03 January 2019 - This year, Montenegro confirmed the epithet of one of the main destinations in the region for the celebration of New Year's Eve, thanks to rich multi-day programs that have been organized on city squares for more than two decades and an attractive offer of hotels and winter tourist centres.

The magnificent celebration and performances of many popular local and regional music stars of various genres, in Kotor, Herceg Novi, Tivat, Budva, Bar, and Podgorica, according to estimates, attracted over 42,000 visitors during New Year's Eve, mostly from the country and the region, but also from other European countries.

In the year which marked the Jubilee 20 years since the first organized celebration of the New Year’s Eve at the Square, Budva, which carries the epithet of regional best entertainment for the holidays celebration, recorded a record attendance of over 28,000 visitors during New Year's Eve and over 75,000 guests who visited Budva during five festive days and nights, according to the estimates of the local Tourist Organization of Budva.

Great attendance was recorded at the other coastal towns and the Capital, which organized a rich New Year's program that included entertaining, cultural and artistic contents, performances, concerts, and animation program for children, Christmas bazaars, skating rinks, daily shows of classical, traditional music and the like.

Montenegrin winter tourist centres - Žabljak and Kolašin, are traditionally particularly attractive for New Year's Eve and noted the maximum occupancy during the holidays. Hotels that organised a celebratory program had many requests for guests without reservations. The winter season was open starting mid-December, so all visitors to these cities can enjoy winter walks, skiing, snowboarding, walking on snowshoes, and many innovations such as Nordic skiing trails in these cities, adventure parks and a national restaurant at the Black Lake.

January 1, 2019 - Old Year Regatta, held yesterday in Tivat Bay, once again presented Tivat and Boka Bay as an ideal sailing destination throughout the year and also on the New Year's holidays. The local sailor's initiative, apart from the enjoyment for sea-lovers and sailing, is also an exceptional marketing opportunity for tourism in this area. In anticipation of the video from yesterday's party at sea, we bring you a photo report taken from the regatta boat.

On the Old Year Regatta, in the J70 sports competitions class, seven of the most famous local sailors competed on YC Porto Montenegro sailing boats. With the north-eastern wind of up to 20 knots, Judge Aleksandar Filipovic gave four laps for this class, and the most successful in general placement was the team of young YC Delfin’s hope, Ilija Marković. 

The second in the J70 class were sailors led by the most successful Delfin’s competitor Igor Les, who recently completed his sports career.  The third place took Kotor’s sailors led by Mirko Franovic.

The bidding on the sea lasted for two hours in front of numerous spectators who watched the regatta from the Pine promenade. However, sailors made sure that after the end of the competition the spectacle lasted for a while. Along with music from ships and signal flares, in the company of several boats, all 13 sailboats participated in a parade that caused the ovations of citizens and guests who gathered on the waterfront.

December 31, 2018 - The Old Year Regatta was held in Tivat for the second time. With the participation of 15 sailing boats and a large number of ships joining the sea, it once again proved to be great potential in promoting Tivat and Boka Bay as the perfect sailing destination throughout the year.

December 30, 2018 - New Year's program in Bokelian cities is very diverse, so it's hard not to find a party for your taste. Whether you are a fan of good rock, love pop or enjoy the sounds of folk music, Kotor, Tivat, Budva or Herceg Novi will satisfy your preferences. Here's a review of the New Year's programs that will make it easy for you to make a decision.

NEW YEAR PROGRAM - KOTOR

Kotor enters the New Year with the sounds of good rock. After the Children’s New Year and performances of Kotor’s musicians planned for today, tomorrow a two-day Rock New Year's program begins, where the most popular regional rock names of today will perform.

NEW YEAR PROGRAM - TIVAT

The main New Year program in Tivat is closer to the preferences of fans of folk music, but the organizers made sure to offer a diverse accompanying program.

