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Magazine of The Ministry Of Sustainable Development and Tourism
TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT December 2016
ENTER THE ĐALOVIĆA CAVE Investor Romy Hawatt
STJEPAN HAUSER 2CELLOS
BYBLOS 2 IN PODGORICA OLD TOWN
WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED ABOUT SOLANA IN VENICE? THE CRAZIEST NIGHT
New Year's AS ENTERTAINMENT AND PROFIT MORiT.me
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TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT
CONTENTS
December 2016
38.
10. .
58.
56.
44.
26.
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TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT - December 2016
18.
Cover photo: Michael Kaminski
INTRODUCTION
3
TOURISM NEWS
4 - 7
Prize-giving ceremony held for public invitation “All the Wonders of Montenegro”: THE PROJECT THAT PRODUCES CREATIVE ENERGY
8-9
Investor Romy Hawatt, “Riana Group Montenegro”: BY BINDING BUSINESSES TO FULL COMFORT OF THE CLIENT 10 - 13 Maja Kovačević and Milica Lekić VAT REDUCTION IS NOT A GOAL BUT A MEANS
14 - 17
48 - 49
PRESS CLIPPING: Montenegro in Foreign Media
50 - 53
Marko Mirović TOURIST VISIT TO VIRTUAL REALITY
54 - 55
INTERESTING FACTS ~ DID YOU KNOW? 56 - 57 Interview with Danilo Vukmirović, Winemaker And Beekeeper: WINE TOURISM IN CEKLIN 58 - 61 EVENTS IN DECEMBER
Milica Lekić DOZENS THOUSANDS OF VISITORS DURING THE NEW YEAR’S HOLIDAYS
18 - 25
Stjepan Hauser, 2CELLOS: MONTENEGRO IS BEAUTIFUL AND WE WILL BE COMING BACK AGAIN
26 - 29
15th Biennale in Venice is closed VENICE REVIVES DEBATE ON SOLANA
Interview with Ivana Vojinović: 21 MILLION EUROS FOR DISTRICT HEATING INFRASTRUCTURE OF PLJEVLJA MUNICIPALITY
62 - 65
PAGE 62 30 - 37
Ivana Radoman: Great potential for speleological tourism in Montenegro: ĐALOVIĆA CAVE - SPELEOLOGICAL JEWEL OF MONTENEGRO 38 - 43 Interview with Marko Slokar: ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION IS THE MOST CHALLENGING PROCESS, BUT WITH MANY BENEFITS 44 - 47
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MONTENEGRO M I N I S T R Y O F S U S TA I N A B L E D E V E L O P M E N T AND TOURISM
MINISTRY OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM MINISTER:
Pavle Radulović ADDRESS:
IV Proleterske brigade 19 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro TELEPHONE:
+382 (0)20 446 346 +382 (0)20 446 347 +382 (0)20 446 341 FAX:
+382 (0)20 446 215 TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT EDITORIAL TEAM: Marina Miketić Nikolić marina.miketic@mrt.gov.me Milica Lekić milica.lekic@mrt.gov.me Ivana Radoman ivana.radoman@mrt.gov.me Marko Mirović marko.mirovic@mrt.gov.me DESIGN: Ana Đurković WEB-SITE:
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MONTENEGRO NATIONAL TOURISM ORGANISATION DIRECTOR:
Željka Radak Kukavičić ADDRESS:
Marka Miljanova 17 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro TELEPHONE:
+382 077 100 001 FAX:
+382 077 100 009 E-MAIL:
info@montenegro.travel WEB-SITE:
www.montenegro.travel ntocg
@SeeMontenegro
CALL CENTER :
0 8000 1300
Dear readers, Tourism is the most significant economic branch of this country, thus we will, just like in the area of the environment, direct all our efforts to development and growth of sustainable tourism. While in the area of the environment our primary goal will be to preserve nature and space for future generations, in tourism it will be the growth generated through an offer recognizable for our region.
First of all I would like to greet you, wish you pleasant holidays and a successful coming year. Since the renewal of independence to this day, and I would dare say even decades before that, generations who managed our country had complex, substantial, and why not say, historical national goals, whether related to internal or external policy. This Government, I believe, as no other before, has been given a chance to focus on the improvement of the standard of living. The key of any sustainable development is adequate and efficient environmental protection. Our goal is primarily to preserve natural beauties which are without doubt the greatest treasure of Montenegro and develop them to the extent that will not have unacceptable impact on eco systems within them. At the same time, in this way we want to involve them in serving to tourism and promotion of Montenegro as an ecological state. We will develop the environment, with special emphasis on the National Parks and other protected zones, guided and led by the greatest world experts from this area, where any interested local parties and wider public will take part as well.
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All the measured indexes for this year, when it comes to tourism, are better than the ones from last year. But we mustn’t allow ourselves to stop there, satisfied with the achieved. The fact that we are better than we used to be does not mean that we are good enough, and particularly it does not mean that we are better than the others against who we are competing in the market. So, in every segment of our activities we will rely on our own and the resources outside our country, i.e. on those who know the best, who know how and who can. Motivation and professionalism should be the key features of the officials wanting to inweave their work in a sustainable vision of work of this Ministry. I believe that by joint commitment to work that is entrusted to us we can preserve the nature and space and develop them in the way that will be equally comfortable to citizens and invaluable for eco systems of our country – the country we inherited from our ancestors and that we are obliged to leave to future generation as legacy that they will be proud of.
Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism Pavle Radulović
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TOURISM NEWS
MONTENEGRIN OFFER FOR NEW YEAR’S HOLIDAYS AND WINTER SEASON PRESENTED IN BELGRADE, TREBINJE AND DUBROVNIK The Montenegro National Tourism Organisation in cooperation with local tourism organizations and tourism industry representatives presented the offer for New Year’s holidays and winter season in Belgrade, Trebinje and Dubrovnik. The attendees were mostly interested in the offer for the coming New Year’s holidays, as well as the program for Mimosa Festival that is held in February. Local tourism organizations of Bar, Budva, Tivat, Herceg Novi, Podgorica, Žabljak presented the offers of their cities, as well as the ski resort “Vučje” and the hotel “Bianca Resort and Spa”.
MONTENEGRO TOURISM OFFER PRESENTED AT THE CITM 2016 IN SHANGAI The National Tourism Organisation of Montenegro (NTO MNE) presented the tourism offer of Montenegro at the international Travel Mart CITM 2016 that took place in Shanghai from 11 to 13 November of the current year. Taking into account the specifics of this for Montenegro remote market and habits of Chinese tourists to visit as many geographically close countries as possible during their travels, the NTO MNE shared its stand with the Serbia Tourism Organisation as has been the case in the previous years. The tour operator “Fly Montenegro” and the hotel “Maestral” presented their offers at this joint stand, too. 6
TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT - December 2016
9,02%
more tourists who stayed at hotels inclusive of September
MONTENEGRO IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE INTERESTING FOR DISTANT MARKETS In the organization by the NTO MNE, at the initiative by the Embassy of Montenegro in the United Arab Emirates, Ibrahim Tutanji, editor-in-chief of the Albayan Magazine, official magazine of the Dubai Government that is followed by over 20 000 000 readers, visited Montenegro in the period 7 – 11 November, as well as Talal Alarshed, the owner of one of the leading PR and marketing companies in Dubai. Also, the representatives of tour operators from Georgia paid three-day study visit to Montenegro, and in addition to visiting well-known tourism locations they had an opportunity to meet the representatives of local tourism organizations and associations of travel agents of Montenegro (ATA) and discuss potentials for establishing joint cooperation.
5,24%
more tourists inclusive of September MONTENEGRIN TOURISM OFFER AT THE INTERNATIONAL TOURISM TRADE SHOW “WTM” IN LONDON This year, as usually, Montenegro has presented its tourism offer at the most significant international tourism trade show World Travel Market (WTM), which was held in the period from 7 to 9 November in London. At the stand of Montenegro, local tourism organizations of Budva, Bar, Kotor, Podgorica, hotels HG “Budvanska Rivijera”, “Montenegro Stars Hotel Group”, “Beppler and Jacobson”, “The Queen of Montenegro”, “CentreVille Hotel and Experiences”, “Dukley Hotels and Resorts”, “Regent Porto Montenegro”, and Airports of Montenegro presented their offers, too.
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TOURISM NEWS
BUDVA MICE OFFER PRESENTED AT THE CONGRESS TOURISM FAIR IN BARCELONA The Budva Tourism Organisation (TO) presented the tourism offer of Montenegro and Budva Riviera with a special emphasis on the offer from the sphere of congress tourism at the specialized fair “Incentives, Business Travel & Meeting Expo - IBTM World”, which was held from 29 November to 1 December in Barcelona. In addition to the TO Budva, the following also presented their offers: hotels “Regent – Porto Montenegro”, “Avala” and “Bjanka”, company “Bepler&Jacobson”, then agencies DMC “Talas M”, “Luminalis”, “Terranautica” and “Gorbis”.
3,55%
increase in the number of visitors to National Parks inclusive of October
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TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT - December 2016
9,56%
THE RALLY GUMBALL PASSES THROUGH MONTENEGRO
increase in the turnover of aircrafts inclusive of October
THE ĐALOVIĆA CAVE MONTENEGRIN PEARL IN WHICH 12 MILLION EURO WILL BE INVESTE
The Đalovića Cave is a pearl of Montenegrin not only speleological but also overall tourism offer, where around 12 million Euro will be invested in the years to come while its natural values will be strictly observed and each cave decoration will be preserved by using assembling and disassembling structures – as was stated at the presentation held with regard to the plans for its valorisation. Namely, the Economic Feasibility Study has been completed for the tourism valorisation of the Đalovića Cave including a conceptual design for development of a part of the cave which was covered at the presentation held on 16 November by the Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism Branimir Gvozdenović and the leader of the team that produced the Study professor Rifat Alihodžić, PhD. During the presentation it was pointed out that the Đalovića Cave had been explored in the length of about 17.5 kilometres and the Study proposed that developed touristic part should be somewhat over 814 metres long including nine halls and ten plateaus for visitors, and a chair-lift should be constructed and be operational from the Monastery Podvrh to the cave itself.
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The twelfth annual rally Gumball 3000 will take place in the period from 1 to 8 July 2017, and 120 super-cars will drive from Riga (Latvia) to the Greek island Mykonos in the Aegean Sea. One of the stops of the rally will be in Montenegro, i.e. marina Porto Montenegro. On Wednesday, 5 July, the rally Gumball participants will be in Porto Montenegro, where the spectators will have an opportunity to enjoy a spectacular exhibition of cars like Pagani, Bugatti, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Aston Martin, Koenigsegg, BAC mono, AMG Mercedes, Jaguar, Bentley, Rolls Royce, and other futuristic concept cars. The rally participants come from over 30 countries, including rock music stars, members of royal families, as well as famous DJs, personalities from the world of sport, film and television, then entrepreneurs and car enthusiasts.
