Podgorica just a stopover for tourists: They like the hospitality, food and nature

Although it is the heart of Montenegro, tourists often see Podgorica as just a stopover on their way to the coast or mountains. After the bombing and privatization, not much of the cultural heritage remains, so the people of Podgorica mostly recommend nature to foreigners.

"We have beautiful parks."

"Some picnic areas primarily, and that they are located in nature."

"They should absolutely go to Skaline, to the square, to Njegošev Park, to the City Quarter for shopping, to the nature at Ljubović, to Gorica, and if they want to refresh themselves or have something nice to eat, to come to the city center."

"To visit Lake Skadar, the islands where there are many cultural and historical monuments, rich in flora and fauna, to visit Kučka Korita, the Cijevna River Canyon, Duklja..."

"Let them see the Old Town, the Morača River, the banks of the Morača, the course of the Morača, Gorica is a nice picnic spot. All of this is somehow untidy, the city and all. Let's admit it."

These are some of the comments from citizens.

Even foreigners admit that there aren't too many fabulous attractions, but Podgorica, they say, has its own charms.

"I like the city because it is small, the people are very hospitable, and I also like the Yugoslav architecture. However, there are not many tourist attractions in my opinion, but I like Gorica, Ljubović, the Morača River is beautiful. There are not many museums, galleries, etc., but nature is very attractive for tourists," says one foreigner.

"I like Podgorica because it is a very safe city, and the people are very nice. I have been in Podgorica for five days, the food is excellent, there are great restaurants," one tourist tells TV Vijesti.

Although languages ​​from different parts of the world are increasingly heard in the city of rivers, bridges, and parks, foreigners most often stay in Podgorica for business purposes.

"Actually, 70 percent of tourists who visit the Capital during the year are mainly from the business segment, but what we want in the future, in addition to the above, is to see the Capital as a destination that is a combination of natural beauty, cultural and religious heritage, and as a destination that offers a wealth of opportunities for all lovers of active forms, vacations for lovers of wine tourism and gastronomy," says Dragan Grnović, director of the Podgorica Tourist Organization.

The biggest challenge remains the cultural heritage that has been neglected for decades. Instead of well-maintained attractions, tourists in Podgorica still encounter ruins. This will soon change, the Tourist Organization promises. Projects have been launched to renovate the archaeological sites of Duklja and Medun, as well as the Ribnica fortress.

"We received conservation conditions, we created a digital reconstruction of the Ribnica Fortress in order to create a positive attitude and show citizens what the fortress looked like in the best period of its existence, and a few days ago we signed a contract on preparatory works for the development of a conservation project where geological, geodetic works, archaeological works, conservation works will be carried out, and they will be a prerequisite, that is, these preparatory works for the development of a conservation project that we expect to be completed by the middle of next year," Grnović points out.

A tender has been announced and a contractor has been selected for the reconstruction of the former Jusovača prison. The capital plans to pay special attention to what tourists value most - nature.

"After the demarcation with the Municipality of Zeta, we targeted two locations where Podgorica exits Skadar Lake, namely the villages of Sivac, Potec, Barutana, Goljemadi, Sivac, where there is a beautiful natural oasis and where we plan to create a picnic area and a pier for tourist boats, also in a part that exits near the source of the Boljesestra River, and in the mountainous hinterland, the focus is definitely on the Komovi Nature Park, the Veruša picnic area, Bukomirsko and Rikavačko Lakes, where we have already set up a significant part of the infrastructure this summer and we plan to further promote it in the coming period," said Grnović.

Podgorica has the potential to be much more, but the task remains to offer its heritage and amenities in a manner worthy of a capital city.