Investor from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Mohamed Alabar is no longer just a hot topic in Ulcinj, but also among local officials in the north.
The leaders of Kolašin were the first to welcome him last weekend and presented him with two locations where he could invest his money.
The Mayor of the Municipality says that they see him as a partner for tourism on Bjelasica and livestock farming on Sinjajevina, while at the same time, beach tenants in Ulcinj are awaiting the outcome of negotiations with him, on which the start of the tourist season there depends.
June is never closer, but judging by the appearance of the beaches, you wouldn't conclude that we live off tourism. Apart from being empty due to the weather, the beaches are also unprepared for guests, awaiting the outcome of the situation with the Arab investor Mohammed Alabbar, who was ranked first in the Coastal Zone tender.
Alabar admitted that he made a mistake when applying for the tender, and one of the previous tenants explains the current situation.
"We are already late, today is May 22nd, and the weather forecast was not in our favor, but at least some of the visitors to Velika Plaza should be back. He announced that he will withdraw. We are in negotiations with a representative of his company, however, I think that this situation should be resolved by the end of the month," said Albert Kastrati, the beach's tenant.
If Alabar gives up on leasing nine beaches on Velika Plaza, it will have to pay Morski dobro 600 thousand euros in guarantees. If that happens, the current tenants, as second-ranked tenants, will be invited to sign contracts. They are now announcing an increase in the prices of services.
"The rental prices are very high, we will not be competitive. Our guests are from the region, and the fact that rental prices have increased almost fivefold requires a price increase. We will see whether that will be a good business move," said Kastrati.
Alabar walked from Ulcinj, where his vision of coastal development did not go down well, to Kolašin last week.
He was welcomed there by the leaders of the Municipality, President Petko Bakić from Democratic Montenegro and Vice President Vasilije Ivanović from the Europe Now Movement (PES).
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"We presented two projects, or rather, they are not projects, they are more ideas that we believe could be invested in Kolašin. With Mr. Alabaro, we visited the locations that we believe have opportunities for investment. These are the locations on Bjelasica and Sinjajevina, when it comes to facilities and a project that would be done for tourism, and the other is in the field of agriculture in Sinjajevina," said Bakić.
What is presented, he says, does not deviate from the natural potential and the already outlined development plan of this mountainous region.
"Bjelasica 365 is a continuation of the current ski resort and these are plots that are owned by the state, meaning the expansion of our ski center, and the other is agriculture on Sinjajevina. That is breeding, for livestock," said Bakić.
If Alabar is interested in investing in Kolašin, the question arises whether citizens will be for or against potential investments.
"If there were to be some serious investments, these are serious investments and serious investments, we should ask citizens in a local referendum, check what citizens think about it and then make a decision that we would all normally have to respect," said Bakić.
With the first sunny days, guests from the region and abroad will arrive. We'll see how we welcomed them when the tourist office closes in the fall.
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