11,22%
increase in the number of motor vehicles on border crossings inclusive of October
15,40%
increase in the turnover of vehicles through the tunnel Sozina inclusive of October
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PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY HELD FOR PUBLIC INVITATION “ALL THE WONDERS OF MONTENEGRO”
The Project that Produces
Creative Energy In category A, the first prize was awarded to the NGO “Green Home” for the “Legend of 365 churches in the old town Svač”. The National Parks have proven to be one of the best applicants, and their work has been noticed by the expert jury who awarded them the first prize in the category B for the project “Valorisation of the steamship Skenderbeg in the NP Skadar Lake” Author: Vasilije Prelević
he official prize-giving ceremony marked the completion of the first phase of the project “All the Wonders of Montenegro”. Up to this moment, 255 high-quality applications have arrived to the address of the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism, and the jury have selected the best one hundred. The ceremony was held at the Hotel Hilton, and the prizes were presented by the Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism Pavle Radulović, the Chairperson of the Jury Živko Andrijašević and Director of the Investment Development Fund Zoran Vukčević. In category A - a proposal for inclusion in the list of All the Wonders of Montenegro, the first prize of EUR 2,000 was awarded to the NGO “Green Home” for the project “The legend of 365 churches in the old town Svač”. The second prize of EUR1,500 was awarded to Jovana Milović and Haris Bajramović who submitted
T
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TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT - December 2016
an application titled “Following the paths of Vladimir and Kosara”. The third prize of EUR 1,000 was awarded to the Public Company National Parks for the project “Valorisation of prehistoric drawings in the National Park Prokletije”. The National Parks have proven to be among the best applicants, and their hard work was noticed by the expert jury, based on whose votes they were awarded the first prize in category B for the project “Valorisation of the steamboat Skenderberg in the NP Skadar Lake”. The second prize was awarded to the UNDP Centre for Sustainable Development for the project “The Botanical Garden of Montenegro”, and the third prize was awarded to the Culture Centre Kolašin for the application “Valorisation of the Mrtvica Canyon”. In category C - business initiatives, purchase prizes of EUR 500 were awarded to ten projects, which will apply for a loan with the IDF by submitting the required documents:
NO
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
PROJECT APPLICANTS “Catalogue of Lakes of Montenegro - Myths and Legends” “Vranjina – the heart of the Lake” “Business initiative - Agro-eco-katun Rikavačko Lake” “Establishing hostel for accommodating the Mrtvica Canyon visitors” “Construction of the Mountain Hut “Maganik” “Miracle in Njegovuđa” “Biogradsko Lake – example of sustainable transport” “Ljubišnja – legend and potentials for tourism development” “Topovnik – Business initiative for valorisation”
While presenting the awards the Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism Pavle Radulović thanked the attendees and expressed his satisfaction for being able to share a positive experience regarding the implementation of one of the, as he put it, most interesting projects in the previous period. - I would like to congratulate all the participants in the competition, because this is a fantastic opportunity for all creative people to show what we in Montenegro have to show, and really, we have plenty that the tourists should be made aware of. It is a pity that a lot of us have seen many wonders of the world, but did not see the wonders of Montenegro. I would like to thank the dedicated team of people who had hard work to select a hundred applications out of 255 to be awarded today – said Minister Radulović. The Chairperson of the jury, historian Živko Andrijašević introduced the attendees with the method applied in the evaluation of all applications received, thanked everyone who applied and congratulated the awarded. - The jury evaluated all applications received based on the cultural - historical, ecological and tourism aspects. After the scoring that was carried out on an online platform, we reached a ranking order, which is the result of simple adding of points awarded in these three categories – pointed out Mr. Andrijašević. As he says, what’s the most important is that this competition provided a serious number of creative ideas, significant proposals, which show all the values of Montenegro, which are before us, but not sufficiently observed. I can freely say that we have caused a creative movement. The jury is expressing their satisfaction with the quality and contents of ideas and proposals received under this competition – Mr. Andrijašević concluded. The Director of the Investment Development Fund Zoran Vukčević pointed out that the project “All the Wonders of Montenegro” proved that our country had potentials for business. MORiT.me
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Ognjen Đurišić LLC Interbrand Vedrana Rašović PI elementary school “Međuriječje“ MC ,,Visokogorci Crne Gore” LLC ,,Točak” NP ,,Biogradska Gora” Asim Kuhinja Milun Tomović
-I believe that a large number of ideas that were presented can truly be a miracle of business in Montenegro and can be valorized in the right way. The IDF has provided a special credit line for implementation of all those business ideas that represent sustainable development and which meet all the necessary requirements. We have provided utterly favourable conditions. The interest rate ranges from one to 1.5 percent, which represents an additional challenge for those who have the potential to do business - said Vukčević. The credit line within this project represents an additional impulse for further encouraging of new jobs. In line with its Procedures, the IDF will support the selected business ideas according to the following criteria: Loan amount up to € 5,000 depending on the business idea, Interest rate: from 1% to 1.5%, Repayment period: up to 6 years, including grace period of 12 months. Public Invitation for the project was announced on 17 July of the current year. After that the promotional road show of “All the wonders of Montenegro” visited all municipalities in Montenegro, where presentations were made and constructive dialogues held with individuals, tourism employees. The project was responded to with more than a positive reaction by citizens and institutions, and also the media, who provided it a quality media attention, and the result of all this is the number and quality of applications received. Very dedicated team of the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism, the Director of the Directorate for Tourism Destination Management Marko Petričević, International Relations Adviser Ivana Bulatović, Project Secretary Suad Đelović and Senior Advisor Basil Prelević have every reason to be satisfied. The first step has been made, and the true challenges are yet to come 11
Investor Romy Hawatt, “Riana Group Montenegro”
By binding businesses
TO FULL COMFORT OF THE CLIENT 12
TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT - December 2016
INTERVIEW
After the first promotional charter flight of the airline “FlyDubai” to Montenegro, with which more than 150 influential businessmen and media from the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain arrived, investor Romy Hawatt, an Australian with Montenegrin citizenship made another step in promoting Montenegro. The businesses of this Lebanese, who has been living and doing business in Australia for years, are enclosed in “Riana Group Montenegro” and locally are complementary. Hawatt decided to open a “Discover Montenegro” office after Porto Montenegro in Dubai as well, where the headquarters of the investor’s holding company are. In this way, Montenegro will be adequately represented in the countries from the region of the Persian Gulf.“ Interviewed by: Marina Miketić Nikolić Based on your experience in Montenegro, what do you see as the advantages of this destination, and what are the difficulties that an investor usually confronts with? I had my eye on Montenegro for many years, even before independence, because this country is incredibly beautiful. I noticed that there wasn’t adequate transport infrastructure for high-end investors and visitors to Montenegro, so I immediately moved to set up the first international helicopter service and flights. I already had a developed global aviation business in Australia so I opened an airplane and helicopter pilot training facility, which moved the local market. A message to all investors is that Montenegro and the Balkans are in some way still unexplored areas that are open to new ideas, innovations and solutions. I would advise them to come and look at the potential and many reputable investors will know what I mean. It is obvious in many ways. Ted Cabot is arriving in Montenegro from Australia, who is with me in businesses at the global level, in order for us to jointly develop projects in the Balkan countries. You own the restaurant Byblos in Porto Montenegro, and your new restaurant will be opened in the Stara Varoš (Old Town) of Podgorica. Can you tell me something about your vision for development of this oldest part of the city, the valorisation of which in the tourism and economic sense has been waited for years? In the cities there are always neighbourhoods that are in some way unfairly neglected and in need of new
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energy in order to again become attractive. In such a way Stara Varoš needs new life. We started working on it, because our authentic Lebanese restaurant Byblos will open its door after Porto Montenegro, to the inhabitants of Podgorica in this location, to which we will give tourist importance as well. It would be useful to readers and future entrepreneurs to say something about binding businesses in Montenegro and integrating businesses, based on your business with air charters, renting sailboats to tourists, and at the end with hospitality. All my businesses are complementary, meaning that they support each other and count on each other. In this way, clients get everything under one roof. At the moment you are the only company that offers helicopter and air charters in Montenegro. What is the demand for these services? Travelling from Tivat to Podgorica is not far, but it is still a slow trip by road. Most people endure it but a lot of customers would prefer not to. Helicopter travel is perfect for this kind of mountainous country. We now regularly fly to Podgorica in 15 minutes rather than spending two hours in a car! We also fly to Dubrovnik, Tirana, Belgrade and Sarajevo. They are all within reach. We can take visitors to Kolašin in 20 minutes from Tivat instead of driving for four or five hours, and they enjoy both ways. It’s all about ease of access and convenience. Now we offer everything from yachts, helicopter tours, ground tours and support to those who want to buy real estate. I accelerated the
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process and bought a yacht and charter plane. Today one indeed needs to quickly make decisions and run the market. You set up a specialised travel agency “Discover Montenegro”. What does a helicopter tour which discovers Montenegrin landscapes look like? Are, in addition to tourists, Montenegrin citizens interested in these tours? Montenegro by demography attracts wider and wider groups of international visitors. We pamper our visitors from around the world, from accommodation to scenic helicopter tours, to driving a luxury yacht. Also, a growing number of Montenegrins, eager for new experiences, book our tours. For example, there is growing interest for landing in the heart of the national park Durmitor near Black Lake and sightseeing of the Bokokotorski Bay from the air.
the largest Montenegrin peninsula Luštica with tasting of local products from olives to wine.
How attractive and profitable is Montenegro as a destination for this type of business. How much do the tours cost and how long are they?
Unique in their own way, Montenegro and Lebanon have the sea and the mountains at a very short distance, which a large number of countries in Europe do not have. This is a great advantage that must be wisely utilized.
Helicopter tours can last from 15 minutes to 2 hours. From sightseeing of Boka, Sveti Stefan, the entire Montenegrin coast, to sightseeing of the Ostrog Monastery, which lasts 40 minutes, and for clients who want to see Montenegro’s most visited sanctuary, we enable that. Prices for helicopter sightseeing range from 100 Euros per person, but the price varies according to the client’s requirements. What else does your agency offer? In 2016 the most popular tourism products of the “Discover Montenegro” agency were: a tour of the Bay of Kotor with a helicopter and speedboat, Tara rafting and guided tours - discovering the magic of 14
TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT - December 2016
You come from Lebanon, a country which in a geographical sense has much in common with Montenegro, if we take into account the mountains and length of the sea coast. Although culturally and historically different, can you draw a parallel between the tourist offers of the two countries?
On the basis of the Phoenician civilization, Lebanon has a rich history both in maritime and trade. How much are the Lebanese turned to these occupations today and do you think they should be the main professional orientations for population of a coastal country? Each country is largely marked by its geographical position and history. The rich history of Lebanon in maritime and trade has led to the fact that they are the main occupations that bring prosperity to the country. They should be developed for the benefit of the population and the country itself
AUTHENTIC LEBANESE RESTAURANT BYBLOS IN PORTO MONTENEGRO
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VAT REDUCTION
IS NOT A GOAL BUT A MEANS AT on services for specific hotel categories has been reduced in Montenegro recently. Namely, the Law Amending the Law on VAT that the Parliament of Montenegro adopted in July 2016 envisages application of reduced VAT rate of 7% on services related to preparing and serving food, drinks and beverages for five-star hotels in the Southern and Central regions and four or four plus stars in the Northern region, and the application is planned as of 1 January 2018.
V
Even before the very adoption of the Law, the idea of reducing VAT for the mentioned hotel categories caused an avalanche of opposite comments: ranging from the one that such provisions will significantly improve the condition of the tourism sector in Montenegro, to the ones that it is not necessary
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TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT - December 2016
Authors: Milica Lekić
Maja Kovačevič
to additionally reduce burdens for hotel industry, that such a provision is unconstitutional because it places hotel owners in unequal positions, depending on the category they belong to. On the other side, it is a general assessment that the missing hotel capacities are 4 and 5-star categories, so this measure can be viewed at as an incentive to investors to open new high category hotels, maintain the quality of the existent hotels, activate the hotels that have been dormant for years, improve quality of hotels with 3-stars or less. The very return on investment in the hotel in Montenegro will take quite a long time. It is exactly the reason why the destinations all over Europe and the world wishing to achieve further growth in tourism establish incentives to hotel industry and hospitality. At the same time, Europe is a relatively expensive destination, which is also confirmed by the travel and tourism competitiveness index of the European Economic Forum for 2015, where out of 138 countries the best ranked European country is Poland which is placed as the 38th. According to the Competitiveness Index Montenegro is ranked as the 84th. Many EU countries are lower ranked because of the criterion of price competitiveness in tourism. And the formation of prices in tourism is significantly influenced by VAT rate itself. In addition to the above logical motifs for entering the processes related to reducing tax on services for specific hotel categories, it is necessary to answer several questions, which are in fact the base for informing the public about this topic:
Can tourism achieve growth even without such risks from losses of revenues for the state as is the reduction of VAT on services for specific hotel categories? Is a calculated risk in question at all? Are there analyses to confirm the stance that it is a move that will in the medium and/or long run bring benefit? MORiT.me
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Why is Montenegro the one to give this type of incentives? Have other countries, particularly the EU countries, made similar decisions? As regards the first question if such moves by the state and depriving of revenues are necessary, the answer is as follows: tourism will not generate continuous growth in its own right for indefinite period of time. It must be invested in. It is true that statistics have shown growth of parameters in tourism in the recent years, but still not in the way or on the level considered as optimum. If you are pursuing great investments the owners of which will enter the calculated risk together with you, it is logical that you should be ready for certain incentives. Of course, they have to be such to facilitate the one who is investing rational reduction of risk they are taking, and enable the one who is giving the incentive to generate return on their own “investment”, i.e. on the approved incentive. In fact: In order to gain, you have to give. In a calculated way of course. As every debate requires, if the debate participants are constructive, seeking the lowest common denominator, in such cases it probably would be the statement that calculated risk with rationally estimated return is not a problem. There comes the second question: is it really a calculated risk? Has it been estimated how much we will gain, and how much we will lose by reducing VAT on services for specific hotel categories? Exactly for that purpose the Analysis of impact of value added tax on competitiveness of the tourism sector of Montenegro has been done.
