Adriatic coast tourism season marked by record prices and safety alerts

The newly reopened luxury resort at Sveti Stefan in Montenegro has sparked controversy with day‑time beach lounge fees of up to €240 and overnight rates of €2,000, prompting local resident protests over restricted beach access. In nearby Tivat, a four‑person family faces weekly holiday costs between €1,200 and €2,400 depending on accommodation choice, while Bosnia‑and‑Herzegovina’s seaside town of Neum remains one of the cheapest Adriatic options, with couples spending €80‑140 per day during peak season.

Croatian tourist sites report rising visitor numbers: the island of Vir recorded 9,309 arrivals and 115,144 overnight stays in the first half of June, a 12.6 % increase in arrivals year‑on‑year. The civil protection authority launched a “Responsible Summer” campaign urging locals and tourists to avoid heat‑related risks, stay hydrated, and obey fire bans. Zagreb added to the safety push by offering free entry to municipal swimming pools over a weekend as a heat‑wave response.

In Serbia, the Brioni river beach near Belgrade attracted up to 5,000 swimmers daily, with health officials confirming water quality meets bathing standards. Slovenia saw a surge of foreign tourists, recording 680,000 arrivals in May – a ten‑percent rise – and over 1.6 million overnight stays, driven largely by visitors from neighboring countries.

Other regional highlights include Vrsar’s steady influx of calm‑seeking guests, a Bulgarian hotel association’s rebuttal to claims of industry collapse, and a Time Out list that placed Croatia’s Plitvice Lakes, Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor and Bosnia’s Janj islands among the world’s 50 most beautiful places.