Data on the visits to Budva, which relate to the first seven months, show the return of Western European guests. Namely, German tourists are in third place by the number of arrivals and overnight stays, while France, Great Britain and Sweden are among the top ten, said the Tourist organization PR Darja Marovic.

She added that, as in previous years, visitors from Russia, Serbia, BiH, Ukraine and Belarus were the most present during the main season.

Interestingly, this year we have guests in private accommodation from some of the lesser-known, distant destinations, such as South Africa, Papua New Guinea, Mauritius, Cambodia, Indonesia, Bahrain,” she added.

According to the official statistics of the Statistical Office of Montenegro, Monstat on the number of tourists in hotels, hostels, resorts and other collective accommodation, as well as those collected by TO Budva for private accommodation, in the first six months of this year, about 300.000 guests visited the “capital of tourism”, and have made more than a million overnights. Based on the still unofficial results data for July and August, expectations for the second half of the year are more than positive.

 “According to the hoteliers, this postseason will be as successful as the preseason. If the weather supports us, we hope that the occupancy will be good in private accommodation as well. We have done our best to make a series of smaller and bigger events through both independent organization and with support in order to extend the stay of our guests," said Marovic.

The significant number of events in the coming months is crucial, and the TO believes that there will be many who will decide to spend those days in and around Budva.

Budva is the place of the most diverse tourist offer, which is why it is visited by different clientele. Marovic says that besides enjoying the beaches, many four- and five-star hotels are also attractive to the guests, but she places emphasis on "domestic crafts".

“Private accommodation pairs with the hotels when it comes to quality. The competition is high, which means that everyone is trying their best to get the guests with the quality of service they offer and kindness. Also, Budva offers a wide range of gastronomic services, which is one of the main segments a guest chooses a particular destination. Both Montenegro and Budva have a lot to offer,” as she said to “Dnevne novine”.

She also stated that the cultural and historical monuments and hinterland of Budva are still not properly exploited and that they should be promoted more.

Text by Dnevne novine, on August 27th, 2019, read more at CdM

23 August 2019 - Montenegro has imported more than 185.712 tonnes of oil and its derivatives worth 108,33 million EUR since the beginning of the year, said the representatives of Customs Administration, writes Cafe del Montenegro.

Most oil has been imported through more than 60 companies from Serbia, 25 German companies, around 14 companies from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and 5 Albanian companies.

Oil and its derivative have come to Montenegro from Japan, through Daido Metal company, British company Border Holdings Limited, the Dutch oil company, Briggs & Stratton and Latvian Uab Sct Lunricanst.

This year’s Montenegrin oil importers are Ina company, Jugopetrol, Voli Motors, Adriatic Marinas from Tivat, Port of Bar, Uniprom Energy Podgorica, Trebjesa… Chinese CRBD company also imports these products into Montenegro.

As far as oil and gas research is concerned, two studies have been carried out. The first one lasted from 19 November to 18 December and was carried out by Italian-Russian concessionaire Eni-Novatek. Findings of the research will be known by the end of September, whereas findings of the other research will be presented in the fourth quarter of the year.

Montenegro imports oil and its derivatives for re-exportation too.

"The re-exporting process does not include remaining quantities of regular import but quantities intended for the needs of re-export," explained the representatives of Customs Administration.

Private companies make a profit in this process, and the representatives of Customs Administration of Montenegro also spoke about the price of re-exportation.

"Average price for this year amounts to 0,56 EUR per liter. Re-exportation process refers to the procurement of ships and yachts in international traffic," concluded the representatives of Customs Administration.

Read more news about business in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

Helicopter tours in Montenegro are increasing. Landings and take-offs are controlled by regulations, local flights are possible from private heliports, while international flights by helicopters must pass customs control, which is only possible at Podgorica and Tivat airports. The helicopter lease is usually carried out from Tivat Airport to Dubrovnik. There are also restrictions on heliports existing on hotels and within hotel resorts.

According to marketing and communications manager Adrijana Husic, at the complex Portonovi in Kumbor, which recently opened its doors, the licensing of the heliport is currently underway, and it is due to open next year.