There is shortage in high category facilities“ The Montenegro Tourism Development Strategy until 2020 envisages as one of the major goals the development of new high-quality accommodation capacities, which would reach the figure of 300,000 beds by 2020, of which around 110,000 beds in hotel capacities. Inclusive of November 2016, 391 facilities have been registered in Montenegro in the group of hotels and similar accommodation with 40,184 beds, of which 43.1% in the high category facilities – 4 and 5 stars out of the total number’6 of beds, which is evidently lower than the projected figure 17
The document considers three options: VARIANT 1 - reducing VAT rate to 7% for the entire tourism sector in Montenegro, where budgetary revenues, after the initial fall by 19% would grow at average annual rate of 18.4%, thus in 2019 they will increase by 59% in relation to 2014; VARIANT 2 - reducing VAT rate to 7% only in the Northern region of Montenegro, where there would be no fall of budgetary revenues, and after initial growth of 58%, revenues would on average increase at the rate of 15.5% annually, thus in 2019 they would increase by 181 % in relation to 2014; VARIANT 3 - reducing VAT rate to 7% only in 4* and 5* hotels in Montenegro, where budgetary revenues, after the initial fall by 16% would grow at average annual rate of 18%, thus in 2019 they will increase by 61% in relation to 2014. Each of the mentioned variants envisages increase in the number of newly employed persons ranging from 3,239 to 3,637, depending on the variant. So, VAT reduction is frequently, as it seems, perceived as a goal, but actually it is a means for further growth in tourism. Have other countries made similar decisions? Are we making a “step further� when it comes to incentives to investors? A large number of EU countries apply a reduced VAT rate to tourism and hospitality for sev-
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TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT - December 2016
eral reasons: tourism is one of the key sectors of the European economy with regard to contribution to GDP and number of employees; in case of application of different VAT rates to tourism and hospitality a great gap is created in competitiveness among countries on the common EU market; tourism is a sector sensitive to prices, so analyses show that application of reduced VAT rate results in lower prices and increase of demand in a specific area. In addition, EU allows its members apply reduced VAT rate on labour intensive services including tourism, because it is considered that VAT reduction in tourism represents a very efficient means in promoting employment in the EU. With the intention to encourage economic activity and contribute to balanced regional development of a specific region, the EU member states even apply the practice of introducing reduced VAT rate in specific regions within a country, which are different from the rates at national level. The situation is actually as follows: according to the European Commission Report from January 2016 VAT rate on restaurant services in Montenegro is higher than in 15 EU countries, while we are the second last on the Mediterranean as regards this issue. As of 2017, reduced rate on food in restaurants will be applied by Hungary and the Czech Republic.
VAT reduction effects In France, VAT for tourism and hospitality went down from 19.6% to a single rate of 5.5%. According to the data from the National Hotel and Hospitality Association the effects of the reduction are as follows: fall of the prices of all services by 2.5%, around 50 thousand jobs saved and 52 thousand new jobs in tourism. In Ireland, in the middle of 2011 VAT rate was reduced from 13.5% to 9% on tourism services, which resulted in creating 45,000 new jobs. Since 1 July 2016 Portugal reintroduced the reduced VAT rate which went down from 23% to 10% for food in restaurants and cafes. Also in the period preceding 2013 the reduced rate was effective which was increased to 23% (standard rate) in 2013, in view of stabilising government finances. In Great Britain, there is a campaign going on called “Cut tourism VAT, boost British jobs” so the VAT rate in tourism would be brought to the level of competitive destinations in Europe. Analyses show that tax cut in tourism to 5.5% would result in GDP increase by 4.5 billion pounds at annual level and 120,000 jobs. On the other side, there is an example of Croatia which introduced reduced VAT rate of 13% for services at restaurants in 2014. However, this year a decision has been made that as of 1 January 2017 standard VAT rate of 25% will be applied again. Capital in tourism, as a very volatile category, particularly the one being invested in the sensitive hotel sector where the deadline for return on investment is very long, requires security and incentives. At the same time, tourists require an acceptable price policy. One of the most significant factors for both is favourable tax policy. On the other side, the state must fulfil specific preconditions so its decision could be called rational and purposeful. One should, among other things, be the answer to the question we previously asked: why is a specific decision made, is it preceded by risk assessment and what are comparative experiences? We tried to summarise the answer to these questions in this text. The second precondition – existence of transparent institutional mechanisms for implementation and control of that decision – the state also has an obligation to carry it out in full capacity. It is really the time that can only tell. Only the time finally places a certain idea or decision on its right place and gives is a positive, negative or neutral determinant. Until then, all of us together have an obligation to view it form all aspects and in the context of information and analyses currently available, and
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thus ensure its success to the maximum extent possible. In light of the foregoing, we assess that the VAT related decision that is the subject of this text has preconditions to be the one that will be assigned a positive determinant
How to proceed
Creation of the environment where a decision will be reached for all hospitality services to be applied the reduced VAT rate of 7% i.e. without any restrictions to specific hotel categories, is in line with the key guidelines at the level of the EU. At the same time, analyses show that it is necessary, in parallel with the introduction of the reduced VAT rate, to introduce electronic fiscalisation. In fact, in order to prevent outflow of revenues, cut of taxes must be followed by electronic fiscalisation as a better control of turnover. A positive example is Croatia, where in the first year of application of fiscalisation, in the business of providing accommodation services and the business of hospitality there was an increase in the reported turnover which ranged from 30% to 55%, in relation to the year that preceded fiscalisation.
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TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT - December 2016
DOZENS THOUSANDS OF VISITORS DURING THE NEW YEAR’S HOLIDAYS
The Sun, Snow and Sea
MONTENEGRO Prepared by: Milica Lekić
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ell organized New Year’s celebration makes a significant part of tourism offer of a destination, in particular of the ones that intend to become qualitative destinations with all-year offer. Thus, last year during the New Year’s holidays there were around 40 000 tourists in Montenegro, and this year it is expected that this number will be exceeded. At the recently held press conference, the National Tourism Organisation together with the line institutions and organisations presented what has been worked on in the previous period in order to facilitate unforgettable holidays. The campaign will be under the slogan “The Sun, Snow and Sea – Montenegro”. Taking into account the importance of creating an all-year tourism offer, the organisation of the New Year Eve celebration doesn’t have only a one-off effect, but it is an inevitable segment in sending a message to tourists that there is more to Montenegro than just beautiful beaches and good fun for several months a year.
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We expect this year Montenegro to reconfirm its image of a hit destination in the region when it comes to New Year’s holidays. Taking into account that this year we have had a continuous increase in the number of tourists, we anticipate that such trends will continue during the New Year’s holidays too. This is also confirmed by the data from the hotel-tourism industry which announce excellent booking, so it is quite certain that we will exceed the last year’s figure of 40 000 tourists who visited Montenegro during the New Year’s holidays. In addition, announced Christmas concerts, supporting cultural and entertainment programs, as well as special concessions at the hotels after the holidays will contribute to longer stay of tourists in Montenegro. Arrival of numerous journalist teams both local and regional has also been announced, who will cover the planned New Year’s Eve celebrations on our squares, which will have an extraordinary effect on the overall promotion Nina Vukčević, PR in the National Tourism Organisation
A particularly important fact that is becoming distinct is that local governments identify the need not only to organise the New Year’s Eve celebration, but also to create supporting programs to backup the central event, and attract tourists to extend their stay in Montenegro. Thus, the Bar Tourism Organisation has organised a seven-day Bar New Year’s Happening. Also, the Organisation in cooperation with hotels and tourist agencies will prepare seven-day, five-day and three-day arrangements to be available to anyone wishing to spend the New Year’s holidays in this municipality, and therefore they expect a large number of guests from Montenegro and the regiona.
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TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT - December 2016
The Bar New Year’s Happening will last seven days: from 26 December 2016 to 2 January 2017. In the first five days the timing of the program will be from 7 pm to 10 pm, and on 31 December the program for the youngest will commence at 1 pm, and concerts at 9 pm. It is an extremely complex event that we want to become traditional. In addition to the musical part, at the Square that will be decorated, there will be around 30 stalls where visitors will be able to taste and buy Bar specialties, so our citizens will have direct benefits too, as well as hotel-hospitality facilities and entities directly related to tourism. Neda Ivanović, Director of the Bar Tourism Organisation
Three million Euro of turnover in Budva Budva has become a recognisable centre of good entertainment not only in summer, but during the New Year’s holidays as well. Thus, only on New Year’s Eve over 20 000 visitors are expected. Intensive media campaign called “See you in Budva” is carried out in Montenegro and other parts of the region and the local Tourism Organisation expects that again this year Budva will be recognised as the most attractive destination for New Year’s celebration. As regards the extent to which the organisation of such an event is demanding, the Tourism Organisation employees emphasise that it is one of the most demanding projects they prepare, and that the development of the program for this event begins in summer months, which is then followed by preparations for media campaign and organisation of the New Year’s celebration.
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DARJA MAROVIĆ: investing in the program of new year’s celebration on the square under the budva municipality tourism organisation and in hotels and restaurants under the tourism industry budva has multiple benefits. For example, € 215 000 were allocated for new year’s celebration 2016 on the square in front of the old town, whereas it was estimated that the turnover during the new year’s holidays in budva amounted to around eur 3 000 000 € Rich program of New Year’s celebration at the square in front of the Old Town is adjusted to different musical preferences, interests and age. The power of the brand – New Year in Budva, intensive work on the campaign “See you in Budva” as well as the experience from previous years speak that this year we can expect between 40 and 50 000 visitors during the New Year’s holidays, and around 20 000 visitors on the New Year’s Eve itself. Darja Marović, PR manager in the Budva Tourism Organisation 23
It is interesting that for the first time this year New Year’s celebration is organised on the city seafront Pine in Tivat. The citizens of Tivat have also recognised the significance of extending the New Year’s offer to seven days. Thus, the program will take place in the period from 26 December to 2 January 2017. According to the words of the local tourism organisation representative, under the organisation of the business subjects of the city of Tivat the guests will have an opportunity to attend the following performances: Tropiko Bend on 26 December, Edi Medošević and Novi Spomenari on 27 December, band Stari Kapetan on 28 December, Pljevaljski Tamburaši on 29 December, and on 29 December the TO Tivat will also organise Children’s program for New Year’s celebration through the event Awaiting Santa Claus, by the Happy Theatre from Belgrade. On 31 December a concert by Goran Vukošić from Tivat will be organised, and on 1 January a concert by Haris Džinović who will be preceded by Vanja Radovanović. On 2 January the festival will be closed with the band Teška Industrija and the band Toć with the support by several bands. On 31 December the visitors will have an opportunity to enjoy afternoon concert by the famous cellist Ana Rucner, and the central event is of course the official celebration of the New Year’s Eve. The Tivat Tourism Organisation with the support by the Tivat Municipality and enterprise Brand New Tivat will welcome the New Year with countdown by the Prljavo Kazalište, who will be preceded by our dear fellow citizen Nina Petković and the band Dan Poslije, with the support by DJ Perry. The whole event will be supported by spectacular fireworks. It should also be noted that under the Association of Business Subjects the whole program will be supported by rich gastro and souvenir offer that will be presented at the stalls of erected standard small houses, just as is the case in large European cities during the New Year’s holidays. Sandra Kilibarda, Tivat Tourism Organisation 24
TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT - December 2016
New Year’s Bazaar, program for children, concerts of classical and popular music for the first time in Podgorica
Tatjana Popović, Director of the Podgorica Tourism Organisation
In Podgorica, after over a decade, New Year’s celebration 2016 was organised outdoor, and it is our pleasure that for these New Year’s holidays we will jollify all the Podgorica citizens and tourists who opt for awaiting 2017 in the Capital. The program is designed in the way to be extended in relation to the last year, intended for all generations, with engagement of numerous local musicians. Thus, on 30 December a concert of classical music will be organised at the Square, and soprano Aleksandra Vojvodić Jovović will perform, while on the New Year’s Eve Nenad Knežević – Knez and Zoran Kalezić will perform, and their concerts will be preceded by performances by Kaja Milačić, Stefan Filipović, Monika Knezović and Neda Papović. On the first evening of 2017 the popular regional band Miligram, whose member and composer Aleksandar Milić – Mili is a Podgorica’s child too, will perform along with the Montenegrin musicians Andrijana Božović, Andrea Demirović, Eva Papović and Stevan Faddy. During the day on 31 December a Children New Year’s Concert will be organised. The kids will be entertained by the choir “Zvjezdice” and soloists: Jovan Aleksić, Sara Asanović, Anja Jestrović, Jana MORiT.me
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Trifunović, while the entertaining part of the children’s program will be covered by children’s animators Davor Dragojević and Žarko Žabac, and there will be Santa Claus too, who will give away presents and sweets to children. However, New Year’s program will commence already on 19 December, on the Day of Podgorica, when festive decorating of the Christmas Tree will be organised on the Square, and on the next day, all the way through 31 December “New Year’s Bazaar” will be opened, where in addition to New Year’s souvenirs, cards and jewellery there will be different hot drinks (different types of tea, coffee, mulled wine), gingerbread, chestnuts and other... I have to point out good cooperation with our owners of hospitality facilities which will be opened all night during the New Year’s holidays. The entire economy of the city (hotel industry, hospitality, trade, small entrepreneurs…) will benefit from the organisation of such a festival. We are pleased by the fact that our hoteliers have also come up with rich program, for all the visitors of Podgorica who prefer indoor celebrations. Festive dinners, with rich entertaining program, will be organised by the hotel Hilton Podgorica Crna Gora and complex Verde, while other hotels will reduce the prices of their services, so great occupancy of hotel capacities is expected in this period. 25
Where for the New Year's ŽABLJAK
TIVAT
There will be 13 hotels operational, and the offer will include not only the snowshoe trail from Savin Kuk to Crno Lake but also a cross country skiing trail. This year the prices will be at the level of the last year’s prices, and the novelty at the ski centre Javorovača is night skiing
On 31 December the guests will be entertained by DJ Perry, Nina Petković and bands Dan Poslije and Prljavo Kazalište. On 1 January at noon Ana Rucner will have a concert, and in the evening the guests will be entertained by DJ Perry, Vanja Radovanović and Haris Džinović.
