Based on the preliminary data of the Statistical Office of Montenegro (MONSTAT) for the period Jan-Sept 2018, the number of tourists staying at the collective tourist accommodation establishments increased by 12.4%, while the overnight stays rose by 7.5%, compared with the same period last year.
At the session of the Tourism and Hospitality Industry Association Board within the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro was presented the Analysis of Quantitative and Qualitative Effects of the 2018 summer tourism season, as well as the activities related to the preparation and promotion of the forthcoming winter season 2018-19.
Good results
The report on tourism business encompassing the first nine months of the year, among other things, said that the number of domestic visitors increased by 6.1%, with an 3.8% increase in overnights. The average length of tourists’ stay in this period was 4.1/day.
As for the number of overnight stays by foreign visitors for the period January-August 2018, it was noted that tourists from 10 countries accounted for 65.4%. Travelers from Serbia took the lead with 15.9%, followed by tourists from Russia (13%), France (8.3%), Great Britain (5.5%), Germany (5.2%), Poland (4.5%), Bosnia and Herzegovina (4.3%), Switzerland (3.1%), the Czech Republic (2.7%) and Ukraine (2.1%).
It was evaluated that the 2018 revenues from tourism would amount to over EUR 1 billion. The session attendees also touched on the main problems that diminish quality of the Montenegrin tourism offer, concluding that the greatest ones refer to loud noise, grey economy and temporary facilities.
Preps for winter
According to the president of the National Tourism Organization, NTO, Željka Radak-Kukavičić, preparations for the winter season have already begun. The NTO will primarily focus on the promotion of events/offers for the New Year’s Eve.
“We intend to promote our offer in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and Dubrovnik-Neretva County. Also, we expect guests from France and Israel who come in our country every year, usually by the end of Jan or in Feb,” Radak-Kukavičić said.