"We also plan to use our heliport for international flights once it is operational," Husic said.

A take-off heliport has just been opened in Porto Montenegro, from which the take-offs and landings are allowed, located not far from the administrative building of “Adriatic Marinas”.

"So far, only local flights are allowed," said Danilo Kalezic, PR and marketing manager of Adriatic Marinas.

As “Pobjeda” was told at the Civil Aviation Control Agency, helicopter landings and take-offs in international air traffic are allowed only at and from international airports, and exceptionally and from those airports that are not designated for international air traffic, provided the operator ensures the application of the rules on crossing the state borders at their own expense.

“There are two international airports in Montenegro, Podgorica and Tivat, and international flights are only allowed to and from them, whether these are commercial or non-commercial flights. Apart from Montenegro Airports, there are no other airport operators that have met the regulations regarding the operation of international flights,” the Agency said.

The conduct of non-commercial or private helicopter flights within Montenegro is permitted predominantly within the framework of the regulatory requirements defined in the Regulation on conditions and manner for out-of-airport landing and take-off of aircraft.

Hotels Group Montenegro Stars, the Agency said, are licensed to use their heliport under certain restrictions, but this heliport cannot be used for international air traffic.

The accountable manager of the Airways aviation academy and charter airline in Montenegro Vuk Stojanovic points out that there are restrictions on where and how a helicopter can land and take off.

"If you were to travel from here to Croatia, the aircraft must be sterile, i.e., it must have passed all the controls that all passengers flying in it were "checked" to enter another country," Stojanovic explained.

There are, he says, small airports in the world from where commercial traffic takes place, where customs and police are there also.

"This practice can be applied here, as well. In our case, the landing and take-off must comply with international air traffic regulations, which applies to international flights. Within the country, such flights are possible," Stojanovic said, emphasizing that another limitation of the helicopter's performance is to land on a hotel’s heliport, building, or yacht.

The helicopter, in this case, must be two-engine.

"There is one such private helicopter in Montenegro, not counting the MUP and the army. Our helicopter is turbine and of good performances, but it is single-engine and according to the regulations it should not land on a hotel or any other building and anywhere near the populated area, because in case of one engine’s failing  you do not have great possibilities to maneuver and therefore the chances of a major accident are great," Stojanovic explained.

He added that there were a lot of restrictions that they eased in agreement with the Agency.

“To land somewhere other than a public area, like Zabljak, you can land in a meadow, but you need a permit from the owner and approval from the Agency. It's an off-airport landing, and to be able to land outside the airport, you need to have pilots who are trained for it," explains Stojanovic.

He says tourists are mostly looking to connect from Tivat to Djurdjevica Tara because they go rafting. That ride costs about 2500 euros, depending on the length of the wait. In addition, panoramic flights are also requested at about 300 meters height, and the transfer from Dubrovnik to Tivat are dominant, and vice versa.

"This is because in July and August, the journey between these two cities by car takes up to four to five hours. The tour costs 1000 euros and is only for those who have a deep pocket,” concluded Stojanovic.

Text by Pobjeda, on August 22nd, 2019, read more at CdM

21 August 2019 - Ministers of Defense and Interior Predrag Bošković and Mevludin Nuhodžić recently visited watchtower Krenza on the border with the Republic of Albania that is kept by mixed patrols of the Army and the Police.

"Joint patrols of the Army and the Police along a portion of our borders, in the area of the border crossing Božaj is a true example of how two institutions can cooperate in order to provide safety and security of all our citizens and territory of Montenegro," Minister Bošković stated.

"Today, Minister Nuhodžić and I have visited this area and not only this part of our border, but also a complete part of the border with Kosovo to the Albanian border and we make sure that exactly the Army and the Police are working together in order to fully secure and maximum possible ban on illegal crossing of our borders. Precisely, this kind of joint patrols provide the ability to rehearse procedures by together work and all that is essential in order to better quality and a better way to ensure our border, but up to us is to boost their working conditions and stay in these facilities," Minister Bošković pointed out.

