Montenegro could be a perfect place for recovery and healthy lifestyle. With its untzouched natural beauty, plenty of sun and fresh air, we have got stable foundations for creating unique and attractive offers in tourism that will strengthen immune system, said in the interview with Pobjeda director general of the Directorate for the development of tourism destination and tourism infrastructure, Mr Ćazim Hodžić.
According to Mr Hodžić, our country is rich in resources in the domain of health tourism and this is the right time to use them in strategic way for the sake of citizens.
Mr Hodžić points out that process of healthcare services in MNE are low in comparison with countries in Western Europe and part of Balkan countries.
“For Montenegro, development of health tourism is a great opportunity for the creation of new jobs and diversification of tourist offer, especially having regard to the fact that health tourism has been on the rise over the past years”, Mr Hodžić says.
Apart from extension of the season, health tourism generates exceptional financial results.
Value of the health tourism has been increasing steadily and it is the only industry that hasn’t recorded negative effects during recession.
“Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism is taking specific activities to achieve concrete results in the forthcoming period. One of them is development of the Program of the development of health tourism in MNE 2021/2023 with Action plan by 2023, which will define further directions of development of this type of tourism”, Mr Hodžić explains.
Situation with COVID-19 has affected deadlines.
“Strategic objective of development of tourism is to be recognized as high-quality and full-year destination. Everybody knows that health security depends on adherence to health regulations, health circumstances and organization of national, regional and local healthcare system”, Mr Hodžić points out.
He says that huge investments in this segment of tourist offer in Europe are yet to come.
“In the countries of Western Europe and America, going abroad for reasons of medical treatment has reached expansion”, Mr Hodžić says.
Overall costs with transport, costs, escort are several times smaller than treatment in the homeland.
Successful commercialization of the new offer requires careful observation of target markets and segments.
POTENTIAL
Sea and mountains have been main motives for arrivals of tourists in our country.
“Spatial plan of Montenegro defines areas favorable for development of specific types of tourism. In that context, coastal region has potential for development of bathing, cultural, sport and recreational, health and wellness, nautical and rural tourism”, Mr Hodžić states.
Potential of Ulcinj Riviera and “Topolica” sport hall in Bar is also great.
” In addition, sport halls in Žabljak and Kolašin enable preparation of athletes at higher altitudes. As far as medical tourism is concerned, Institute in Igalo is very important, as it has been represented as European brand for a long time. Special hospital for pulmonary diseases in Brezovik, “Meljine” hospital, PI “Kakaricka gora” and a great number of private healthcare institutions in entire MNE do not lag behind”, Mr Hodžić said.
If we add to this many other well-designed programs of mountaineering and cycling, we can conclude that this segment offers considerable development potential.
Finally, health tourism can certainly be leading product in Montenegro’s tourist offer.
Ranking our healthcare system on the European list
Mr Ćazim Hodžić says that the fact that Montenegrin healthcare system made a progress by nine places in 2017, being now 25th in Europe.
