A protest was held in front of the offices of the Public Enterprise Morsko Dobro in Ulcinj, organized by three non-governmental organizations: the Association of Beach Leaseholders, the Ada Bojana Association and the Restaurant Association. The protest was in response to recent decisions made by the government and the public enterprise that have caused dissatisfaction among citizens.
The government’s decision to announce a tender for leasing beaches and facilities in the maritime domain has sparked strong reactions from former leaseholders and businesses in coastal municipalities.
Messages from protesters
Valentina Vanja Bogojević from the Restaurant Association Ada Bojana stated that government officials in Ulcinj only remember the town when they run out of money.
“Our coast is managed from Budva and the office of the Minister of Spatial Planning, Urbanism, and State Property, Slaven Radunović. We have areas in Ulcinj where we can invest money, not in Velje Brdo,” she said, adding that protests would continue with blockades.
According to Džavid Hodžić from the Association of Beach Leaseholders, the goal of the new decision, which triples the lease fees, is to destroy the economy.
“This tender must not proceed, as it will have far-reaching consequences for tourism,” said Hodžić.
The same view was expressed by the representative of the Ada Bojana NGO, Dijana Pelinković, who called on the government to retract its non-transparent and harmful decisions.
Ulcinj’s Mayor Genci Nimanbegu stated that this was an attempt to take away the livelihoods of Ulcinj’s citizens.
“This is just the beginning of protests, and we will win this battle,” Nimanbegu emphasized.
The protest was attended by the Vice President of the Montenegrin Parliament Nikola Camaj, the Minister of Public Administration Maraš Dukaj, the Mayor of Tuzi Lindon Đeljaj, members of the Albanian parties in the national parliament, and high officials from the local government.
Price increase concerns
The three organizations behind the protest issued a statement on Thursday opposing the government’s hasty decision to announce a tender for beach and facility leases in the maritime domain via an electronic session, without consulting local authorities and businesses.
They stated that the decision to drastically increase lease prices by up to 300% jeopardizes the business operations of leaseholders, raises the prices of tourism services, and threatens to destroy the tourism sector in Ulcinj and Montenegro. It also puts the future of Ada Bojana as a recognizable tourist destination in question, as the new conditions impose unbearable financial terms on leaseholders.
“This decision directly threatens the livelihoods of thousands of families dependent on tourism, making Montenegro uncompetitive compared to other countries in the region. The tender eliminates the criterion of leaseholder integrity, opening the door for individuals from criminal structures and jeopardizing the safety and credibility of Montenegrin tourism,” the organizations said, calling for an immediate retraction of the tender announcement under these terms and for the lease system to be returned to reasonable parameters.
Support from Nik Đeljošaj
The Vice President of the Government for Economic Affairs and Minister of Economic Development, Nik Đeljošaj, expressed his support for the citizens of Ulcinj, saying that although he had already committed to participating in a panel on the boycott of stores, he shares concerns about the process leading to the tender announcement, which reduces the points for previous leaseholders.
“I can’t say that what is bad is good. We cannot make such an important decision regarding the use of the maritime domain during an electronic government session. This should have been done in November or December to allow time for preparation. For me, this is adventurism,” said Đeljošaj, emphasizing that the government should not risk the country’s economy, with an estimated billion-euro tourism revenue, for an additional 15 to 20 million euros in lease income.
Mandatory documentation for tender participation
The Public Enterprise Morsko Dobro announced that only bidders who purchase the tender documentation will be allowed to participate in the tender.
“Interested bidders or their authorized representatives can obtain the tender documentation from the Morsko Dobro website or directly from the company’s offices. The purchase of the documentation must be evidenced by the original payment receipt, which must be included in the offer, bound with the other parts of the offer. Offers without proof of documentation purchase will be considered invalid and will not be evaluated,” said Morsko Dobro representatives.
Required documentation for participation in the tender for businesses, legal entities, and entrepreneurs includes the name and address of the headquarters, the proposed price, and a statement accepting all terms and conditions outlined in the public call and tender documentation.
The Ministry of Tourism has supported the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism, and State Property, as well as Morsko Dobro, in implementing changes to improve the management of the maritime domain for the period of 2024-2028. The government’s decision to announce a new tender for leasing Montenegrin beaches represents a step towards more efficient and sustainable management of maritime property, benefiting both citizens and the economy.
“The goal is to direct efforts toward improving both service quality and the state’s profit. Equally important is ensuring fair conditions for all potential leaseholders. Strengthening competitiveness and transparency is crucial for the further development of the tourism sector and the economy as a whole, and applying market transparency standards is part of the obligation to align with EU procedures and standards,” the ministry stated.
They also emphasized their commitment to supporting all initiatives that contribute to sustainable development, the enhancement of tourism offerings, and the strengthening of the institutional framework for managing natural resources.
