UNESCO urges Montenegro to restrict cruise ships in Kotor Bay

UNESCO and ICOMOS have recommended that Montenegro urgently consider restricting cruise ships from passing through the Verige strait into Kotor Bay. The recommendations include redirecting vessels toward Bijela or Tivat, implementing daily ship limits, and establishing regular monitoring of emissions and potential spills.

Between May and September 2026, 380 cruise arrivals are scheduled for the region, with 238 expected to anchor within the bay. During peak summer months, multiple large vessels are expected to be in Kotor simultaneously on numerous days. Despite this high volume, local authorities have not established a public daily limit for ships or passengers based on the area's carrying capacity.

Currently, there is a lack of data regarding the specific environmental impact of cruise ships on air quality, and no official economic analysis exists to weigh the revenue generated by cruise tourism against the costs borne by the local community. The World Heritage Committee has called on Montenegro to implement a sustainable tourism management plan and report on these measures by February 2027.