Contact TO Žabljak: 052 361 802, e-mail: vkrgovic@t-com.me, durmitor1@t-com.me
BUDVA On the eve of 31 December the program will commence with performance by the Montenegrin band “Perper”, who will be followed by the concert of Željko Joksimović. On the day of 1 January there will be a traditional festive concert of the Mediterranean Revue Orchestra, and in the evening the band Highway Trio, Sergej Ćetković and the band Parni Valjak will perform. On 2 January the guests will be jollified by Vanja Radovanović, the band Frajle and Neno Belan. At the hotel “Splendid Resort&SPA” the guests will be entertained by Hari Mata Hari, Jelena Tomašević, Haris Džinović, as well as the Žuti Serhatlić Orchestra, and at the hotel Palas Dragana Mirković, Sergej Ćetković, Petar Grašo, Danijela Martinović and Aca Sofronijević Orchestra will be responsible for creating a good atmosphere. Contact TO Budva: 033 402 814, e-mail: info@budva.travel, tob@t-com.me 26
TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT - December 2016
In the period from 27 December to 3 January, the Association of Business Subjects within the organisation of the New Year’s celebration will set up on the city seafront Pine prefabricated small houses where food and drinks will be served. Contact TO Tivat: 032 671 324, e-mail: totivat@-com.me
HERCEG NOVI Already on 30 January Herceg Novi will have a warm-up for the jolliest night at the square Nikola Đurković, where ensemble Toć and Tropic Band will perform at 9 pm. New Year’s celebration on 31 December is organised at the square for the youngest too – Children’s New Year (from 11 am to 2 pm), and they will be entertained by Šanta Panta and clowns. The program will continue with the performance by Perpetumobile Band at 9 pm, and then Dženan Lončarević. It is also envisaged that Santa Claus will descend the Clock Tower at midnight. On 1 January of the new 2017 the St. Luis Band and Lexington Band will perform at the Square at 9 pm. Festive New Year’s celebration will also be organised at the hotel Palmon Bay and in Gradska Kafana and many other locations on the Škver.
Contact TO Herceg Novi: 031 350 820, e-mail: info@hercegnovi.travel
PODGORICA This year Podgorica is preparing a rich program too. On 31 December a children’s New Year’s concert and entertainment program will be organised, and in the evening a concert by Knez and Zoran Kalezić, and Montenegrin musicians. On 1 January a concert by the band Miligram and Montenegrin musicians will be held. From 19th to 31 December New Year’s Bazaar will be organised at the Square of Independence. At the hotel Hilton Podgorica on 31 December and 1 January there will be Lepa Lukić, Mogul Bend and Bane Nedović with a band performing. At the Verde Complex on 31 December all the guests will be entertained by Marija Šerifović and Danijel Alibabić, and on 1 January Željko Joksimović and Danijel Alibabić. Contact TO Podgorica: 020 667 536, e-mail: info@podgorica.travel, pgto@t-com.me
BAR For the second year in a row the Bar Tourism Organisation and Bar Municipality have been organising Bar New Year’s Happening at the Square Vladimir and Kosara, from 26 December 2016 to 2 January 2017. The program will include performers of different musical genres: ethno, folk, rap, pop and rock music from Bar, Montenegro and the region. In addition to the music part, at the square that will be decorated, there will be numerous stalls set up where the visitors will be able to taste and buy Bar specialties. On 31 December the guests will be entertained by Severina, and on 1 January by Bajaga. Contact TO Bar: 030 311 633, e-mail: tobar@t-com.me
NIKŠIĆ The offer of the ski centre Vučje will include a ski school and a ski kindergarten. This ski centre will organise daily bus transport from Nikšić to the ski centre, and every weekend from Podgorica too. Rich New Year’s program will also be organised at the hotel Onogošt.
ULCINJ The representative of the Ulcinj Tourism Organisation Armend Milla has stated that already from 17 December a New Year’s Bazaar will be organised in Ulcinj.
Contact TO Nikšić: 040 213 262, e-mail: toniksic@t-com.me
Contact TO Ulcinj: 030 412 333, e-mail: info@ulcinj.travel MORiT.me
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INTERVIEW
STJEPAN HAUSER, 2CELLOS
Montenegro is Beautiful
AND WE WILL BE COMING BACK AGAIN
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TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT - December 2016
Interviewed by: Marko Mirović
When in 2011 Stjepan Hauser and Luka Šulić decided to make a cello cover of the Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson, they probably never dreamed that only after a few months they would be going on a tour with Elton John or become globally popular. It was this video that went viral on YouTube with over 3 million views in the first two weeks of its announcement, and they soon signed a contract for the production company Sony Masterworks and began to play as the opening act at Elton John’s tour. The duo 2Cellos fill up concert halls around the world, conveying great energy with their performances and remakes of well-known hits. Welcome to the Jungle, Thunderstruck, Highway to Hell, Smells Like Teen Spirit, are just some of the timeless hits that the duo performs. Before the remake Smooth Criminal, both finished music academies in England - Stjepan at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, and Luka at the Royal Academy of Music in London. The duo has so far released three albums - 2Cellos, IN2ITION and CELLOVERSE. In between tours, the duo is recording a new album with film music remakes, and they are recording with the London Symphony Orchestra. It was at the beginning of November when they were shooting a video in Montenegro for one of the songs from their new album. This was a great occasion for an interview with Stjepan Hauser, about shooting in Montenegro, journeys and the new album. MORiT.me
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I visited the whole world and realised that it’s best in our region and that we are not even aware of what riches we have in the region
Is this your first time in Montenegro and how did you like it? Stjepan Hauser: I came earlier, but this is the first time we’re in Montenegro as 2Cellos and it is beautiful. Montenegro is known for its beauties, the nature is beautiful, but so are, my God, Montenegrin girls. And Durmitor is the perfect place with so many wonderful locations for filming videos, movies, everything. It is a real discovery and I think we will be going back there, to shoot another video. How did you decide to make a video in Montenegro? SH: As we are making film music for our new album, we wanted to find locations that go with these movies and music, and Durmitor fits great into that, so we decided to make the video there. Can you tell us for which song and when the video will be coming out? 30
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SH: I don’t want to reveal details about the song, let’s keep it a secret. I can only say that the video should come out early next year. Do you ever find inspiration in travel or the places you visit and has it happened that on the basis of a visit to a place you choose to make a remake of a song or composition? SH: Of course, we love nature and it inspires us. When we see something beautiful, it’s additional inspiration for our creativity. Of course, you never know when inspiration will come, and what will associate with something, that can happen at any time and in any place. How do you choose the songs you remake? SH: Basically we do remakes of songs that we like, but which at the same time can be played on the cello. That is the simplest formula.
Are you counting how many countries you have visited so far?
Is there a destination you really want to visit and which you didn’t manage to visit so far?
SH: Wow! I do not know, I didn’t count, but certainly more than 50.
SH: Well, at the moment there is no place that is especially attracting me. Basically we have visited so many places, and at the moment I feel good where I am.
Do you have time to visit the tourist attractions and sights in the places where you perform and do you sometimes go back to some place when you have time? SH: Unfortunately, the tours are generally designed so that each day we go to another city, to play, perform, so we usually don’t have time for that. We’d very much like if it were different and that we could better get to know some places, but when we have time, we will certainly be back in the places we liked. What is most important in order for you to like a destination or want to visit and see it again? SH: I think it’s almost just the same where you are, and everywhere is nice if you are happy with yourself. However, I find it most beautiful precisely in this region. I visited the whole world and realised that it’s best in our region and that we are not even aware of what riches we have in the region. Food, nature, everything here is awesome. Unfortunately, most often we are not even aware of how good it is.
As a tourist, what kind of tourism is your favourite? Are you someone who loves active tourism more or someone who prefers to rest? SH: Well yeah, in my life I wasn’t a tourist (laughs), all visits were “business” visits. Because of obligations I haven’t had the opportunity, but I’d go somewhere where there is nature, peace and quiet. However, I love to walk, hike, and look around, so that would be a combination of leisure and active tourism. Basically, anything with beautiful nature. When can we expect you back in Montenegro? SH: I hope soon, because we liked it a lot. We haven’t performed here yet, but it would really be about time to finally play in Montenegro too
How do you explore and experience a destination? Where do you first go, what do you do first? SH: It all depends on the destination, but I never planned where I have to go. Since I like to walk a lot, I get out and walk wherever my feet take me at that moment. I don’t like to plan, and I think that planning is not good, because the best things happen spontaneously. If one plans, then one says to himself that he has to do this and that, and has expectations and keeps to a plan. And then, if it doesn’t go according to the plan, one gets too disappointed. Therefore, it is best to get to know the destination without a plan. Has some destination so far disappointed you or exceeded your expectations? SH: Yes, both happened many times. Basically where I expected it to be a great I was disappointed, and where I didn’t have high expectations I was thrilled.
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15th Biennale in Venice is closed
VENICE REVIVES DEBATE ON SOLANA
Prepared by: Marina Miketić Nikolić
he Solana Ulcinj, with its endless blue-green area “disturbed” with reeds, rare birds and the remains of the once famous factory “Bajo Sekulic”, has deserved to be the guiding idea of the 15th Architecture Biennale in Venice. But, a step beyond the idea was presenting four almost completely different projects on how to further exploit the potential of Solana, that is, the whole area that is unusually valuable for Montenegro. The success of such a concept was confirmed through more than four thousand visits to our pavilion in Venice. One of the world’s most famous portals in the field of architecture and design Dezeen included the Montenegrin pavilion in the Top 10 pavilions of the 15th Venice Architecture Biennale, while LiveStream of the third symposium THE DEBATE,
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held in Kotor, recorded more than 45 thousand views on the portal Archidaily. However, perhaps the most important thing that was delivered by this engagement is opening of the debate over the fate of this habitat for rare birds, solving the verbal conflict and putting the Solana into public focus. Yes, from the dead point of bankruptcy, the Solana has through promotion at the Biennale salted directly both Venice and Montenegrin public. The 15th Venice Biennale “Reporting from the front” (Director: Paolo Baratta, Artistic Director: Alejandro Aravena), closed on Sunday, 27 November. During the six-month duration it had 260 thousand visits. The Biennale Director expressed his gratitude to participating countries, indicating a high level of exchange, research
TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT - December 2016
and international dialogue. “The Biennale will be remembered by many inspiring moments for careful reflection on how society can organise spaces in which people live, regardless of whether they are in the heart of the city or at its margins,” said Baratta. Montenegro was presented by the theme Project of Solana Ulcinj at the 15th Venice Biennale of Architecture, which was organised and sponsored by the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism. The commissioner of the Montenegrin pavilion was Dijana Vučinić and the curators were prof. Bart Locma and Catherine Weinberger. Our national pavilion was opened on May 27 at the Palace Malipiero in the presence of 300 guests by the then Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism, Branimir Gvozdenović.