Speaking about the engagement of the police and army to protect state borders from the illegal immigration and cross – border crime, Minister Nuhodžić emphasised for the Ministry of Defence that mixed patrols prevented about 2,000 persons of illegally entering Montenegro from August to December 2018.

"We made sure that members of the Police and the Army perform tasks professional and dedicated, respecting the legislation and referring to humanely towards migrants," the Minister highlighted.

Minister Nuhodžić recalled that the Ministry of Interior is working continuously in order to improve the technical equipment of the Border Police, with significant support from the Government and the European Commission, in line with the Schengen standards and the Schengen Action Plan.

"Controlled and secure borders contribute to greater security of all our citizens and all guests staying in Montenegro, and it is, at the same time, our best contribution to a safer region and Europe," Minister Nuhodžić concluded.

Based on the decision of the Defence and Security Council, since August last year, the Army of Montenegro provides assistance to the border police in guarding the state border and it is engaged in the control of the border zone and the state border with Albania to the border Božaj crossing zone.

Mixed patrols of the Police Directorate and the Army of Montenegro control the border, primarily in order to be prevented from illegal border crossings with Albania, but also other illegal activities at the border and in the border zone.

Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Army of Montenegro Colonel Svetozar Brajković and Assistant Director of the Police Director – Head of the Border Police Vesko Damjanović also attended the watchtower visit.

Read more news about business in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

Special Hospital "Vaso Cukovic" Risan received a defibrillator from Hipotekarna Bank. This precious medical device is of great importance for improving the conditions of treatment in this specialized health institution of broader social interest, said the hospital.

The donor Hipotekarna BANK is recognized for its social responsibility activities, inter alia for the purpose of creating better conditions for treatment, care and stay in health care facilities.

Director of Marketing of the Hipotekarna Bank, Aina Ristic, presented the donation to the Special Hospital for Orthopedics, Neurosurgery and Neurology "Vaso Cukovic”, the defibrillator worth 4,000 euro. This donation is of particular importance because it is made in memory of Danijela Golović, an employee of the Hipotekarna Bank branch in Porto Montenegro, who lost her young life in a car accident.

While receiving the donation, in addressing the donors, the media and those present, the hospital director Dr Vlado Popovic pointed out the extreme importance of this type of assistance:

"I would like to thank Hipotekarna Bank for making a significant donation and expressing sympathy and regret for your colleague Danijela. What mainly rejoices is the expressed desire of citizens, businessmen, entrepreneurs to help this hospital. The needs of the community are most pronounced in institutions where people are treated, so we hope that other entities in society will follow the example of the Hipotekarna Bank. Through these types of donations, the health system is modernized and the health care of citizens is raised and improved. As an institution with a long-standing successful tradition, it has been recognized as a leading institution in the region for the field of activity (orthopedics, neurosurgery, neurology), which adds to the donation we received."

Ana Ristic, Marketing Director at Hipotekarna Bank, emphasized the special importance of this donation, dedicated to their early deceased colleague, and emphasized:

"This donation confirms the ongoing efforts of the Hipotekarna Bank to improve the long-term treatment conditions in medical facilities across Montenegro. However, this donation is special because it is dedicated to a young, lost life, our colleague Danijela Golovic. In our view, this is the best memory for our colleague."

 With this act, Hipotekarna Bank has once again shown that it is a socially responsible company that has the understanding, will and desire to support the healthcare system and the community in which it operates., it has been concluded from the Special Hospital “Vaso Ćuković” Risan.                         

During the last year, the return of surplus paid contributions for compulsory social insurance was executed for 349 individuals, said the Tax Administration. In 2017, these individuals earned annual gross earnings of more than 52.308, or 4.359 euros per month.

“Bearing in mind that contributions for compulsory social insurance are paid to the amount of earnings calculated by the employer or payer, regardless of whether that amount exceeds the highest annual basis for calculating contributions, to persons who have been paid contributions from the base exceeding the amount of most annually the basics for the calendar year are entitled to a return of surplus contributions paid," as stated from the Tax Administration (TA) .

Representatives of TA pointed out that when it comes to personal income tax, personal income is taxable on this basis in accordance with the Law on Personal Income Tax regardless of the amount of income.

