Saint Stephen, the symbol of Montenegrin tourism, is closed to visitors even on its 65th anniversary, while tourism workers warn that the season is weak, despite official data on a large number of tourists
Although it was once a symbol of Montenegrin tourism, the city-hotel Sveti Stefan is celebrating its 65th birthday without guests. While officials record more than 130.000 tourists in the country, the tourism sector says that the season is below expectations and that the peak is still to be expected, writes Aleksandar Mudreš for DW.
The once fashionable resort and the pride of Montenegro's tourist offer has been gaping empty since 2021. The padlock was placed after the tenant, the company "Adriatic properties", and the government could not agree on the terms and conditions for using the island and beaches for all tourists, not just hotel guests. The dispute, which weighs one hundred million euros, is before the arbitration court in London, and the closing arguments are scheduled for the end of July.
Budva parliament member Đorđe Zenović told DW that Sveti Stefan, which has been locked for years, is a symbol of the hopelessness in which Montenegro finds itself as a tourist destination.
"Perhaps the moment of long-term leasing of this natural and cultural pearl in the Mediterranean was the beginning of the decline of Budva and Montenegro as a great tourist potential," says Zenović. Due to lack of use, the hotel "is falling into disrepair" and, according to tourism expert Miško Radjenović, it may meet the end of the trial in an even worse state.
"Perhaps an out-of-court settlement should be organized as soon as possible so that the hotel is ready for the next season. If Sveti Stefan was open, perhaps, in addition to numerous world figures, Jeff Bezos would also get married at the popular Svec," Rađenović told DW.
Novak Djokovic didn't help either
At the beginning of February this year, the most successful tennis player in history, Novak Djokovic, tried to help to remove the padlock from the Sveti Stefan city hotel. After talking with Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, Djokovic told "Vijesti" that he would use his name and influence to resolve the problem between the Government and the tenant.
The global ambassador of the "Aman" company clarified that they held "initial talks" and were informed "about everything", stressing that he is trying to work for the "general interest" of Montenegro and that he hopes that a solution to the problem will be "on the horizon" very soon...
As "great" a season as it could have been
According to data from the National Tourist Organization and local tourist organizations, over 130 guests are currently staying in Montenegro. The Ministry of Tourism says that it is evident that collective accommodation, according to reports from Booking, recorded an increase of four percent compared to last year and 16-17 percent compared to 2019, which is marked as a record season.
A long-time restaurateur from Petrovac, Ilija Armenko, told DW that the fact that about 130 guests stay in Montenegro, and that there are about 500 beds, speaks volumes about the season.
"In the 1990s, Montenegro recorded ten million overnight stays, now it does not exceed one and a half million. We are now talking about the demise of tourism. We must look each other in the eye," Armenko told DW.
Expected in Budva
The season in Budva is at a satisfactory level, according to the local tourist organization. Despite the official statistics, some representatives of the tourism industry are not satisfied because they had higher expectations.
"The participation of the municipality of Budva in the total tourist traffic in Montenegro for the period January-May is 40% in arrivals and 43% in overnight stays. According to the preliminary data of the Administration for Statistics of Montenegro - Monstat, 167.331 arrivals and 470.162 overnight stays of guests were recorded in collective accommodation in Budva for the first five months.
Comparing with the same period last year, there was a 2% increase in arrivals, while a 4% drop in overnight stays was recorded. The majority of guests are from Germany, Serbia, France, the United Kingdom, Israel, Turkey, Albania, China, Austria and Croatia," points out TO Budva director Ana Vujošević.
Did Montenegro lose the battle with the region?
Increasing taxes in the tourism sector, the lack of a clear strategy to attract guests, reliance on circumstances that affected competing tourist destinations, excessive urbanization to the extent of construction lobbies, not citizens and tourists, pricing policy, "ad hoc" bad and reckless moves by local and state authorities, lack of basic road and city infrastructure - these are just some of the reasons why Montenegro has come to this situation, Zenović points out.
"On the other hand, Albania did everything the opposite of us and reached all the world maps for its natural beauty, well-arranged resorts, high-quality and affordable accommodation offer and original gastronomic offer. To the extent that they threatened Croatia as well and recorded unstoppable growth in all parameters. This season may be weaker according to forecasts and expectations, but according to how much and how we worked - excellent", says Zenović and concludes that he is afraid of what kind of seasons await us in the coming years if the consciousness of those who they decide "not to change radically" and if we do not understand that Montenegro is not the only country with seas, mountains and lakes.
Only the court can determine who caused injuries to whom, said lawyer Edvin S. Prelić, reacting to the claims of the Kreni-promeni movement that Aelksandar Šapić caused serious physical injuries to councilor Tatjana Mićić
The student plan calls for six months of voluntary military service, better conditions for members of the military, investment in equipment and the defense industry, an investigation into early deaths and numerous other changes.
The student list is asking for an investigation into the origin of the fake document, which threatens with the confiscation of pensions and prison sentences. The Ministry of Finance confirmed that the statements in the document are false
The students in the blockade of DUNP reported to the disciplinary prosecutor two Novi Pazar judges for attending the SNS pre-election rally. They say that such behavior undermines the independence of the judiciary
Consultations are being held in the House of the National Assembly on Friday before the constitution of the new convocation
At the moment when the institutions of the Republic are destroyed, when Vučić's octopus is still alive, when people are disgusted by the injustice and the stench left behind by the Essenes regime, we have, as Machiavelli said, only civic virtue as the fuel with which we can return to the beginning
The four independent members of REM are an example of perseverance and civic responsibility. Rodoljub Šabić even, upon leaving the premises of REM, after the sentencing of the Informer, experienced that the Essenes insulted him, hit him with their hands and feet. But that too will soon be over
Vučić pardoned the batterers and Dijana Hrkalović. The election winners should abolish the sultan's power that allows one man to run afoul of the entire judicial system
Interview: Branko Stamenković, public prosecutor of the Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office
A black picture and the breakdown of the rule of law subscribeThe archive of the weekly Vreme includes all our digital editions, since the very beginning of our work. All issues can be downloaded in PDF format, by purchasing the digital edition, or you can read all available texts from the selected issue.
See all
