10 June 2019 - The Director of the Public Enterprise for Coastal Zone Management of Montenegro, Predrag Jelušić, presented a total of 29 Blue Flags to various swimming areas (beaches) and one to Marina Bar, which is the only marina in Montenegro that has this prestigious ecological feature, reports National Tourism Organization of Montenegro.

The iconic Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised voluntary eco-labels awarded to beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators. In order to qualify for the Blue Flag, a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained.

The Blue Flag program has been implemented in Montenegro since 2003 when NGO "EKOM" became an associate member of the Foundation for Environmental Education and thus acquired the right to be the National Operator for Montenegro. PE for Coastal Zone Management immediately recognized the importance of the Blue Flag and from the very beginning became the general sponsor and supporter of the Program, which is one of the most important activities related to the responsible management of the coast and beaches.

The Blue Flag is awarded for the current season based on the results from the previous season, which are assessed by the National Commission consisting of the representatives of the relevant Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism, the Public Enterprise for Coastal Zone Management, the Red Cross of Montenegro, the Port Management, and the environmental NGOs. At the beginning of each year, they review the statements and reports of beach tenants and analyse the fulfilment of 32 criteria in the area of ​​safety and services on beaches, quality of seawater and environmental activities, regardless of the number of years spent in the Program.

Based on the proposal of the National Commission, each year the international jury awards certain swimming areas (beaches) with the Blue Flag. The jury gathers and makes the decisions in Copenhagen each year at the end of May. Members of the international jury are representatives of renowned institutions such as the World Tourism Organization (WTO), the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), the International Rescue Organization (IRC), the UN Environment Program, The International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) and others.

Blue Flag Awarding is based on meeting the criteria in four basic areas: ecological education and information, water quality, ecological management and safety and service. For beaches, from 2017, it is necessary to comply with 33 criteria, out of which 28 are imperative and 5 are recommended. Some of the necessary criteria are: ecological and educational activities, highlighted map of the beach with marked different contents, compliance with requirements and standards regarding frequency of sampling of sea water, fulfilling requirements and standards in terms of microbiological, physical and chemical parameters of sea water, sanitary facilities with controlled drainage, emergency response plans etc.

Read more about exploring Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

06 June 2019 - Montenegro is undoubtedly a hidden gem in Eastern Europe. This tiny Balkan country is nestled between Croatia’s Dalmatian coast and Albania and is a perfect place for families who enjoy exploring lesser-known destinations. The rugged coastlines, quaint villages and epic mountains are sure to capture your heart. Lindsey Bybee visited this beautiful country with her kids and is sharing 5 of her favorite family-friendly Montenegro experiences.

As explained by Bybee, parents who visit Montenegro will love the beautiful beaches, kid-friendly hiking opportunities, affordability, old-world architecture and great seafood! Their children will also be entertained by boat rides and can enjoy warm seawater, wandering through car-free streets and chatting with friendly locals.

Bybee also emphasized that, according to her preference, the best time to visit Montenegro with kids is during the spring or fall season, because this is a great way to avoid the summer beach crowds. Lindsey created a small guide where she carefully described her adventure in Montenegro with her family through five experiences that left the biggest impression on her.

1. BUDVA SEASIDE STROLL

Budva is Montenegro’s most popular destination for travelers, and for a good reason. This medieval city is not only filled with history but is also home to some of the country’s most beautiful beaches. Make sure to check out the picturesque walkway along the rocky coast, where you can get a great view of the walled city itself. It’s a great people-watching spot as well. During the summer, your little ones will love watching some of the local kids and teenagers diving off of the nearby rocks into the water below. The walk also leads to the more secluded Mogren Beach, which is one of Budva’s best spots to relax in the sand.

2. EXPLORE THE COBBLESTONE STREETS OF KOTOR

Surrounded by dark mountains, Kotor is one of Montenegro’s most stunning cities. The cobblestone streets, medieval architecture and UNESCO World Heritage Site status make Kotor a must-see for travelers. If your little ones love animals, they’re in for a treat too! Kotor is known for its resident cats that can be found all over the city. Children will love seeing their furry friends around every corner. There are even shops where the proceeds from souvenir purchases will go to feed and care for the local cats.

3. RELAX BY THE WATER NEAR SVETI STEFAN

When creating your Montenegro itinerary, plan to spend a day near the magical little island of Sveti Stefan. The island itself is home to a luxury resort and is only accessible to hotel guests (though, you can make a restaurant reservation on the island to get there as well), but the views of the island from a distance are stunning too. The nearby beaches are pristine, and not crowded at all. Kids will enjoy sitting in the water and searching through the pebbles for pretty rocks and shells.

4. TASTE THE LOCAL EATS

When in Montenegro, eat as the Montenegrins do! The whole family will love trying some of the local eats. Cevapcici, which is basically small grilled sausages, is a Balkan favorite and will be popular with the little ones. They usually come with french fries, which are always a crowd-pleaser too! If you happen to find yourself in Sveti Stefan, take your family for a meal at the restaurant Olive Tree. It’s right next to a playground and is on the water. The pleasant ambiance, great views, friendly staff, and yummy food will make it a great dining experience for kids and parents alike.