"In accordance with the Rulebook on Reconciliation of the Amount of the Highest Annual Contribution Base, the highest annual Contribution Base for 2017 was EUR 52.308, and last year EUR 53.302," the representatives of the TA stated.

They explained that the area of calculation of compulsory social insurance contributions is governed by the Law on Compulsory Social insurance Contributions and the Rulebook on adjustment of the amount of the highest annual basis for paying the contributions.

“The law and the ordinance prescribe the highest annual gross basis for calculation, not the amount of monthly income on which social insurance contributions are paid, whereby the highest base for calculation is adjusted annually according to the trend of average earnings in Montenegro in the previous calendar year, and according to the data of the administrative authorities responsible for statistics, ”explained the representatives of the TA.

According to Monstat, the average monthly gross earning last year was 766 euros, or 9.192 euros annually. Whereas in 2017, the average monthly gross earnings was EUR 765, or EUR 9.180 annually. The minimum wage in Montenegro was 193 euros until July 1 and has now been increased to 222 euros. Minister of Labor and Social Welfare Kemal Purisic said in May this year that 12 thousand employees in Montenegro received a minimum of EUR 193 and another 42 to 45 thousand employees had a salary between EUR 193 and 222.

Text by Pobjeda, on August 21st, 2019, read more at CdM

In September, the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism, in cooperation with the Public Company for the Management of the Marine Property of Montenegro and the Municipality of Budva, will announce an international competition for the preliminary architectural design of the promenade Budva-Becici.

This is the largest infrastructure project that will completely change Budva's layout and the five-kilometer promenade from Old Town to Rafailovici. The present appearance of these promenades is by no means representative, and due to the numerous temporary locations, Budva has become synonymous of a tacky fair for years.

"The theme of the competition will be the conceptual design of the promenade along Slovenska Beach in Budva and the beach in Becici, as well as their connection through Zavala Peninsula with the intersections of the promenade with access roads to the coast and the sea. In addition to pedestrian and recreational paths, the promenade should also have the road for delivery vehicles and emergency vehicles. For the complete design of the promenade, the conceptual design of the lighting, urban furnishing, especially the waste collection device/equipment, should be done. The length of the walking path at the promenade is about five kilometers, "the PR Service of the Public Company "Morsko dobro" told "Vijesti".

The Public Company points out that in the last 30 years, marked by the general social crisis in the former Yugoslavia and the boom in construction and real estate turnover, more buildings have been built along Budva Riviera than in the past.

"The growth of settlements with extremely dynamic construction was more closely followed by a concern for profit than a sense of urban order and the need to preserve the ambient values and the landscaping of public spaces. Coast – Slovenska and Becice beaches and the promenade adjacent to it, are a public space that is a recipient for tourist activities and city functions. It is this zone that is recognized as the busiest part of the municipality in the evenings, and a significant part of the offer spread over this area for years is often evaluated as the segment that devalues the level of quality of the tourist product," said the Public Company.

With the project solution of the infrastructure segment, which is required by the competition, as explained in "Morsko dobro", the state aims to "create an appropriate environment for the interdependent growth of the image of the destination and the potential for its further promotion, but also an attractive space for new entrepreneurial activities".

Prize money €60,000

The international jury of seven members will deal with the evaluation of the competition works, as they point out in "Morsko dobro”.

“A prize fund of around EUR 60,000 is envisaged, while the number and amount of individual awards will be defined in the announcement for the competition. The delivery methods of the designs, as well as other relevant details, will also be announced in the tender’s announcement," said the Public Company.

Text by Vuk Lajovic, on August 21st, 2019, read more at Vijesti

Montenegro has in recent years, especially after joining NATO, confirmed the already existing image of a safe and secure destination, which is one of the main factors for a modern tourist when choosing a holiday destination, said PR Manager of the National Tourism Organization (NTO), Nina Vukcevic.

She said in a video statement posted on a Government Twitter account that in 2017, ten percent more tourists visited Montenegro, having realized six percent more overnight stays than in 2016.