At the beginning of the 20th century, this location was chosen to construct a new saline. Soon, the Solana Ul¬cinj was very profitable and at times employed between 300 and 400 workers. Apart from that, the chosen method of salt production caused something amazing: it launched a new development of the nature on the site. The increasingly salt water attracted microorgan¬isms that now inhabit the salt pan pools. In turn, these have spurred the development of other, larger organ¬isms. As the Solana Ulcinj already found itself on bird migration routes, it now became a real bird airport. Thus, industry helped nature to become more diverse and richer. The saline has functioned quite well during the period Montenegro was a part of former Yugosla¬via. In 2003, it was privatized. It continued working until 2013, when it officially stopped operating. Many people lost their jobs and the number of birds decreases every year. If sea water isn’t pumped up soon, the ecosystem will be seriously threatened.
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How Queen Milena exterminated mosquitoes Long before it became a saline, Zoganj Lake near Ulcinj was a wetland and home to the malaria mosquito. Queen Milena, aiming to address this problem, ordered digging the Channel Port Milena, in order to drain the water of the lake into the Adriatic Sea. It was seen as an adequate solution: not only the mosquitoes would be gone but also new fertile land on the site of the former lake would become available. What the engineers did not realise was that Zoganj Lake was in crypto-depression, meaning its bottom was below sea level. Therefore, the lake was not drained but instead the canal enabled salty seawater to pour into the swamp. Coincidentally however, as they were intolerant to seawater, the mosquitoes were gone. “The best illustration of conditional conflict of desire and responsibility is the issue of Ulcinj Solana, and the architectural vision of that future is one of the lenses through which we want to look at the future”, said Gvozdenović. The Montenegrin pavilion presented four projects, each of which briefly describes the four different sustainable versions of future of the Solana Ulcinj, and which four studios developed specifically for the Architecture Biennale: Solana Open Aviary EcoLogicStudio from London, Pyramid of species LOLA Landscape Architects from Rotterdam, COEXISTENCE LAAC Architects from Innsbruck and The Trigger 50/50 Marko Stjepčević and Nemanje Milićević from Podgorica. In order to provide optimal exchange between the Projects of the Solana Ulcinj, the regional, national
and international public, the Montenegrin participation at the 15th Venice Biennale was accompanied by three public symposiums: the first symposium THE BRIEF was held on February 12 and 13 in Ulcinj, the second symposium REPORTING FROM MONTENEGRO was held in the Montenegrin pavilion in Venice on May 29, when the project was presented to the international audience, while the third symposium THE DEBATE was held in Kotor on July 24 as part of the KotorAPSS when the results of the Projects Solana Ulcinj were presented to the domestic and international audience. International public was also informed about events related to Montenegro’s participation on the official sites of partners University of Innsbruck, Bartlett School of Architecture, Arhitektskolen Aarhus, on portals Archdaily, Domus, Il Giornale del Architettura, MONU magazine and others, which published information, that it, evaluation of the Montenegrin pavilion. The Venice Biennale has also this year renewed cooperation with Google in order to make the 15th Venice Architecture Biennale available within the Google Arts and Culture Platform, so that a selection of national pavilions and accompanying events could still be open for all visitors. The next steps for development of the Projects Solana Ulcinj are also participating in the international application for the Project on research of Mediterranean salterns with the Italian Institute of Technologies Applied to Cultural Heritage (ITABC-CNR), and development of a research project is also in progress, part of which will be the Solana Ulcinj, in cooperation with RMIT Europe, Politecnico di Milano, UCL Bartlett and the University of Tallinn
The Montenegrin pavilion can be visited at the following link www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/exhibit/hgLC7jtzL-DsLA while on the official website all visitors can have a virtual tour 360otour of all four rooms of the Montenegrin Pavilion www.projectsolana.me/360tour 34
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After the Montenegrin Pavilion at the Biennale in 2014, when we came out boldly with the story about the ruins of post-war Yugoslav architecture, this international presentation opened space for dealing more intensively with these issues in Montenegro. This means reviewing current policies and decisions related to these neglected spaces. So we continued to use events such as the Venice Biennale, not only for promotion of Montenegro, but also as an opportunity to once again deal with key issues and problems in space around us. These are themes that emerged from the academic framework of KotorAPSS 2013, when we proposed a sustainable model for Hotel Fjord and decided to continue to deal with the RE-USE concept. “Reporting from the front” - the theme set by Alejandro Aravena
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this year, was the reason to, besides dealing with another devastated area of the post-war period, examine how architecture can serve as a catalyst for change. Thus, we are examining how architecture can connect seemingly disparate interests of sustainable development, environmental protection and sustainable economic development. We strive to properly identify and evaluate the potential of a very specific space and unique cultural landscape, as well as social, sociological interests that are bound to this location.
Dijana Vučinić Founder and Program Director Kotor APSS
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Short presentation of projects presented at the Biennale (texts are taken from the Catalogue of the Montenegrin Pavilion, Biennale Athitettura 2016; www.projectsolana.me)
THE TRIGGER 50/50 Marko Stjepčević & Nemanja Milićević The Trigger, which is the first of the three steps of the project, should save the ecosystem, since it relies upon the existing objects in the Solana Ulcinj. Salt isn’t profitable, but it’s necessary for the ecosystem. We will pump up water and produce salt in much smaller quantities: specifically, only 10% of the former capacity of the saline. Instead of 30000 tons of salt per year, we can produce 3000 tons of high quality salt. We will keep existing facilities that are essential for and highly specialized in the production of salt for that purpose. Others will be converted into spa facilities using the salt and mud, which can use all pools of the saline and to enable visitors to enjoy the richness of its flora and fauna and turning it into a unique destination for this kind of tourism. Smaller objects can function in service of the Nova Solana park for ticket sales and similar functions. The existing train track for the salt transportation will be used as a connection with the Large Beach (Velika plaža). With the reduction of the salt production, the capacity of the main hangar for salt storage can be reduced to 20% of what it used to be. The rest of the hangar can become THE MARKET, a distribution centre for organic products from the region, such as fish, cheese, vegetables, fruit and honey. Also the authentic salt and mud from the Solana Ulcinj can be sold here. The Nova Solana Park will be responsible for it that this market is indeed
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both natural and commercial, guaranteeing the quality of all products. Stands will cover around 2000 m2 of the hangar for around 2.00 €/m2 per day. Thus, the Solana Ulcinj becomes financially sustainable again and moreover, together with the other facilities on the site, it will employ almost the same number of people as it once did, in a better past. “La pan folie” - This is perhaps the most formal intervention in the saline. It consists of small modular buildings, follies, which will be developed on an orthogonal grid. Depending on their location, they could become generators for different activities: a simple observation post for bird watching, a simple shelter for the hot sun and wind, a kiosk or a place for renting bicycles or kayaks. “The crypto pipe”- Looking at satellite images of other salt pans on the Adriatic Sea, one fact took our attention: they all have direct contact with the sea. The Channel Port Milena is located near the Solana Ulcinj. It takes the water back to the sea after the salt production. Once it was one of the biggest fish hatcheries in the Adriatic. Today, thanks to sewage waste, it represents an ecological bomb. The international community has engaged in order to resolve this issue urgently. If this is done, salt water can be brought through the pipe, to the deepest pools of the saline, and then easily and cheaply transported further. This way, the Solana Ulcinj could have a certain amount of fresh seawater all year long, potentially attract different species of animals, and become more sustainable. Currently, the most important thing is to ensure the financial viability of this site by connecting it with the surrounding area and by selling natural products from the location and returning the people that Solana used to employ, their relatives, grandchildren and neighbours again into this process. Solana Ulcinj is our heritage and we must fight in order to leave the nature to future generations.
COEXISTENCE
LAAC Architects in Cooperation with ARTFABRIK Coexistence implies the simultaneous occurrence and presence of different elements, such as creatures, species and systems at a specific location. This concept shows how existence and topos, the Greek word for place, belong together and are mutually dependent. Thus, the Solana Ulcinj is not a territory, it is a landscape which is characterized by coexistence and diversity. The Solana Ulcinj is exemplary for the blurring boundary between the natural and the artificial. It emphasizes the landscape as a composition of natural elements and a socio - cultural idea. Therefore, this project attempts not to evaluate between the natural and the artificial, but to perceive the qualities of this unified structure within which the coexistence of natural and artificial systems created a specific environment. It regards the Solana Ulcinj as a narrative interrelation between utopia and tragedy, between reality and fiction, that encourages further exploration. TYPOLOGY OF SIMULTANEITY Topology is not just about descriptive geometry and does not only deal with technical questions about continuous surfaces, but it also pays greater attention to the deeper poetic and philosophical meaning of a landscape, and thus helps us grasp as much about its making as about the perception of its intrinsic beauty. This understanding of landscape allows us to go beyond the morphology and physical condition of a site, extracting qualities from it and exploring them in different layers.
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Point clouds, as they result from a laser scan, contain intrinsic information about an existing environment. They emerge as a continuous topology of information without distinction between different elements as such. Natural and artificial elements appear with the same coding by the very characteristics of the point cloud itself. MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART AND NATURE Debates on architecture and nature generally conceal the broad questions that undergird and drive them. We want to negotiate the coexistence of the natural and the artificial as a cultural phenomenon by means of an architectural intervention in the landscape which accommodates a museum for contemporary art and nature. The project suggests the reactivation of the existing storage space as part of the museum. The salt hill is preserved as a sculptural relict from the past. The former harvesting system is transformed into a route, leading from the storage space to the main building of the museum via the pumping facilities. This part of the museum is embedded in one of the former salt fields. The pump should remain active in order to facilitate the harvesting of salt on a smaller scale, which ensures the preservation of the ecological system. As the product of a symbiosis between artifice and nature, the salt can be sold in the museum’s shop.
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THE PYRAMID OF SPECIES LOLA Landscape Architects
The origin of the Solana Ulcinj lies in the production of salt, but it’s also a renowned nature reserve in Montenegro. The fact that the salt flats are manmade makes them unique, but vulnerable to change too. The days of the importance of the saline for regular salt production are long gone, since the bulk of salt comes from China. The loss of salt production makes the continued existence of the Solana Ulcinj as a wildlife sanctuary uncertain. The pumps have stopped pumping salt water on the flats and sweet water now dissolves the virgin salt. The importance of the Solana Ulcinj is still undoubted. It is of great value for countless species of birds that cross the Adriatic Sea on route of the Adriatic Flyway in large numbers. There is a chance that the whole Adriatic Flyway would collapse without the Solana Ulcinj. That makes the presence of it of European importance. Many people and birdwatchers in particular enjoy the beauty of the abundant wildlife and come to Ulcinj to spend their vacation. This defines the Ecological Pyramid of the Solana Ulcinj. To make the pyramid solid, stable and working, the key issue is to get that water running into the saline again. Start the pumps! The national government needs to intensify activities, because this is a matter of national importance. That is the only way a basic biodiversity of the Solana Ulcinj can be guaranteed. The structure of the saline is already falling apart. The informal settlements next to it at the 38
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coast will destroy the attractive landscape in no time. The whole area could be gone before we would notice. The loss of the Solana Ulcinj would be an utter waste. The saline could generate more colours, more wildlife, more visitors and more economy. The way to sustain all this is to create hyperdiversity. This is a new concept with which, within the larger framework of the basic biodiversity of the Solana Ulcinj, a multitude of alternative conditions can be created. If one wants to develop a hotel to attract bird watchers, that person should have a responsibility in the wellbeing of the Solana Ulcinj. The investment should not be done by taxes however: it should be an investment in the creation of alternate conditions in the framework of the Solana Ulcinj. How can alternative conditions be created? For instance, a hotel owner could make a vantage point for birdwatchers inside one of the basins of the Solana Ulcinj instead of outside the perimeter. Its base will over time influence the water flow within the basin. Water will stagnate behind it, sedimentation will occur and plants will start to grow. There is more to tourism around the Solana Ulcinj of Ulcinj than just bird watching. The Solana Ulcinj also is highly attractive for wellness purposes. An accessible muddy basin would attract mud loving people and mud loving fauna alike. Farmers could grow shrimps or saline vegetables inside the saline to sell to the fish restaurants in and around Ulcinj.