5. HIKE UP THE CITY WALLS

Want to check out some beautiful views and get in a little exercise? A hike up the city walls is a can’t-miss when visiting Kotor. While not too strenuous, it is worth wearing a good pair of walking shoes, as there are many steps and a lot of loose rocks along the way. The views from the top make it worth the effort!

Read more about travelling through Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

06 June 2019 - The Srdelada 2019 Gastro Fest, an event organized by NGO Feral, will be held on Friday at 08.30 pm at the Palm Square, in Budva's Old Town.

Srdelada 2019 is an event that promotes the Mediterranean, local cuisine, and it includes the tasting of various dishes whose basic ingredient is the sardine (Montenegrin: srdela, sardina). Sardines take a prominent place in the cultural history of Budva and the Mediterranean and is known to the people as the food for the poor because, in the times of hunger and scarcity, it was a basic food available and affordable to most people. At the time, the citizens of Budva often prepared sardines with salt, because salted sardines could remain fresh for a long time. Still, various recipes were designed with sardine being the main ingredient so that the locals would not get bored eating the same dish every day.

By organizing this event, NGO Feral puts sardines on the throne of the Mediterranean gastronomy, giving it a place it deserves. Also, emphasis is placed on local gastronomy, special ingredients and methods of preparation, all of which Budva should nurture in order to preserve its authenticity and recognition, as well as to cultivate cultural heritage. Sardine dishes will be prepared by students of High School Danilo Kiš.

As reported by RTV Budva, the event will include the performance of the local band Škuribanda, which will complement the entire event and the coastal atmosphere. Also, the NGO Feral organized the screening of the film Welcome to Budva from 1963, as well as the performance directed by the members of the NGO Feral which is entitled Welcome to Budva 2019.

The institutions, organizations and companies that supported the event include the Municipality of Budva, the companies Rokler and Sanraf, Talas M, branding agency Unibrand, studio Pixap, Utility Company Budva, Parking service Budva, Mediteran reklame enteprise, Tourist Organization of Budva, distribution company NTC, Cogimar, Montenegrin Cinematheque and High School Danilo Kiš.

The Srdelada Gastro Feast has been held for two years in a row, and the event was very well visited and received positive reviews from both locals and guests who had the opportunity to taste and feel the spirit of Budva as an authentic Mediterranean place.

NGO Feral has been active since 2015 and has been promoting the Mediterranean cultural heritage, empowering the local community and supporting the development of young people through various forms of artistic and cultural expression, the organization of exhibitions, performances, music events and literary-poetry evenings. The NGO Feral was awarded by the Interpret Europe organization, and it was included in examples of good practice in the interpretation of heritage, according to the criterion of the involvement of the local community.

Read more about events organized in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

06 June 2019 - On June 2 and 3, the Tourist Organization of Bar had the opportunity to host two groups of journalists from France and Israel, who travelled to this city in order to learn about its tourism offer.

According to their recently published report, the Tourist Organization of Bar hosted French journalists from Le Temps dꞌun Voyage, GEO.fr, Mag Centre, La Quotidienne and Infotravel.fr.

The group of journalists who came from Israel included representatives of the Ynet website, Passport media group, Yedioth Ahronoth, Mako, Walla website, Israel Hayom, as well as managers and the vice president of marketing and sales of Israir Airlines & Tourism.

During this study visit, the journalists visited: Old Bar, Old Olive, and National Park Skadar Lake. A local tourist guide presented the cultural and historical landmarks of Old Bar to the French and Israeli guests. They were especially interested in the aqueduct, clock tower, numerous churches from various epochs, the St. Nicholas Monastery, the main gate, the Citadel as well as the hamam.

In addition to the prominent cultural and historical features of the city, representatives of the French media were able to get acquainted with the gastronomic offer of this area. They were very eager to observe the process of cooking Turkish coffee at Kaldrma restaurant in Old Bar. At their request, the journalists were given an opportunity to conduct an interview with the owner of this restaurant, where they were introduced more closely to the way of living that took place in this charming settlement.

In addition to Old Bar, the French and Israeli media also visited the Old Olive in Mirovica. They were introduced to the old local custom of walking three circles around the olive tree for good health, happiness, and love.

During their visit to Virpazar, the journalists were directed to the Visitors’ Centre where they got acquainted with the natural and cultural resources of the Skadar Lake. They were introduced to the possibilities of spending an active holiday in the National Park Skadar Lake, with an emphasis on pedestrian routes, biking trails, and special wine routes. The guests were charmed by the cruise on Skadar Lake, as well as with the hospitality of the tourist guides and the locals.

The Cultural Centre of Bar Municipality provided free entrance to all the locations the guests wanted to visit, while the Tourist Organization of Bar took care of the complete organization of the visit to the territory of the Bar Municipality and of the distribution of propaganda material.

Read more about travelling through Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.