Montenegro’s National Parks (NPCG) have reported growth in both visitor numbers and revenue despite the cancellation of organized visits from Israel to Biogradska Gora and Skadar Lake National Parks.
Overall revenue increased by about 34% across all parks in the first six months of the year, with Lovćen National Park seeing visitor numbers more than double in June alone.
NPCG Director Marinela Đuretić attributed this success to intensified field activities and improved payment controls, reflecting positive national tourism trends during this period.
However, the company faces operational challenges due to suspected abuses of sick leave and increasing disciplinary violations. Since mid-September last year, 49 disciplinary proceedings have been initiated, with 27 cases confirming employee responsibility. Notably, 41 employees are currently on sick leave, including 19 of 39 staff at Lovćen National Park, which severely disrupts daily operations.
Đuretić expressed concerns that the high number of sick leaves may be an attempt to avoid disciplinary actions, potentially obstructing the company’s efforts to improve systems and monitoring.
Financial pressures also weigh on NPCG due to ongoing legal disputes, with around 250 employees seeking unpaid wages accumulated over several years. The company has appealed to the Ministry of Finance and the Prime Minister for support in resolving this potential financial crisis.
Since the start of the year, over 314,000 tourists have visited the national parks, all of which report increased attendance. Additionally, nearly 10,000 nature enthusiasts have purchased annual passes, indicating strong and growing interest.
