Montenegro tourism chief warns on price cuts as Croatia faces rising costs and regional travel shifts

Žarko Radulović, president of Montenegro’s tourism association, says the pre‑season is stronger than last year thanks to hotel performance, but private accommodation in Budva is lagging. He stresses that price increases would make Montenegrin providers uncompetitive and notes the lack of a precise system for monitoring tourist traffic. Radulović also criticises the absence of a coherent tourism strategy or marketing plan and calls for reforms of the tourism ministry.

In Croatia, HTZ director Kristjan Staničić reports that tourist arrivals in the first half of July matched last‑year levels, while June was slightly weaker due to market timing and school holidays. He highlights a 30 % boost in funding for airlines and tour operators and stresses the need to improve air connectivity and diversify offerings such as health‑ and congress tourism to reduce seasonality.

Slovak travellers note that accommodation prices in Croatia have almost doubled since 2019, leading to cancellations, yet Croatia remains the region’s top summer destination for Slovaks. Concurrently, Albania is promoted as a low‑cost alternative, offering sea‑and‑mountain holidays at roughly half the price of Croatia, attracting families seeking affordable vacations.

Glovo data for Montenegro show a surge in summer delivery orders along the coast, with Kotor, Herceg Novi and Budva recording the strongest growth, reflecting heightened tourist activity. Heat waves are prompting some visitors to shift plans northward, giving Croatia a competitive edge despite higher prices. Montenegro also reports a decline in Serbian visitors, attributing the drop to price concerns.