Bećirović: The lack of electricity at the Kolašin 1600 ski resort is a serious blow to the economy

Although the first snow has covered the north of Montenegro, the preparation for the winter tourist season is much delayed and is far from ideal.

Dragana Bećirović from the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro says that currently the biggest problem is the lack of electricity in the Ski Center Kolašin 1600, which has been going on for a month.

"This is a serious blow to the economy, especially with the winter holidays ahead," warns Bećirović.

An additional challenge is the absence of an artificial snowmaking system, which would enable an earlier start of the ski season.

"Weather conditions allowed skiing already 15 days ago, but due to the lack of a snowmaking system, the slopes are unused. This is absurd in the 21st century," she emphasized.

In addition to electricity, Kolašin faces chronic water supply problems and a lack of adequate roads and parking, which further hampers development. At the same time, investors are planning to open new hotels, which will further strain the already limited resources.

However, according to Bećirović, hoteliers and local tourism organizations are making efforts to attract tourists.

"The capacity of the ski centers is now around 5.500 skiers per hour, which is at the level of regional centers like Jahorina," said Bećirović.

Bećirović also believes that the increase in accommodation tax from seven to 15 percent will affect the change in the prices of services.

"We have to be careful with price adjustments, because guests will not be willing to pay more for a service affected by infrastructure problems," she added.