SOLANA OPEN AVIARY EcoLogicStudio
The Project deals with the redevelopment of the saline in Ulcinj. EcoLogicStudio started by uncovering, measuring and evaluating the latent potentials in the Bojana-Buna Delta region, which includes the area occupied by the saline. The Project proposes a method and related workflow to productively develop a series of bio-digital pilot projects, capable of a catalytic action at multiple scales. From our analysis and site visit we realized that a social disconnection between urban development and the understanding of the local landscape is taking place, with evident negative repercussions in both realms. As a consequence, the design has developed a catalogue of proto-gardens called Open Aviaries, pilot projects devoted to stimulate reconnection and intensify co-action between socio-economic groups and their immediate surrounding landscape. An Open Aviary is quite literally an aviary without a net, where birds and humans explore close interaction without being forcefully enclosed in a confined envelope. It is made possible by digital bird tracking technologies, hi-resolution satellite earth monitoring and robotically driven land sculpting. In our proposal the integrated design of digital technologies and landscape ecology confer to the word “open” multiple meanings in the physical and virtual realms, as in “open” source ornithological database, “open” networks of migratory sites and “open” systems habitat. This is the key design concept for the project to promote the emergence of a new concept of natural reserve: a boundless, open and networked man-made ecosystem. The project Solana Open Aviary proposes to redevelop the artificial territory formerly occupied by the salt production plant near Ulcinj into what would be the world’s first Open Aviary, an augmented ornithological park where to study, experience and affect the co-evolution of humans and birds. MORiT.me
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39
GREAT POTENTIAL FOR SPELEOLOGICAL TOURISM IN MONTENEGRO
Author: Ivana Radoman
Dalovica Cave
SPELEOLOGICAL JEWEL OF MONTENEGRO Can you imagine listening to a concert in a hall decorated with stalactites and stalagmites? Such an unusual idea will be turned into reality in the Đalovića Cave. In fact, after more than 25 years of exploring this wonder of nature, the idea of valorising this space for tourism purposes will be achieved
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41 Photo: Michael Kaminski
Photo: Saša Popović
he potential for development of speleological tourism in Montenegro is huge, especially at a time when tourists are increasingly looking for unspoiled nature which our country is abundant with. To date, 1,260 caves have been valorised throughout the world, while the first valorised speleological facility in Montenegro is Lipska Cave, which was opened last year, and for a short period of time ranked itself among the most significant Montenegrin tourist attractions. In addition to Lipska Cave, very soon the Đalovića Cave, more demanding than the Lipska, but also with greater potential, will be included in the tourist offer of our country. Given that it is known that speleological tourism in the world generates large revenues (about 2.2 billion US dollars), thus the importance of development of a natural pearl in Bijelo Polje, as is the Đalovića Cave, is enormous for Montenegro.
T
The cave above Vražiji Firovi or Đalovića Cave is located about 40 kilometres from Bijelo Polje, in the Đalovića Gorge, in the canyon of the river Bistrica, and is one of the longest and most beautiful in Europe. It has been explored in the length of 17.5 kilometres, and what characterises it is a large number of passages, galleries, unique cave ornaments and the fact that it can be divided into four parts, namely: the Channel with Lakes, the Large Labyrinth, the Grand Channel and passages that connect the upper and lower galleries. Photo: Branislav Strugar
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Suitable for organising concerts As Željko Madžgalj, a speleologist and expert consultant on the project, said, due to inaccessibility of the cave the conceptual design envisages opening of an old ruined entrance that leads to the dry and most beautiful part of the cave, the Large Labyrinth, which is planned to be valorised for tourism. The Hall of Candlesticks within the Large Labyrinth will also represent an important segment of the tourist offer, with exceptional capacity and cave ornaments, which is anticipated as a concert hall, where there will be two plateaus on which it will be possible to organise concerts, then the Passage in White, geysers with cave ornaments, the Hall of Stalagmites, the Ghost Well, the Large Crossroad, and a large stalagmite 10 meters high, the Blind Chamber with draperies, the Snow Castle, the Hall of Red Colour...
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43 Photo: Željko Madžgalj
For now, you can visit the cave only accompanied by a guide now it is possible to enter the cave only accompanied by a professional guide, with the use of full equipment. Also, it is possible to arrange entry for up to 10-13 people at the same time interval.
The story about its valorisation has finally been started by development of a Feasibility Study on tourism valorisation with a conceptual design for development of the cave, which was prepared by “ARHINGinženjering” led by Prof. PhD. Rifat Alihodžić, and which was recently presented to the public. As has been announced, 12 million euros will be invested in this project and the funds will be provided from the Capital Budget. Also, results of the study have shown that every segment of the project is profitable and it has been proposed for the part to be developed for tourists to be slightly longer than 814 meters, with nine halls and ten plateaus for visitors, as well as to construct and put into operation a cable car from the Podvrh Monastery to the cave itself. In addition, a walking path along the gorge to the cave is planned, which will pass by Juriško springs and Glava Bistrice spring, as well as an adventure park with a zip-line. What has been completed so far is development of the main project for construction of the road Bistri-
ca-Podvrh Monastery in the length of 5.5 km. Its estimated value is almost four million Euros and the works are expected to start next year. When it comes to the cable car, the transport of 75 passengers per hour is planned. The estimated value of the cable car is close to four million Euros while announcement of the tender for the cable car is planned for next year. The reason why it has been decided that a cable car connection is needed lies in the fact that the entire area is difficult for access or inaccessible, which in some way saved the cave, and that entrance of cars into this area would disrupt the natural values of the canyon. Since caves are vulnerable ecosystems, it was necessary to pay attention not to devastate the cave and to completely preserve its cave ornaments. Therefore, a plan was designed to set up a “floating trail” of a prefabricated character, so that all its elements are reclining, suspended or cantileverly placed on the rocks. As Professor Alihodžić said, studies have shown that in these conditions the only environ-
Photo: Michael Kaminski
TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT - December 2016
Photo: Stefan Vukićević
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This cave consists of a large number of channels, corridors and halls, which according to their position and general morphological characteristics can be divided into different sections: the “Channel with Lakes” (characterised by a large number of lakes, both permanent (about 15) and temporary (20-30), as well as by stalactites and stalagmites of small dimensions), the “Large Labyrinth,” the “Grand Channel” and a part of the cave in continuation of the Grand Channel which is separated by siphons – the “Channel behind the Siphon”. The cave is most easily reached from two directions. One is through the valley of the Bistrica to the Podvrh Monastery which is 24 kilometres away from Bijelo Polje. The trail then goes up the river Bistrica bed and along the dry bed of the gorge in a length of three kilometres and the hike takes about two hours. The other direction is from the village of Đalovići which is 48 kilometres away from Bijelo Polje. The walking trail from the village leads into the dry part of the Đalovića Gorge and the height difference between the gorge and the area at which the Đalovići village is located is about 450 meters. Upstream through Đalovića Gorge, on the left side of the valley, where the valley merges with the gorge, is the Vraižji Firovi, the lowest of the four lakes. For
Photo: Michael Kaminski
So far 130 speleological facilities have been registered in Montenegro According to Professor Alihodžić, in our country there are conditions for speleological tourism as 130 speleological facilities have been registered so far, and although not all are commercially activated for tourism purposes and maybe some do not possess such capacities, speleological tourism can still be an important part of our offer if the caves are promoted in the right way
mentally suitable are composite materials that absolutely do not react to moisture, do not disintegrate, are not weld, but are mounted by a “dry” process. One of the most difficult tasks was also determining the source of adequate lighting in the cave, bearing in mind that all the halls include design at the level of opera halls. Therefore, a team of German experts was engaged, as consultants on the project, who worked on the lighting system in some of the 50 best caves in the world. According to the words of Mr. Alihodžić, their opinion confirmed that this is a project that really needs to be worked on. The entire project is planned to be completed in four years, and development of the very cave will be completed in a little more than a year. In addition to reviving this area and creating a new tourism offer, it is important to emphasise that this investment will open new jobs (projections for those directly employed in this project are about 60 people). In view of the planned operating time of the cave, the capacity for an eight month season during the year is estimated at 158 000 visitors, and analysis show economic feasibility with about 55, 000 visitors. Đalovića Cave could become the reason for visiting Bijelo Polje, because in this area there are some significant objects of religious tourism. One of the main spots, first of all, is the Podvrh Monastery from 1606, then the Church of St. Peter (12th century) and the Church of St. Nicholas (13th – 14th century), the
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church in Voljavce (12th century) and the monastery Kumanica (13th – 14th century). Also, crucial is the rural tourism potential of Bistrica, which is one of the most beautiful valleys in Montenegro, then the development of hunting and fishing, and we cannot forget the value of Vražiji Firovi and Juriški springs. The fact that the last example of the Dinar House is to be found in the region of Bistrica should be added to the above. Although the project of valorisation of the Đalovića Cave is very demanding both from environmental and financial aspects, with it, not only would Bijelo Polje, but the entire northern region of our country certainly get an exceptional tourism product that would generate other segments of tourism (such as cultural, religious, rural etc.), industries and connect the tourism facilities of the north and the south of Montenegro. And where would the quote “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything” be better incorporated, if not in the story which represents the peak of the imposing womb of Montenegrin ground. With a smart valorisation process, which will fully preserve the value of this cave and that will give it a new glow, our country will definitely get another symbol of its beauty, which will be enjoyed by people living in Montenegro, tourists, and the generations to come
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INTERVIEW SLOKAR: MONTENEGRO HAS MADE GOOD PROGRESS, BUT THE MOST DEMANDING PART IS AHEAD OF US
ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION
is the most challenging process, but with many benefits 46
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Slovenian expert Marko Slokar has been working with the European Union for many years in the field of environment protection, in countries preparing to enter into the European community. In Montenegro, he worked on the IPA project “Development of the National Environment Approximation Strategy” (NEAS). Mr. Slokar was the Main Negotiator for the Government of Slovenia for Chapter 27, Director of the Slovenian Eco Fund, and is a big nature enthusiast. In the interview for ”Tourism and Environment”, he assesses the readiness of Montenegro for negotiations in the field of environmental protection, advises what could be good moves for the country’s progress towards sustainable development, and points to challenges the accession countries are facing in this field Prepared by: Marija Vukčević, Director of Directorate for EU Integration and International Cooperation Marina Miketić Nikolić, Head of Department for PR and Communication
To what extent is Montenegro harmonized with EU standards in the field of environment and climate changes at the moment? You can find the most competent assessment of current compliance of Montenegro with EU standards in the field of environment and climate change in the latest European Commission Report for 2016, which was published at the beginning of November. In this Report, the European Commission accessed the current compliance of Montenegro in the field of environment and climate change with the phrase “A certain level of preparedness”. However, much more important is the Commission’s second assessment, which refers to the progress achieved compared to the previous year, where Montenegro is assessed with the phrase “good progress” in the field of environment and climate change in the past year. Such positive assessment is a consequence of adoption of the National Approximation Strategy in the field of environment and climate changes with an Action Plan until 2020, which was the European Commission’s
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request, set as a condition, or a so-called “initial benchmark”, for the opening of negotiations for the Chapter 27. This significant progress of Montenegro in the field of environment and climate change in the last year is the result of the effort of civil servants and employees in relevant institutions in the Government of Montenegro, who, led by their superiors, worked intensively on improving the normative framework and the development of the strategic approximation document. However, I would specially emphasize the key contribution to the whole process given by the then Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism, Mr. Branimir Gvozdenović, with his personal commitment and guidance in the process of drafting and adopting of the National Environment Approximation Strategy and its Action Plan. How do you assess the readiness of Montenegro for negotiations in this chapter? As I already emphasized at the beginning of the interview, chapter 27 is one of the most difficult chapters 47
in the process of EU approximation in professional, technical and financial terms, which is why at this moment it is very difficult to assess the readiness of Montenegro for negotiations. Based on my personal experience in Slovenian negotiations with the EU in this field, I think that Montenegro still lacks several key things for successful negotiations in this chapter. The adopted Approximation Strategy with its Action Plan is just the basis for a detailed analysis and the development of specific implementation plans for individual EU regulations (directives), which, once developed, can serve as a solid base for negotiations. A detailed functional analysis of the relevant institutions is still missing, with a program for reorganization and capacity building for implementation of national regulations harmonized with the EU legislation and its monitoring. Finally, there should be a clearer financial framework for financing of full implementation. For, what are the negotiations actually about? The negotiations are only about transitional periods for full implementation of the specific regulations; about financial arrangements for implementation support, and about the possibility for technical adaptation of some of the EU regulations, especially in the area of environmental protection. The negotiations on possible permanent deviations from the EU environmental and climate change legislative are almost impossible. Everything else is just a matter of informing the European Commission on completion of our national legislation harmonization with the EU acquis “homework”.
To determine protected areas in the framework of NATURA 2000. These are all significant challenges for Montenegro, and it is difficult to determine which one will be most difficult to solve.
What will be the key challenges for Montenegro within the next few years, and which, in your opinion, will be most difficult to solve?
What exactly is Natura 2000 in practice? What will the establishment of this network mean for Montenegro and can you demonstrate with specific examples from Slovenia what Natura 2000 really is?
