By the end of this year, 505 cruise ships with over 700,000 passengers are expected to dock at the Port of Kotor, according to the director of the port, Ljubo Radović. He stated that if these projections materialize, Kotor will become a key hub for the cruise industry in the Adriatic-Ionian region.
Radović reported that the Port of Kotor successfully concluded the previous cruise season, with 434 cruise ships entering the waters of the ancient city in Boka Bay last year.
“The Port of Kotor had one of the most successful years last year. The number of ship arrivals was 434, which is identical to the previous year, but with a significant increase in the number of passengers. We had an increase of over 20 percent in the number of passengers, considering both cruise passengers and yacht passengers, totaling about 508,000,” said Radović.
He highlighted that surpassing half a million passengers is a significant achievement, as the number of passengers is a crucial tourism product for the entire industry.
According to Radović, based on current confirmed reservations, the Port of Kotor expects a record year.
“We have announced 505 ships, which is an impressive number that requires special attention and planning in terms of operational implementation of all these arrivals. These are confirmed reservations. We need to consider the possibility of some cancellations in the operational part,” Radović noted.
He emphasized that the crucial figure for them is the number of passengers, exceeding 700,000.
“I think these figures will place Montenegro at a level higher than what Dubrovnik has, and I dare say even more than Venice due to the restrictions that Venice faces regarding the stay of ships. So, Kotor, as a destination, has positioned itself as one of the largest hubs in the cruise industry in the Adriatic-Ionian basin,” Radović stated.
As part of the primary concession agreement, the Port of Kotor will soon start the construction of pylons, which will be used for mooring larger vessels.
By the end of January, Radović mentioned that they expect the completion of a study that will define the guidelines for the development of Kotor as a sustainable cruise and tourist destination. The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), a non-profit organization functioning within the United Nations, will prepare the study. The study is co-financed by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the Port of Kotor, and the Municipality of Kotor.
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