The tourism ministers of Montenegro and Israel, Simonida Kordić and Haim Katz, have reached an agreement to pursue a bilateral cooperation framework in tourism, with plans to finalize the details later this year. This announcement was made during Kordić’s official visit to Israel, where she participated in the International Tourism Fair in Tel Aviv, engaging in high-level discussions aimed at strengthening the travel and tourism sectors of both nations.
Both ministers highlighted the strong bilateral relations and existing cooperation in tourism, indicating that the forthcoming agreement aims to formalize and expand these efforts. The focus will be on facilitating exchanges and supporting initiatives designed to increase visitor numbers and enhance collaboration within the industry. They emphasized the necessity of ongoing ministerial engagement and consistent interaction between their teams as they work towards finalizing the tourism cooperation agreement.
The discussions also underscored Montenegro’s current leadership role in the UN World Tourism Organization’s European Commission, which includes hosting international forums, organizing investment-oriented events, and promoting collaborative initiatives like the Bridging Destinations program alongside other regional tourism markets. These efforts are intended to elevate Montenegro’s profile and competitiveness within global tourism markets. Recent years have seen a notable increase in Israeli visitors to Montenegro, attributed to improved direct flight connections, a growing interest in Mediterranean destinations, and enhanced marketing campaigns targeting Israeli tourists.
The anticipated bilateral tourism cooperation agreement is viewed as a component of a larger strategy aimed at reinforcing economic and cultural connections, encouraging sustainable tourism flows, and capitalizing on mutual interests in regional connectivity, travel promotion, and investment facilitation. Both countries are focused on advancing their tourism sectors while fostering deeper interpersonal connections.