In my opinion the key challenges for Montenegro in the next few years will be: To establish a relatively small, but efficient, well qualified and professional institutional and administrative apparatus that will be capable to successfully end the negotiation process with the EU, and further on as a member, implement the EU acquis in the field of environment and climate change. To establish adequate domestic financial instruments and ensure sufficient financial resources for implementation of the EU legislative in this area; To establish necessary infrastructure for full implementation of the EU legislative (directives), that require high investments, primarily in the area of water and waste management; To restructure industrial and energy facilities in accordance with the regulations on industrial emissions; 48
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Can you draw a parallel between the accession process for Chapter 27 through which Montenegro is going right now and the period when Slovenia was in the negotiation process for the same chapter? Chapter 27 “Environment and climate change” comprises one third of the entire EU legislative (EU acquis), and in the terms of professional and expert capacities that it requires, it is also one of the most demanding chapters to implement, not only in the accession phase, but also in terms of full membership. The accession process of candidate countries for EU membership is similar to the one that Slovenia has gone through. However, there are a lot of significant changes that have made this process even more complex and demanding than the one that Slovenia went through, together with nine other states that became members on May 1, 2004. The criteria for assessment of the candidate country’s readiness for opening of Chapter 27 are more difficult to meet then they were before. The assessment now also includes opinion of the Council of the EU, which was not the case with Slovenia. In the last 12 years, since Slovenia became a member state, the number of EU legislation in this field, with which the candidate
Natura 2000 is the European network of selected protected areas, created in order to ensure long-term survival of Europe’s most valuable and threatened species and habitats. Every EU member country must, on the basis of the prescribed criteria, and respecting the two key EU directives on birds and habitats, define and protect parts of their national territory, in accordance with the mentioned criteria. In the areas protected under the Natura 2000, special measures of protection are applied, including also specific measures for sustainable development. In Slovenia, as many as 37% of the country territory is protected under Natura 2000. In 55 out of total 210 municipalities, protected areas under Natura 2000 represent over 50% of their territory. In these areas Slovenia supports activities aimed at sustainable development, which are in accordance with special measures for their protection.
In Slovenia, as many as 37% of the country territory is protected under Natura 2000. In 55 OUT OF TOTAL 210 municipalities, protected areas under Natura 2000 represent over 50% of their territory country must fully harmonize, has increased. The standards of some of the sub-areas within environmental policy such as air quality, water management and quality, waste management, industrial pollution, chemicals, and especially climate change, became higher. The standards of environmental policy in some subfields, such as air quality, water quality and management, waste management, industrial pollution, chemicals, have tightened. Also, the corpus of regulations in the area of ​​climate change has significantly developed. Some sub-areas and regulations, like for example nuclear security and radiation protection as well as genetically modified organisms, were transferred into other chapters. Besides institutional reorganization and legal harmonization, the European Commission now demands their specific implementation during the very process of accession. That is why very detailed, long-term and strategic sector planning is required, together with a very specific implementation plans with clearly defined timeframes, sources and methods of financing, and relevant institutions of the candidate country that are qualified to implement and monitor the implementation of harmonized legislative, and adequate plans for different sectors. What are benefits of Natura 2000 for the citizens of Montenegro and our tourism?
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It is very difficult to pinpoint all the benefits of Natura 2000 network. They can be divided into economic and social. The economic ones are related to a specific sustainable development in tourism, organic food production, long-term provision of natural resources such as drinking water, sustainable management and use of forests, reduction of flood risks and, in global terms, reduction of Co2 accumulation. How will, for example, harmonization with EU legislative related to industrial pollution affect industry in Montenegro? As I emphasized earlier, harmonization with the EU legislative in the area of industrial pollution is a special challenge for Montenegro, which is connected to necessary restructuring of industrial and energy facilities. Montenegro also has to start thinking about transition from linear into circular economy, which means changing the current resources management paradigm, and replacing it with a more efficient and smarter model, by introducing eco-innovations, eco design, advanced technologies, reuse of waste, energy efficiency and use of sustainable energy sources. In fact, this challenge can be the opportunity for development of small and medium sized enterprises in Montenegro 49
INTERVIEW
IVANA VOJINOVIĆ
21 MILLION EUROS FOR DISTRICT HEATING INFRASTRUCTURE OF PLJEVLJA MUNICIPALITY What is going on with the new heating plant in Pljevlja? Is it a realistic and time-determined story? The project of building a new heating plant in Pljevlja is a realistic and time-determined story and Municipal authorities in Pljevlja have been working on it with great commitment and quality. The key efforts on creating the assumptions for implementation of this project have been created in 2016, so after having developed the project documents, Pljevlja Municipality recently announced a Tender for construction of the first phase of the city heating plant. Bid opening will take place on 15 December. With the construction of the new heating plant, the boiler-room in Skerlićeva Street will be closed, as it is recognized as one of the greatest air polluters in Pljevlja in winter time. Relocating of one of the biggest polluters from the inner city is a very important step in improving air quality. Given that the new heating plant will be a part of a single heating system of the city, the project also envisages the construction of a part of the main above-ground pipeline from the mini heating plant to Skerlićeva Street, as well as a substation that will be in the centre of the city. This infrastructure that will connect the city heating plant with users will also represent the core of secondary infrastructure for heating of the city which will be subsequently connected to the source of thermal power to be provided by the construction of Unit II of the TPP Pljevlja. The new heating plant at the moment of completion of the district heating system will serve as a backup source for heating of the city. Based on the foregoing, it is clear that it is an important capital project of significance for improving the quality of life of Pljevlja citizens. 50
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What is going on with the delivery of pellets and briquettes for this year? Is it considered that this measure can have effect if in the following seasons it is timely implemented and will it be continued? The action of subsidized procurement of pellets and briquettes will continue in the heating season 2016/17. Given that some assessments were that last year’s action did not give significant results, it must be mentioned that 1176 households, out of 6621 households which are according to the census 2013 registered as city households in Pljevlja Municipality participated in the last year’s action which was carried out only in the second part of the season. Since January 2016, when the distribution of pellets and briquettes was completed, notable has been a descending trend of mean value of average daily suspended particles concentration (PM10) in Pljevlja. Also notable has been fall in the volume of limit value exceeding, of which there were 28 in January, 25 in February and 25 in March, 17 in April, and 6 in May at the end of the heating season. December 2015 is the month when limit value exceeding was recorded on daily basis – 31 days. Although it is not expected that this measure will bring the level of air pollution below the legally allowed limit, it should be continued and implemented on on-going basis, because the experience of European countries that encountered this problem says that by replacing energy sources, i.e. using briquettes and pellets as ecologically acceptable fuels for household heating instead of traditionally used coal, the problem of air pollution may be significantly mitigated. The measure requires continuous implementation,
as well as raising awareness and mass participation of households that should be increasing from one year to the other. How will the citizens be informed about the air pollution situation in the municipality this winter? In previous ones different information could be heard from institutions and civil sector? Legal obligation of the Environmental Protection Agency is to timely and in the prescribed way inform the public about the condition of air quality. Information from the network for monitoring air quality is available at the website of the Environmental Protection Agency in real time and they are backed up by statements. Although different interpretations of measurement results can be heard, I would point out that in line with the regulations and adopted European standards official data on air quality following their validation may be provided solely by accredited laboratory for air quality monitoring, which in this case is the Centre for Eco-Toxicological Research. At the website of the Environmental Protection Agency there are currently certain improvements that imply preliminary application of air quality index which is marked with a spectrum of colours ranging from green to red, i.e. from good to bad air quality. It is a trial application which is simultaneously applied in numerous EU member states, and in the coming period, after the testing of this system, it is expected that a common air quality index on European level will be established by the European Commission by means of a relevant regulation. By taking part in the preliminary phase of this new way of reporting, Montenegro shows its willingness to take over the European air quality index as soon as it is officially approved in Europe. Is there a solution for the pollution issue in Pljevlja and is there an end to it that can be discerned? If yes, how and when? Air pollution issue in Pljevlja is extremely complex, given the fact that in addition to solid fuel being used in households and public facilities, as well as for industry purposes, extreme meteorological conditions in Pljevlja valley have dominant unfavourable impact on air quality, and unfortunately they are constant and keep occurring for many years. The Study that has been recently produced by the Environmental Protection Agency and Institute for Hydrometeorology and Seismology points out at natural impacts such as geomorphology of Pljevlja valley and MORiT.me
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unfavourable micro-climate conditions (non-airing, frequent fog, winter periods with frequent temperature inversions, etc.). Such climate and geo-morphological conditions cause the pollution instead of thinning and going to upper layers of atmosphere, to concentrate in the lowest layer where it has the greatest impact on human health and the environment. In fact, the greatest contribution to the concentrations in the lowest layer is provided by emitters that emit polluting particles in the very lowest layer, namely they are low stacks of residential and business facilities with individual fireplaces and boiler-rooms. Still, although this is a complex problem that is largely caused by extreme meteorological conditions, it is encouraging that the air pollution problem in Pljevlja can be solved through complex and investment demanding solutions. Such cases are not characteristic for Pljevlja only, they are encountered all over the world and are mostly solved by eliminating solid fuel from use for heating households and introducing remote, i.e. central heating
In the coming 5-6 years we will jointly fight and win clean air in Pljevlja by working on district heating According to the words of Ms Vojinović, all the studies produced so far show that district heating of Pljevlja is a permanent solution and the only rational, justified and possible model for solving the air pollution problem in Pljevlja. Estimated funds for complete construction of heating infrastructure amount to around 21,4 million EUR. District heating of Pljevlja, through inclusion of existing individual fireplaces in a heating network, is connected to the construction of Unit II of TPP for which a contract was signed in October 2016, so in the coming years continuous activities will be undertaken on reconstruction of the existing and construction of the new secondary network, all for the purpose of implementing the district heating project. She has also stated that she is pleased by the fact that singing of the contract and commencing administrative activities for construction of the second unit of TPP Pljevlja have brought us significantly closer to this permanent solution. Finally, when it comes to deadlines, she has pointed out that we can talk about the coming 5-6 years during which the citizens of Pljevlja will win the fight for clean air by using ecologically acceptable fuels, modern and energy efficient heating devices and accepting the remote (central) heating system. 51
PRESS CLIPPING
MONTENEGRO in foreign media
Prepared by: Marko Mirović
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TOURISM AND TECHNOLOGY –WHAT’S AWAITING US IN THE FUTURE
Tourist Visit TO VIRTUAL REALITY
Author: Marko Mirović
magine that before you make up your mind where to travel you can go sightseeing in a country or city, walk their streets or paths, from your cosy home. Or within ten minutes you can check out if the travel that is offered by the tourist agency is really that spectacular as stated in the offer, by actually going sightseeing of that place. Imagine that while visiting a city you constantly receive information about what you see around, without having to pay guide’s services. In the same way as the technology influences all economic branches, it also influences tourism, the way we think about travelling, choose destinations, experience them, share such experiences, make reservations, etc. Technology has conditioned business and destinations themselves by setting their new marketing concept, and by a totally different way of approaching potential and actual tourists and competition and by a totally different view at the standard of services. Technological innovations have facilitated nowadays the tourists to be the ones who will be the best
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promoters of a destination or tourism business, enabling them to share their experiences and reach a large number of people and it frequently has a greater echo than an advertising campaign that has been devised for a long time. These days it is easier for us to choose, book, communicate with other tourists and businesses that are required for good travel.
VIRTUAL AND AUGMENTED REALITY
Currently popular is the trend of “destination experience”, for the reason that tourists want to experience what the destination has to offer, not just relax at hotels. Still, virtual reality (VR) technology is gaining momentum and enables us to practically walk the streets of Florence, Paris, Prague, New York etc. from our homes. With its Earth VR service Google is planning to offer the possibility of exploring the plan-
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et i.e. many world destinations in virtual reality. All this will be available to any home, at any place in the world. In some Marriott hotels there is VRoom service available, where you can rent VR glasses, so you can “visit” the place where the hotel is located without leaving the room. In addition to virtual reality, the concept that is anticipated to be more and more present is augmented reality. It is similar to virtual reality, but it can be used in real time, i.e. during a walk or sightseeing. Applications for augmented reality envisage use of glasses with built-in cameras, which can see what we see, and based on that they provide us graphical views with information
about what we are looking at. Augmented reality may be a tool that will change experience and presentation of a destination, given the fact that it will be able to offer people visiting the destination additional relevant information about everything they see. In this way, the visitor’s experience will not be diminished, but they will only get much more information about the places they are visiting, and such information will be customised and presented according to the preferences of visitors, for everybody individually.
