Visit.Montenegro.com : We Are Rather Optimistic About This Summer

Budva – Director of the Montenegrin National Tourism Association, Sasa Radovic expects 2008 to be a record-breaking year and that the number of visitors would exceed figures from 2007, which is recorded as the year with the biggest number of guests in the history of Montenegrin tourism.

“I am confident we have another record-breaking season ahead of us, even better than had been the one in 2007.

We cannot rest from now on. We must all put maximum efforts into making sure this season would succeed”, Radovic says, in his statement for “Ljeto” (“Summer”) supplement of Vijesti.

He explains that his faith and optimism is additionally supported by an exquisitely successful pre-season.

“During the first five months, the number of visitors to Montenegro has increased by 16 percent in comparison to the same period last year, while the number of overnight stays jumped by 32 percent.

All infrastructural works have now been completed and everything is now subjected to tourists.

We are entering the summer season of 2008 with much optimism.

Of course, when it comes to construction works, municipalities and the government placed maximum efforts into making sure that the season is met in the best manner possible”, Radovic emphasized.

Beside the regular activities of the National Tourist Association in order to ensure the success of the season, Director Radovic also reminds that a representation office had been opened in Frankfurt and that a similar office is soon to be opened in London, which would both significantly increase the number of tourists from these markets and ensure better cooperation of Montenegrin tourist industry with partners from both Germany and the UK.

“Increased number of flights by the national carrier, ‘Montenegro Airlines’ to the European capitals – London, Paris, Frankfurt, etc – would give additional boost to our efforts.

National Tourism Association had also produced a brochure entitled “Heritage of Different Cultures”, which is aimed at ever-increasing number of clients who are interested in this type of tourist product in Montenegro.

In cooperation with the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Business from Kotor and the Institute for Market Research from Munchen, National Tourist Organization conducts a research project. Aim of the project is to analyze a survey conducted among guests who will be staying at hotels during the upcoming season.

Results of this survey would present a basis for the future creation of Montenegro’s tourist offer, which would be in line with requests of tourists coming from markets which are of strategic importance”, Radovic announced.

According to the official forecast of the Ministry of Tourism and National Tourist Organization, estimated 1,26 Million guests will visit Montenegro during this year, which marks a 10 percent increase in comparison to 2007.

Estimates conclude that, by structure, 1,1 million of these guests would come from abroad, while 157,000 tourists would be domestic. Number of overnight stays is expected to reach the figure of seven million.

What is most important is the fact that Montenegro is expected to earn Euro 549 Million, which is by 14,5 percent higher than the income during 2007.

By: V. LAJOVIĆ