There are currently 5,200 registered tourists in the municipality of Kotor, which is a 26 percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to Jovan Ristić, the director of the local Tourist Organization.
Speaking to Radio Kotor, Ristić said that out of the total number of visitors, 3,190 are staying in private accommodations, 1,910 in hotels, 79 in hostels, and 26 in campsites.
He stated that 40 hotels are currently open, along with two campsites located in Stoliv and Morinj, and five hostels.
“In addition, we expect the Resource Center for Hearing and Speech and the Spasić Mašera hostel to begin operations in the coming days once conditions allow,” Ristić added.
As for the origin of visitors, tourists from Turkey and Western European countries currently dominate, particularly those from European Union countries, Israel, and Russia, as reported by Radio Kotor.
“It is encouraging that we are seeing more visitors from France, the United Kingdom, and Germany, which was not the case across Montenegro in recent months. During the peak summer season, we expect an increase in tourists from the former Yugoslav republics, especially from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Ristić.
Since the beginning of the year, there has been a noticeable rise in the number of day-trippers arriving in organized groups, who are required to pay an entrance fee to visit the Old Town.
“In May, we recorded a significant growth of almost 20 percent. In terms of excursion taxes, we collected just over 85,500 euros in May from visitors who toured the town with a guide,” he explained.
Ristić invited local residents who rent out apartments to register and download the Eboravak-Volim Kotor app, the first of its kind in Montenegro.
“It is completely free, very easy to use, and will help both our staff and the hosts themselves by allowing them to register their guests from home. It also ensures that their business is fully legal and avoids potential issues for both them and their guests,” he said.
He also mentioned that the Kotor Tourist Organization, in cooperation with other local tourist offices and the National Tourism Organization, promoted Kotor’s summer offer in Niš, Belgrade (at the Belgrade Manifest event), and Novi Sad.
“Independently, we presented our city in Szeged, Kotor’s twin city, at their traditional fair held as part of the city’s Day of Szeged celebration,” Ristić concluded.
