At a meeting of the Coordination Body for the Preparation and Monitoring of Tourist Seasons, it was highlighted that significant efforts are underway to prepare for the upcoming summer tourist season. A visa regime has been approved from March to November for five countries, incentive measures to improve the tourism offer have been defined, and new flight routes will soon be launched.
Tourism Minister Simonida Kordić informed the members that her ministry is actively working on preparations for the summer season, with monthly Coordination Body meetings already producing some results.
The previous meeting emphasized the need to approve a temporary visa-free regime for tourists from Armenia, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Uzbekistan, and holders of valid foreign documents with residency permits in the UAE. Following the initiative of the Ministry of Tourism and in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government has timely approved this decision, which will be in effect from March to November.
Additionally, Minister Kordić noted that the Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the National Tourism Organization, has defined incentive measures to support the enhancement of the tourism offer and diversify the tourism product.
The program includes seven support measures for organizing events, improving service quality in rural tourism, digitalization, supporting MICE tourism development, study visits for tour operators and travel agencies, destination promotion, and enhancing organized air arrivals through joint marketing campaigns with tour operators.
Funds for the incentive measures will be allocated through a public call.
During the summer season, Montenegro will also improve its air connectivity by introducing new routes with the airline Vueling, which will operate three times a week between Barcelona and Tivat. Gulf Air will also be operating with connecting flights to Bahrain and Athens.
Discussions also touched on the importance of introducing transit taxes. A working group will soon be formed, consisting of representatives from several sectors, to analyze relevant laws and regulations, taking into account EU obligations, and determine the feasibility of introducing a transit tax along Montenegro’s coastline to reduce traffic congestion during the summer tourist season.
