Montenegro aims for 700,000 UK stays
Montenegro is predicting 700,000 overnight stays by UK holidaymakers in five years time – up from 75,000 projected for 2006.
First Choice is considering a return to the Adriatic nation following other operators such as Thomson featuring the country, according to the National Tourism Organisation of Montenegro.
The country also expects to attract low cost airlines, particularly following the modernisation and expansion of the Podgorica and Tivat Airports.
Director Vojin Vlahovic said the country’s new tourism strategy was to attract more discerning visitors by encouraging private investment to modernise existing hotels and build new resorts. Montenegro also wants to diversify its tourism offering, particularly with developments in active tourism, wellness, meeting and incentives and eco-tourism.
A key element in the country’s recent development has been the privatisation and subsequent modernisation of hotels. Ten new hotels are expected to open in 2007, adding 5,000 new beds to the country’s offering.
Around 350 million euros of private investment has gone towards the modernisation of hotels, mostly four and five star properties, and the government has invested a further 150 million euros in improving the transport and utilities infrastructure.
Negotiations with international developers and investors are in place for new, upscale hotel resorts, luxury yacht clubs and marinas.
The country claims to be on track to achieve a forecast set by the World Travel and Tourism Council for the tourism industry to generate 420 million euros in 2006. The WTTC has identified Montenegro as the fastest growing tourism market in the world, and expects this figure to grow to 1.5 billion euros by 2016.
Tourism minister Predrag Nenezic said: “We have had another successful tourist season, repeating the annual growth rate of approximately 15% that we’ve experienced since 2002. This is further proof of the dramatic recovery of our country in the last few years, and a fantastic reward for our government’s efforts to continuously improve and further develop our tourism offering.”
Report by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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