NEW YEAR PROGRAM - HERCEG NOVI

Herceg Novi and its guests will enter the New Year 2019 with the hits of the Belgrade rock band "Riblja čorba" and their frontman Bora Djordjevic. They will perform at Igalo on 31 December from 23:00. At the same stage at 21:00, as a pre-band, Kotor’s band "Light under the black mountain" performs.

NEW YEAR PROGRAM- BUDVA

This year, Budva organizes a jubilee New Year celebration on the square in front of the Old Town.

28 December 2018 - Tivat Airport’s new departure terminal with 1,300 square metres, that provides more comfort for passengers who can now enjoy bigger, better facilities and easier transition from airside to landside, was officially opened on Monday, December 24. With high-quality infrastructure and contemporary design, the terminal is expected to boost tourism and economic growth of Montenegro.

The newly built Terminal 2 of the Tivat Airport was opened by Prime Minister Duško Marković, who stated that this investment represents the much needed response to the airport infrastructure congestion, which is a consequence of intensive tourist growth and the increase in the number of passengers arriving in Montenegro.

As announced from the Government's Public Relations Service, the management of Airports of Montenegro has made a proposition to the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs and the Government to build additional facilities in Tivat and Podgorica, which can provide more comfort for passengers and functionality to airport services, especially during the tourist season. According to Marković, the Government accepted this proposal and about 3,5 million EUR was invested in this facility.

"In the following period, with the consent of the Government, the Airports of Montenegro should allocate another 2 million EUR for the new facility that will be built in Podgorica. The quality of the constructed building that we are witnessing today has already set certain standards for other companies that manage resources and infrastructure in the public interest in Montenegro," said Marković.

Terminal 2 at Tivat Airport covers 1.300 square metres, and it includes six check-in counters, two new lines for security screening as well as offices for representatives of airline companies. New capacities and improved conditions at Tivat Airport were the key points of the final agreement with the most important European company, the seventh on the world level, which will connect Montenegro with Frankfurt and Munich from April, Lufthansa.

The new facility of the departure terminal of the Tivat Airport was built in less than three months and was constructed by the Podgorica-based company “Fidija”. The value of the new facility with its equipment is about 2,2 million EUR. The new terminal was built on the northwest side of the current airport terminal building, and it was financed entirely by Airports of Montenegro.

27 December 2018 - Prime Minister Duško Marković officially opened the newly-built Terminal 2 of the Tivat Airport – the first investment after the current Tivat airport building was built in 2006. The Prime Minister said that the cooperation between the Government and the Management of the Airports of Montenegro is an example that should be followed by others in the country. 

"The investment that begins its test work today is an urgent and indispensable response to the serious infrastructure congestion of the Tivat airport that came as a result of intensive tourism growth, and an increase in the number of passengers coming to Montenegro. It is this kind of attitude towards state goods that I want to see as the practice and action of responsible people. Notice the problem, make a decision and implement it. The Government will – just like in this, and any other case – stand behind such an approach," the Prime Minister stressed. 

PM Marković noted that the Airport Management proposed to the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs and to the Government to build additional facilities in Tivat and Podgorica, which in the short term can provide necessary comfort for passengers, as well as the functionality of airport services, especially during the tourist season. 

"The Government accepted this and around EUR 3.5 million was invested in this facility, and for the facility that will be built in Podgorica, the Airports will need to allocate another EUR 2 million with the consent of the Government," Prime Minister Duško Marković said.

Executive Director of the Airports of Montenegro Danilo Orlandić reminded the current terminal building was built in 2006.

"Twelve years later, Montenegro is a stable country, recognised and respected throughout the world and a member of NATO. That is why many renowned airlines have decided to travel to our country, the last of which is Lufthansa. New capacities and improved conditions at Tivat Airport were the key points of the final agreement with the most important European company and the seventh at the global level, which will connect Montenegro from April to Frankfurt and Munich, its main hubs. For the last two years, Montenegro was linked with 30 new destinations, the number of served passengers has increased by 600,000, and it was about time to increase our capacities," the Executive Director of the Airports of Montenegro highlighted.

A representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - the organisation that took part in the project - Miodrag Dragišić, said that Terminal 2 was built following the principles of energy efficiency: from facade materials and insulation, through modern equipment, modern air conditioning systems and ventilation, to lighting. 

"This will contribute not only to the comfort of passengers and staff, but also to the significant financial savings and environmental protection. It is imperative that next year, the energy management system will be established as part of the carbon accreditation process of the Airports of Montenegro. This will make the business more acceptable regarding climate change, and the Airports of Montenegro will be among the first in the region that recognised the importance of this international certificate," the UNDP representative said. 

Speaking about the advantages that will be achieved by investments in the Airports of Montenegro, Prime Minister Duško Marković said that the connection of Montenegro with the European metropolises, in addition to further improving the availability of Montenegro as a tourist destination, ensures better connection with citizens of Montenegro who have gone abroad to work or to be educated. 

"The direct lines to Vienna, Rome, Frankfurt, Ljubljana, Belgrade, Istanbul, Moscow, Zurich and Stockholm are important for maintaining connections with them," the Prime Minister said. 

He recalled that over the past years a lot has been done to ensure that air transport is not just a privilege of rich people. 

"We are proud to announce the beginning of Lufthansa lines to our airports, but nothing less important is the availability of many cheap flights to the cities of Western Europe. Our European integration is based and evolves on mobility, freedom of movement and economic exchange. That's why our airports are inevitable on this road too. The need for accelerated economic development of the country implies the development of our entire infrastructure, and one of the first tasks is the development and full valorisation of the airports. Development opportunities should not wait, nor do the chances happen again. Success in air transport must not disguise the challenges in other segments of transport. Especially when it comes to the rather burdened infrastructure of the Bay of Kotor, where a lot of work is waiting for us," PM Marković emphasised. 

The Prime Minister recalled the last week's announcement that the rate of economic growth in the third quarter of this year amounts to a full 5%, and is the third highest growth rate in Europe. 

"The growth rates of our economy in the past two years and the permanent growth of the number of tourists and passengers tell us that Montenegro is a destination in which people will come and invest, and even more will be invested," Prime Minister Marković concluded. 

The new 3,000 m² terminal contains six counters for checking passengers, two checkers, a modern sorting service for luggage servicing and a room for representatives of airlines, police, customs, etc. 

December 27, 2018 - The Old Year regatta, organized by YC Delfin Tivat, is scheduled for 31 December at the Tivat Bay. This event was launched last year by the renowned Tivat sailor and skipper Dejan Farkaš. The race attracted a large number of local sailors, and the visual spectacle they made for the citizens and guests was one of the accents of last year's holiday program in Tivat. That's why they decided to include the Old Year Regatta in their calendar for this year with the intent to make this gathering traditional in the years to come.

20 December 2018 - In summer 2019, Montenegro Airlines is adding new service to Germany, with the scheduling of Tivat - Hannover route. From May 2, 2019, Fokker 100 aircraft will serve this route twice a week.

The representatives of the company Montenegro Airlines have announced that in the forthcoming so-called "IATA Summer Season” (International Air Transport Association Summer Season), which starts on the last Sunday of March and ends on the last Saturday of October, they will introduce yet another new destination from Tivat Airport. They revealed that they had secured a route to and from the German city of Hannover. Montenegro Airlines’ aircraft will take passengers from Germany to explore the delights of Montenegro from May 2, 2019, and this aircraft will ride weekly, on Thursdays and Sundays. The departure time from Hannover to Tivat, which is already determined, is 09:16, while the arrival time is 11:30. Fokker will take passengers from Montenegro to Germany also on Thursdays and Sundays, with the departure time 06:30 and the arrival time 08:35.

Flights will run with the 102-seat Fokker 100 aircraft. During the 2018 summer season, Montenegro Airlines launched seasonal operations from Tivat to Munich, Leipzig, and Copenhagen. However, services to Copenhagen are not scheduled to resume next year, while flights to both Munich and Leipzig will increase to three flights a week for both destinations.

