MZ Stari Grad: The least attended New Year's Eve in Budva in the past decade

The Stari Grad local community believes that Budva has largely lost its identity in recent years.

"Once a city that could not be avoided, today, unfortunately, it is a city that is often bypassed. The city of culture, the city of theater, city music, authentic events and a strong tourist offer, has become recognizable for political and criminal confrontations, uncontrolled construction and the loss of urban and cultural spirit. Symbolically, artists like Gibonni used to perform in Budva's squares, while today we witness performances that do not correspond to either the tradition of the city or its cultural heritage. If the only criterion is 'what is required', we fear that this is a path without a clear direction and identity," the local community said.

This year's public New Year's Eve, as they point out, was one of the least attended in the past decade, and showed all the weaknesses of this concept.

"We believe that the entire organization of the New Year's bazaar was a big failure. The space in front of the Old Town was overloaded and resembled an improvised 'cacilend 2.0', without content, meaning, or authenticity. We believe that holiday houses do not have to, nor should they, always be placed exclusively in front of the Old Town. They can be moved to other locations that have the capacity and meaning for such content, such as Lugovo, the promenade in Bečići, or Rafailovići. Budva is much more than one point, and the holiday program should be evenly distributed, so that both the city and its guests benefit," emphasize the Stari Grad Local Community, adding:

"The Christmas tree, which was beautiful in itself and could have been a symbol of the holiday, was turned into a bar. The holiday booths were reduced almost exclusively to selling drinks - without souvenirs, without local products, without traditional food and without any authentic identity. The music played from the booths was in complete contradiction to what was agreed upon with the Municipality of Budva and the Budva Tourist Organization," the local community points out.

The drone show, as he points out, doesn't need to be discussed in detail.

"Regional media are already reporting on it, and in a way that does not support Budva as a serious tourist destination. We consider the use of fireworks for several days (seven nights in a row) to be particularly problematic, without any consideration for animals and their fear of pyrotechnics. Sometimes less is more. The condition of the Budva promenade, which today looks like a construction site and a garbage dump, is also a particular problem. No coastal town deserves a promenade like this, least of all Budva. The promenade should be the heart of the city - a space for meeting, walking, identity and pride, and not a symbol of neglect and improvisation," the local community stated.

The Stari Grad Local Community has repeatedly sent suggestions and offered concrete assistance in organizing the New Year's program and bazaar.

"But the Municipality of Budva and the Budva Tourist Organization were not listening to this. We also sent letters regarding communal order, music volume, as well as warnings regarding the street near the ramp to the Old Town, which is in poor condition and threatens to collapse. Everything was done haphazardly, without a clear vision and long-term plan. Large financial resources were spent, but without visible results, effects and benefits for the city. Budva must return to itself - to find and protect its identity, to save itself from uncontrolled concreting and to develop in a planned manner as a city of culture, tradition and quality tourism, and not as an improvised scene without a soul and direction," the statement concludes.