According to Pobjeda daily, the situation with the epidemiological situation in Montenegro and timely immunization will likely have negative impact on the 2021 summer season.
Tourism industry worldwide is gradually waking, but tourists are cancelling their travels to Montenegro due to a large number of infections and vaccine delays. Destinations across the world are already preparing themselves and potential tourists should be timely informed about the ways they can have a holiday in our country. One of the examples of good practice is Cyprus, which has already defined conditions for arrivals for the forthcoming summer tourism season. Timely information is very important because it boosts the feeling of security in potential tourists.
President of the Board of Tourism and Hospitality Associations in the Chamber of Commerce, Mr Ranko Jovović, tells Pobjeda that delays in delivering coronavirus vaccine lead to the feeling of insecurity in tourists and affects their perception of Montenegro as a safe and responsible tourist destination.
Director of EastWest Voyage Montenegro, Ms Zorka Raičević, says that unfortunately, things are being too politicized in Montenegro and everything other than politics is being disregarded.
“People across the world and the region as well are being vaccinated, while Montenegro still knows nothing about the Covid vaccines. We don’t know whether we’ll get them, when it will happen, which ones we’ll get, not to speak about the vaccination rollout strategy…”
CEO of Hilton Hotel, Mr Nemanja Nikolić, also says that vaccination program should start as soon as possible, as we can still return the image of a safe destination having in mind that we’re a small country.
“Delayed vaccination already affects tourism trends in Montenegro. Speeding up vaccinations represents the best support the government can provide for the economy and tourism,” he noted.
According to CEO of Ramada Hotel, Ms Ivana Đurović, if we don’t start with vaccinations soon, the summer season will be hit hard, as we won’t be a safe destination for tourists from Europe.
“I’m confused. I hear that we’re waiting for COVAX to kick in, and there’s another option as well– the Russian vaccine, and it’s not sure it’s going to happen at all,” says Ms Đurović.
However, things can easily change in five days, she adds.
