high on all lists, primarily because of the vastness of the beaches and their cleanliness.
"It is true that the situation is different now because the tradition has always been for the gates for the first guests to be opened at the beginning of spring. We also know that from now on travel will be a little different, that tourists will look for peace, want cleanliness, quality accommodation, traditional food, affordable prices and above all, spacious beaches, and Ulcinj offers all of that," said Hajdinaga to "Vijesta".
He reminded that in recent years, the people of Ulcinj have shown that they can work, join forces and respect measures, so that citizens, businessmen and all guests who come feel safe in the city.
Hajdinaga stated that TO started preparations long ago with promotional campaigns, meetings and online marketing and told the tourism officials that if they haven't already, they should start their presentations as soon as possible.
"We are aware that the fight to attract as much interest as possible from guests will be difficult. Our hope is fueled by the fact that vaccinations and research have begun in the country, according to which potential tourists will choose safe destinations. That is why it is now very important for us to brand Ulcinj as such a destination," said Hajdinaga.
He assessed that it is an advantage that the borders for the countries of the region are open and that the PCR test is not mandatory.
"We have to focus our efforts on compliance with all measures, so that we, as TO, as well as businessmen, who are the locomotive of the development of tourism in our city, would be satisfied. We do not lose hope, we continue with our plans and activities and officially open the summer tourist season for the May Day holidays, welcoming journalists from the region who will be our guests for three days", announced Hajdinaga, who recently spent an eight-day official visit to North Macedonia and Kosovo. .
He spoke with the presidents of the municipalities of Peć, Prizren, Djakovica, Gjilane, Skopje-Chair, Tetovo, Gostivar, with the Minister of Economy of North Macedonia Krešnik Bekteši, the Minister of Trade and Tourism of Kosovo Rozeta Hajdari, directors of various institutions and with the President of the Assembly of North Macedonia Talat Džaferi. Hajdinaga said that he had signed a protocol of cooperation between TO Ulcinj and the Tourism Association of Kosovo and that he would soon conclude the same act with the Chamber of Hoteliers and the Chamber of Gastronomy.
"The countries of the region are our most important markets and at this moment, despite our desire to expand the campaigns to the countries of Eastern Europe, we have focused all our efforts on the region. "Maybe it is gratuitous and unrealistic in this situation to talk about numbers, but we certainly expect to have a good visit and maybe achieve 50 to 60 percent of the record year of 2019," said Hajdinaga.
He also stated that research has shown that a large percentage of people will decide to go on tourist trips after the end of the epidemic.
"At this time, travel is talked about longingly, and we are sure that for guests from the region, Montenegro and Ulcinj will be the destinations they will choose for their summer vacation," he concluded.
He reminded that the procedures and waiting at the borders during the summer months are still a big problem and expressed the hope that in cooperation with the competent institutions, they will positively solve this issue as well.
He announced that TO Ulcinj, in cooperation with NTO and colleagues from local tourism organizations, plans to make numerous presentations as part of the Road Show campaign and perform together in several countries of the region - Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Slovenia and Kosovo.
Hajdinaga believes that this season it will not be necessary to pay insurance for vehicles, which led to big crowds at the border in previous years.
"In Kosovo, I had a meeting with the director of the Insurance Bureau, Sami Mazreku, regarding the abolition of taxes at border crossings. And the director of the National Bureau of Insurers of Montenegro, Boris Šaban, has shown his willingness to take concrete measures to ensure that this fee is no longer charged," said Hajdinaga.
Crnogorski made his home in Albania
Prelja Škrelja, the president of the tenants of Ulcinj swimming pools, said that the season is uncertain, but that everyone must prepare for it as if it will be a record one.
"Booking is minimal, we don't have concrete contracts, only registrations. "Last season there was almost none, and on the eve of this season we have no subsidies, except that Morsko dobro reduced the rental price by 50 percent," Škrelja told Vijest.
He assessed that this is a big problem for all tourism workers because they have to do the preparations themselves, even though the income from tourism makes up about 25 percent of the state budget on average.
"We have to pay for the goods from suppliers. Likewise the workers, no one will wait at this time. In addition, the banks are not too willing to meet everyone," said Škrelja and added that the increase in the prices of basic foodstuffs by around 30 percent represents an additional burden on business operations.
That, as he stated, also means that their incomes, along with prices that will remain the same as last year, must be higher by at least that much.
"This also means that we have to prepare and wait, and maybe nothing will happen," Škrelja said.
He also pointed out that Albania is becoming more and more competitive.
"Guests from Podgorica and other Montenegrin cities, who in previous years came to Ulcinj on weekends, now choose Albania. The Montenegrin language can be heard more and more in the streets and restaurants because these guests chose the neighbor because of the more favorable prices and smaller household budget", said Škrelja, stating that the prices in Albania are lower because of the suppliers. He pointed out the tenants' chronic problems with electricity and wild dumps in the hinterland.
"We will ask Morski Dobr that 70 percent of the swimming area be filled with furniture, and that 30 percent remain free, instead of half and half, as it is now," announced Škrelja.
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