POSSIBLE USE
Will these technologies bring a new way of experiencing destinations and will real features lose their sense? For the time being we are far from it, which is also confirmed by the data that the number of tourists in the world grows from one year to the other. In 2015, there were around 1.2 billion tourists in the world, while in the first 9 months 2016 there were already a billion tourists, with estimates that by the end of the year this number should increase to over 1.3 billion. New technologies have greater effect on the desire to experience some well presented destinations, and help in inspiring tourists. For example, VR or AR glasses may present stroll in Kotor, cruising Skadar Lake, biking in the National Park Durmitor, but it can’t get you to feel the cold water in the Nevidio canyon, effort in climbing Bobotov Kuk or some of the peaks of the Prokletije, rocking of the boat while cruising the Boka Bay... Still, VR and AR may be among the new most important marketing tools in tourism, and may be smartly used to attract tourists from all over the world. In this way tourists can be shown what they can see or experience on a specific destination. This form of promotion may help us, with right presentation, to reach the MORiT.me
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In 2015, there were around 1.2 billion tourists in the world, while in the first 9 months 2016 there were already a billion tourists, with estimates that by the end of the year this number should increase to over 1.3 billion
tourists who have no plans of visiting our destination at all. Some national tourist organisations, like Irish, already use this form of promotion, which has been approved by the viewers. Also, the chain of Marriott hotels has already done an advertising campaign by virtual reality, showing people what they may experience if they come to them for holiday. Destination presentation may be significantly improved by using augmented reality, i.e. presenting more information relevant for tourists. Imagine a tourist in Kotor who just by glancing at the door of the Old Town receives information about the walls, and when they look up, they receive information about the fortress San Đovani, its height, age and building method, possibilities for good view and great photos. Also, as regards people with impaired mobility, such applications may present them places that are otherwise inaccessible to them. It is them that can enable anybody to climb the fortress above Kotor, visit the Mausoleum at Lovćen or observe the peaks of Durmitor or the Prokletije. In November, authorities in the United Arab Emirates published the “Dubai Autonomous Transport Strategy” which envisages that by 2030 25% drives in Dubai should be by driverless vehicles. It
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Before the way of destination experience is changed, it is more likely that the way in which hotels provide us services will change. The mentioned chain of Marriott hotels has already presented a new concept of hotels of the future, which will adjust their services in real time, in line with constant feedback information of users via interactive screens that will be posted all over the hotel. At the Henn na Hotel in Nagasaki, guests are welcomed by robots, while the Yotel Hotel in New York has robots to carry luggage. So, artificial intelligence may be another technological novelty in tourism, with a trend to radically change hotel business, and also improve the experience of tourists. is expected that other major cities should commence adopting similar strategies, which, together with augmented reality, could contribute to much easier sightseeing of cities and informing tourists about everything they see and visit. Development and application of new technologies may greatly change the world of tourism, and travels, offers and experiences will be even more individualised and subjected to tourists, while during our travels we will be able to learn much more than so far, if we want to 57
INTERESTING FACTS
Did you know?
Prepared by: Ivana Radoman
LANFERPULGVINGILGOGERIHVERNDROBULANDISILIOGOGOGOHU In Great Britain there is a town the name of which is officially the longest name of any European town. In fact, it is Lanferpulgvingilgogerihverndrobulandisiliogogogohu, a Welsh town, whose name translated means “The Church of St. Mary in the valley of white chestnut trees near the rapid source of the Church of St. Tisilija with a red cave”
Hong Kong is known as the city with
the largest number of skyscrapers in the world, as much as 315
Becici beach
The first travel guide about Montenegro was published in 1904. It was published in Herceg Novi in German. It was a brochure entitled “A Roundtrip from Zelenika through the Bay of Kotor, Skadar and Montenegro in five days”
Burj Khalifa
-the tallest building in the world is the in Dubai, 828 meters high with 163 floors 58
The largest hotel in the world by the number of rooms is the “First World Hotel”, a three star hotel, which is located in Genting, Malaysia. This impressive building consists of two towers, one of which has 24 and the other 28 floors, while it has 7 351 rooms. The hotel is recognizable by its colourful façade (red, green, yellow, blue, etc.)
located near Budva, was declared the most beautiful beach in Europe in Paris in 1935
The first hotel in the Southern Adriatic was built back in 1902, today known as Hotel “Plaža Zelenika”. The hotel was originally named the
Green Beech Pension
and had 30 rooms with 60 beds, a kitchen and a large banquet hall
The most visited country in the world is France, with 84.5 million visitors, followed by the USA with 77.5 million and Spain with 68.2 million visitors FRANCE 84,5 million SPAIN 68,2 million USA 77,5 million
Montenegro (originally Crna Gora) was mentioned for the first time as Montenegro in a document from 1397, and in the Montenegrin language in a document dated from 26 July 1458
Skadar Lake
is a real geographical phenomenon – it has forty islands and islets
The most visited city in the world is Bangkok, Thailand, with 21.47 million overnights, followed by London, with 19.88 million and Paris with 18.3 million overnight stays
BANGKOK 21.47 million PARIS 18.03 million LONDON 19.88 million
The coast of Australia stretches along almost 50 000 kilometres and is connected with more than 10 000 beaches, more than any country in the world
As much as one-third of the total number of airports in the world is located in the United States of America
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INTERVIEW DANILO VUKMIROVIĆ, WINEMAKER AND BEEKEEPER
Wine Tourism
IN CEKLINU Author: Ivana Radoman Danilo Vukmirović from Gornji Ceklin has for many years now been engaged in viticulture, beekeeping and fruit-growing, and has managed to connect it all with tourism. So now his winery “Vukmirović - Cellar Ceklin”is visited by many tourists from different countries who during their tour of the winery can hear lots of stories and legends, and how people used to live in old Montenegro, while having a glass of wine and some local food. “It all started as a hobby and love for the countryside and agriculture. In the early nineties, we had about 500-600 grapevines, twenty hives and fifty different fruit trees. At that time I was employed in the company “Obod”, and with my wife I opened a grocery store, which worked for seven years. However, all this was not enough to support our family so we had to start with something new. So about fifteen years ago 60
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we came up with the idea to make a family business and to start with tourism”, begins his story Danilo Vukmirović. The Vukmirović family then expanded the capacity of their vineyard to 2 000 vines, but also the number of beehives and fruit trees and slowly began to work on renovating the cellar. All this was accompanied by presenting their products at fairs from Shkoder, the Srpska Republic to Belgrade, and Novi Sad, which contributed to sales of products. As a reward for all the hard work and effort they soon began to receive recognitions both in Montenegro and abroad. A separate story is wine tourism which has been attracting more and more tourists in the last years and in which the Vukmirović family saw their chance. Therefore, for the last couple of years the “Winery Vukmirović” has been registered in the Tourism Or-
The Vukmirović Winery is located in the village of Gornji Ceklin 11 kilometers from Cetinje towards Rijeka Crnojevića
“All of our wines are of superior quality and made by the old traditional recipe, which has been handed over for generations since 1912. We are very pleased with both wine production and sales and we manage to sell almost the entire quantity we produce. Annually we produce about 1 500 litres, primarily of Vranac, Kratošija and Rose, as well as Barrique and we also “bake” about 500 litres of brandy. As you can see, our winery is not large, that is, it is of a small capacity, but is recognised for its quality. We can say that it has a museum character because a variety of tools that were used in the past and objects as well as old wines are exhibited here”, says Danilo.
ganisation of Cetinje for receiving guests for wine tasting within the “Wine Roads”. As they say they have individual tourist visits and group visits from cruise ships, and the number of visits increases from year to year, which is particularly satisfying for them. In fact, just last year, their household was visited by about 600, and this year by more than 800 tourists. During the visit, the tourists have the opportunity to visit the vineyards and the cellar, get acquainted with the traditions of Montenegrin viticulture and hear stories and legends from this area while tasting wines and dishes that go with the particular wine, which altogether represents a special experience. In addition, visits and tastings are excellent opportunities for selling their products. “The most important thing is that tourists are delighted and satisfied and a large number of them come back again and recommend us to others”, says Danilo. Additionally, the Vukmirović family offers accommodation for five to six people, and in the coming period they plan to expand their capacities. According to Danilo’s words the rooms are not luxurious but fit into the rural ambience. Bed and breakfast in this household is offered for 20-25 Euros. MORiT.me
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Winemaking has been a tradition in the Vukmirović family since 1912 Moderate continental climate, rich flora and the clean and fresh air in this area are excellent conditions for beekeeping, with which, among other things, the Vukmirović family has been engaged for the last forty years. They produce about a ton of honey per year, and they move their hives to Lovćen during the year so they offer both Lovćen and Ceklin honey. As they say, there is always work in the apiary, and now all preparations for spring are being carried out, such as: repair of beehives, changing the frames, setting wax, nourishing the bee ... Honey products are liquid, and they also have comb honey, crystallised honey, candied fruit in honey, honey brandy with nettle and propolis and propolis drops (as a natural antibiotic). 62
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The Vukmirović family offers medicinal brandy made of gentian, grass germander, meadow bistort, basil, blue and red hawthorn, and liqueurs made of quince, blueberries, raspberries, cornelian cherry and walnut with the addition of honey
The guest book is full of nice words, descriptions and pictures of delighted tourists “Life in the countryside is hard and even though it is sometimes necessary to work from morning until dark, it’s nice when the fruits of your work exceed its value. I see prospects in the countryside because it provides many opportunities for success and my example is the best confirmation of that”, says Danilo. MORiT.me
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EVENTS
in December
South Region FROM CHRISTMAS TO CHRISTMAS PLACE: Old Town, Kotor TIME: from 23 December 2016 to 8 January 2017
The event includes band evenings with fritters, papaladu, raffle and children’s New Year which is scheduled for 30 December in the afternoon hours.
BAR NEW YEAR’S HAPPENING PLACE: Trg Vladimira i Kosare, Bar TIME: from 26 December 2016 to 2 January 2017
NEW YEAR’S EVE IN THE OPEN
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NEW YEAR’S EVE PROGRAM
PLACE: The Main Square, Tivat
PLACE: Budva
TIME: December 31
TIME: from 31 December 2016 to 2 January 2017
TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT - December 2016
The Festive New Year’s Events in Podgorica
Table Fair
x Beginning of Bar New Year’s Happening
x
Xmas tree decorating in Žabljak
x
New Year’s Celebration
North Region CHRISTMAS TREE AND TOWN DECORATING PLACE: Main Town Square, Žabljak TIME: December 30
The Tourism Organisation of Žabljak, in cooperation with primary school students from Žabljak and children from the local kindergarten will organise decorating the Christmas tree and town in the main town square. The children will make their own New Year’s decorations for the Christmas tree and they will be receiving New Year’s gifts from Santa Claus, and all will be complemented by a DJ party.
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NEW YEAR BAZAAR PLACE: Main Town Square, Bijelo Polje TIME: December 29
The Tourism Organisation of Bijelo Polje, Secretariat for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship, Travel Agency “Rams” and the Cultural Centre are the organisers of this event. This event is imagined as a way to say farewell to the old year with music, singing, dancing, wine and brandy, and to welcome the New Year with positive energy. With a rich cultural program, presenters at the bazaar will be local producers, and an emphasis will be placed on local products and the local cuisine with promotion of the “Slow Food” concept, because this year Montenegro officially became a member of this global movement. 65
Central Region PODGORICA NIGHT 2016 PLACE: Hotel „Hilton“, Podgorica
PLACE: „Mall of Montenegro“, Podgorica
TIME: 16. decembar
TIME: 18 December
WINTER MAGIC PLACE: „Mall of Montenegro“, Podgorica TIME: 17 December
The event includes performances of children from four city kindergartens.
THE “FESTIVE TABLE” FAIR PLACE: Shopping Centre “Bazar”, Podgorica TIME: 17 and 18 December
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BABY SANTA
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This event is designed for the youngest children who will have the opportunity to participate in a competition of choosing the most beautiful little costumed Santa Claus, and there will be a fashion show and music program.
NEW YEAR BAZAAR PLACE: Trg Nezavisnosti, Podgorica TIME: 19-31 December
NEW YEAR’S BUZZING PLACE: Children’s playroom “Zujalica”, Podgorica TIME: 24 December
As part of this event a New Year party for children and a visit of Santa Claus is planned.
NEW YEAR GIFT BAZAAR PLACE: “Mall of Montenegro“, Podgorica TIME: 24 and 25 December
NEW YEAR’S FEAST PLACE: Shopping Centre “Bazar“, Podgorica TIME: 25 December
The event program plans New Year’s performances for children and a visit from Santa Claus.
NEW YEAR’S MAGIC PLACE: “Mall of Montenegro“, Podgorica TIME: 26 Decembar
This children’s event will be organised for the occasion of New Year holidays and there will be gifts for participants.
NOTE: The event organisers reserve the right to change event dates and cancel the events due to adverse weather conditions and other reasons
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