Gradual opening of the borders can be expected in June. Although the decline of revenue is anticipated, optimism for the next year exists, it was emphasized during the international virtual event “Hosting international tourists – when and how”, organized today by the American Chambers of Commerce of Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia and Greece.

Participants were: Montenegro – Damir Davidović, State Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Sustainable Development, Kai Dieckmann, General Manager, Regent Hotel, Porto Montenegro Slovenia – Simon Zajc, State Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, Gregor Jamnik, General manager, Best Western, President of Hotel Association of Slovenia, and Member of National Committee for the Republic of Slovenia, , Greece – Dr. Panagiota Dionysopoulou, Director General of Tourism Policy, Ministry of Tourism, Greece, Stephanos Theodoridis, President, Tourism Committee, AmCham Greece, and Managing Director, TEMES, Croatia – Josip Bilaver, State Secretary, Ministry of Sea, Transport, and Infrastructure, Josipa Jutt Ferlan, Cluster General Manager, Hilton Hotels Zagreb.

State representatives expect that the decline in revenues in the tourism is going to be up to 40 percent, while representatives of the business sector believe that the decline could be up to 60 percent. Better results, the interlocutors assure, can be expected in 2021. All countries, participants in the panel, had an excellent tourist season last year, so they hope that such revenues, if not higher, will be able to be realized in 2022. Representatives of Slovenia, on the other hand, believe that it will take them three to five years to repeat that success.

During the event speakers presented financial measures that were taken by the authorities in order to alleviate economic consequences of the COVID 19 pandemic, preserve jobs, and provide help to business entrepreneurs. In that context, Mr. Damir Davidović, State Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism, announced the adoption of a new set of measures, i.e. the third package, which will be presented by the Government of Montenegro next week.

Participants agree that closer cooperation between the region and the exchange of experiences and information is necessary, because it is the only way to tackle the pandemic and become together a safe tourist destination. Although many countries will rely on domestic tourism, it is still not enough to ensure the growth and development of tourism, according to the interlocutors. All the strategies adopted by the executive authorities so far have proven to be very effective, but the circumstances caused by the pandemic are extremely fluid and require constant adaption to the new conditions.

Representatives of the business sector said that they are waiting for official instructions from the executive authorities, especially health institutions, regarding necessary hygienic conditions and procedures, especially in light of the announcement of the opening of borders. They expect a smaller number of tourists this year, so it will be easier to follow all the necessary steps. They are currently working on the digitalization of the services they offer, as much as possible, in order to fulfil tourist’s expectations, and provide them all health standards and protocols, but also to protect the employees who will perform the services.