The summer season in the municipality of Herceg Novi has kicked off earlier than usual this year, thanks to a proactive pre-season that began as early as March, according to Dalibor Vuković, a representative from the Herceg Novi Tourist Organization (TO). Vuković reported a significant rise in the number of visitors since March, with the early summer months of June and July mirroring last year’s figures.
“During the pre-season, we saw a surge in visitors primarily from Western Europe. However, as the summer progresses, we are shifting our focus to attracting more regional tourists,” Vuković explained. He noted that improved air connectivity has played a crucial role in boosting visitor numbers. According to Monstat’s research, Herceg Novi has seen a noticeable increase in tourists from Western Europe. “We recorded a 10% increase in French visitors, a 30% rise in British tourists, and a 23% uptick in German visitors this year. These are vital markets where we have intensified our marketing efforts. In particular, our good air connections, especially through Dubrovnik Airport, from where around 30% of passengers continue their journey to us, have made a significant impact,” he added.
Herceg Novi is well-known for its vibrant summer music festivals, which are a defining feature of the city during this season. “The International ‘Days of Music’ festival will kick off on Wednesday, July 10. Following that, we have ‘Operosa,’ the ‘Guitar Art Summer Fest,’ and a film festival. Other notable events organized by the TO include the ‘Family Fun Festival,’ Trg od knjige (Book Square), and Trg od ćirilice (Cyrillic Square), which are key attractions in July and August,” Vuković said.
In addition to these, September will see the return of the “Comic Festival” for comic book enthusiasts, while gaming fans can look forward to “Big Game Fishing.” Vuković also announced a variety of other entertaining events planned to enrich the city’s tourism offer throughout the year.