Montenegro Airlines is the flag carrier of Montenegro that operates scheduled and charter services throughout Europe from its hub at Podgorica Airport with a second base maintained at Tivat Airport. The company’s aircraft are recognizable by their high-quality performances, superior ergonomics, and outstanding effectiveness and efficiency. With the acquisition of modern aircraft, they offer the most pleasant and comfortable flights to their passengers. Montenegro Airlines has a reputation for a safe and reliable company that continues to grow in every aspect.

Details for the new Tivat - Hannover service can be found at EX-YU Aviation Website.

17 December 2018 - This year, Porto Montenegro has had the honour to become a partner of a prestigious British event - The British Yachting Awards, sponsored by two leading sailing British magazines: Sailing Today and Yachts & Yachting.

The British Yachting Awards, the only sailing awards that are voted for entirely by consumers, were held on Tuesday, December 11, at the prestigious Royal Thames Yacht Club in Knightsbridge, London, celebrating the best that the sailing industry has to offer. The event awarded the champions in various nautical categories, including Sportsboat of the Year, Dinghy of the Year, Charter Destination of the Year, Best Cruising Yacht, Bluewater Cruiser, Youth Sailor, Amateur Sailor, Racing Performance, UK Marina Destination, Performance Yacht, Sailing Event, Pro Sailor, Equipment Innovation and many others.

During the awards, it was emphasized that 2018 had seen a lot of exceptional deeds, with numerous newly set records, new products that have impressed, and individual and team performances that set new standards. According to the organizers, in many categories, the numbers of votes were extremely tight, reflecting the strength of the sport and also its increasing diversity.

Porto Montenegro was the sponsor of the Cruising Yacht of the Year Award. As explained by the organizers, “for heading across the channel and hopping across the coast of Europe or just weekends away with the family, there are a few cruising boats that caught our eye this year”. The nominees included “Beneteau Oceanis 51.1”, “Dufour 460 GL”, “Hanse 458”, “Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 410” and “Southerly 480”. This award was presented by Porto Montenegro’s Marina Director Tony Browne to the representative of the French giant Beneteau for “Beneteau Oceanis 51.1” Cruising Yacht.

The sponsors of The British Yachting Awards 2018 included Musto, Sailing Today, Yachts & Yachting, Astins, Brutons Propellers, Culture Sailing, GAC Pindar, Garmin, Ocean Sailing Scotland, Pantaenius Sail & Motor Insurance, Porto Montenegro, Poole Quay Boat Haven, Seafarer, Seago and UKSA.

The presence and even sponsorship of this kind of event are significant for Porto Montenegro. A large number of business partners and clients of the Tivat Marina come from the British market, and this event is an excellent opportunity for representatives of Porto Montenegro to meet them, and present the nautical and tourist products of Porto Montenegro and Bay of Kotor.

16 December 2018 - The Fifth Christmas Market in Hotel Regent Porto Montenegro was held this weekend on the covered terrace of the Murano Restaurant within the hotel.

On the first day of the event (Saturday, December 15), due to adverse weather conditions, the turnout was not great. Sunday managed to correct the first impression, and with rays of sunshine and high temperature throughout the day, enticed a significant number of visitors.

Inspired by the holiday atmosphere, seventeen exhibitors presented their handicrafts created in the spirit of Christmas: jewelry, Christmas and New Year decorations, Christmas trees, souvenirs, homemade gastronomic products, fruit syrups, jams and a large number of other handmade products that attracted the attention of all visitors.

Regent Porto Montenegro's food and beverage department introduced festive delicacies, traditional Christmas cakes, hot chocolate, cooked wine and various types of tea.

Regent also offered many salty delicacies, such as several types of sausages, which gave the Christmas Market a unique gastronomic dimension.

The Regent's Christmas Market will continue on December 22 and 23 as well as on December 29 and 30 from 12 pm to 4 pm.

Source: BokaNews