Despite the promising outlook for this year’s tourist season, Montenegro continues to grapple with persistent issues in infrastructure, market offerings and attracting affluent tourists.
“The workforce is a major problem, especially the misalignment between the academic sector and market demands. Additionally, there are discrepancies in prices, mainly in private accommodation and hospitality services, which do not always reflect the perceived quality. Infrastructure is another concern, particularly air accessibility, since Montenegro heavily relies on air travel for arrivals,” economics and tourism professor Ivo Županović told Gradska RTV.
Županović also pointed out the shortage of high-spending tourists.
“High-spending guests, who contribute the most financially to a destination, are primarily MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) guests. This indicates a need for more hotels with conference facilities. Additionally, sports tourism is vital, as research from the International Olympic Committee shows that 92% of visitors are either participants or spectators,” he explained.
With only 25% of accommodation in hotels, there is a need for a different structure in the overall accommodation offerings, Županović added.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Tourism has asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to establish a temporary visa regime to attract high-spending tourists from Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Armenia.