"The growth trend was marked last year when we achieved records both in tourist turnover and in tourism revenue," said Vukcevic.

According to her, from 2016 to last year, there was a significant growth of tourists from the markets of Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, the United States of America (USA) and Canada.

"The growth of the aforementioned markets is especially recorded this year," Vukcevic added.

She reminded that in the first four months of 2016, two thousand tourists from Germany visited Montenegro, and today that number is over 30 thousand for the same period.

"It's a really impressive result," Vukcevic concluded.

Text by MINA Business, on August 17th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

According to Monstat, the minimum consumer basket in July amounted to EUR 641.6, which is 0.2 percent less than in June.

"Out of the total value of the minimum consumer basket, expenditure on food and non-alcoholic beverages amounted to 270.9 euros, which is 0.4 percent less than in June," the statement said.

Statisticians said expenditures on non-food products and services amounted to 370.7 euros, which is 0.1 percent less than in June.

The minimum consumer basket refers to household consumption, which includes food and non-food products and services, which enables the maintenance of the life and working ability of household members.

The minimum consumer basket complies with the minimum recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the USDA Food Guide 2010 for a minimum calorie intake of 2.21 thousand calories per person per day.

“The value of the minimum consumer basket is based on data from the Household Budget Survey and the World Bank (WB) recommendations. The value of the minimum consumer basket for a four-person household is the minimum monthly expenditure related to food and non-alcoholic beverages and non-food products and services, ” as said from Monstat.

For calculating minimum expenditures related to food and non-alcoholic beverages, average prices for the current month and monthly quantities in kilograms for a four-member household are used.

Consumer price indices (CPIs) are used to calculate the value of a basket of non-food products and services.

Text by MINA Business, on August 20th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

19 August 2019 - The Sports and Recreation Centre, with its accompanying sports facilities, will be built in Tivat, over the next two years, which will contribute to the increase in the number of athletes in that city and to position the city as a sports and recreational destination. This was announced by the Mayor of Tivat, Sinisa Kusovac, on the occasion of the International Karate Seminar held in that city, at which the five-time Karate Champion Rafael Aghayev from Azerbaijan was the lecturer.

"This kind of seminar contributed to getting us in the position to start building a sports complex in Tivat in the next two years. On this occasion, we have already made the decision on the purchase of a certain complex around the Župa Sports Hall, with the aim of building a Sports and Recreation Centre, with accompanying sports facilities,” said Kusovac.

According to him, the basic idea of ​​the guide is that, in addition to Tivat being branded and having a culture at an enviable level, “sports should be a branch that will contribute to the greatest number of athletes' arrivals, and position the Municipality of Tivat as a sports and recreational destination.

"Apart from being a nautical destination, it should be a sports destination as well as a cultural destination," Kusovac said.

He said that this was supported by the next session of the Municipal Assembly, which is scheduled for tomorrow, and at which, he explained, a decision will be made on the purchase of four thousand square meters of land within the Župa sports complex.

"This complex will be rounded up, will have a much larger number of squares, and in the coming period, with the work of architects, a new sports hall, a new sports and recreational center with all facilities will be built at this place," Kusovac said.

He said that the leadership of Tivat Municipality will endeavor to build an indoor swimming pool in that city as long as the spatial planning documentation permits after a certain time, "so that it will be an enviable destination, where the arrival of sports clubs will contribute to the recognition of Tivat in this field."

The most trophy karate player of all time and five-time world champion, Rafael Aghayev, who is a lecturer at the two-day international karate seminar, said that he was in Montenegro for the first time, stating that he would like to come more frequently in the coming period.

"I'll be here for two days. We have two training sessions each day, and today will be another, third training. We know your team very well, we are rivals in competitions, but we are not enemies. After the competition, we are all friends. I want your team to become a world champion, "Aghayev said.

Previously, in the Municipality of Tivat, a reception was organized for Aghayev and the most trophy Montenegrin karate players.

The International Karate Seminar, organized by the Mawashi Club 2015 and the Karate Federation of Montenegro, is attended by around 200 karate players from Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia and Albania.

Source: Radio Tivat