Montenegro’s Tourism Minister Simonida Kordić called for a lasting visa solution that meets European Union obligations without making it harder for tourists from important markets to visit, after talks with a British official in London. The issue affects what she described as Montenegro’s most important economic sector, while tourist arrivals from the United Kingdom rose about 22% this year compared with last year.
Kordić met Metju Findli, a senior official at the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office responsible for Central and South-Eastern Europe. Their talks covered Montenegro’s path to EU membership, visa policy and efforts to strengthen the British tourism market. Findli described Montenegro as an increasingly popular destination, with visa alignment a particular focus of the meeting.
Under changes intended to bring Montenegro’s visa policy into line with the EU’s, citizens of Belarus, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have needed a visa to enter Montenegro since 1 November, except where current regulations provide otherwise. The changes are part of Montenegro’s EU accession obligations, including work toward closing Negotiating Chapter 24 on justice, freedom and security under the Reform Agenda.
The minister said the departments responsible for visa policy needed a permanent answer that fulfilled those obligations while preventing visa procedures from obstructing arrivals from important tourist markets. She said she had raised the risk of such obstacles with the relevant institutions and wanted a solution as soon as possible.
Citizens of the five countries who entered Montenegro legally before midnight ahead of 1 November may stay without a visa for up to 30 days, subject to the rules applying to them. Those legally in the country on 1 November may continue their stay under the applicable regulations.
British market and regional promotion
Overnight stays by visitors from the United Kingdom increased about 16% this year compared with last year, alongside the rise in arrivals. Kordić pointed to air connectivity and growing British interest as potential support for closer cooperation and quality tourism throughout the year.
She described EU membership as a strategic priority and an important precondition for better living standards, stability and the investment climate, while thanking the United Kingdom for its support and cooperation. Montenegro’s tourism strategy, she said, centres on quality, protecting natural resources, authenticity and greater benefits for local residents.
The European Travel Commission ranked Montenegro as the most desirable European destination in its research. Montenegro also received the Europe’s Leading Nature Destination award at the World Travel Awards 2026.
The meeting covered Bridging Destinations, an initiative through which Montenegro and other countries in the region are developing a joint approach to promoting South-Eastern Europe in distant international markets. Kordić presented the case for linking the region’s tourism offers, and Findli saw potential for the initiative to improve its international profile and competitiveness.
Both officials identified room for closer cooperation on promotion in the British market, transport links, knowledge exchange and regional tourism initiatives. The unresolved visa question remains with the responsible institutions, which Kordić has urged to find a lasting solution as soon as possible.
