According to the Government’s plan, 80 percent of these revenues will be directed to local tourist organizations, of which 10 percent will have to be used for valorisation of cultural heritage, and another 10 percent for improving conditions of stay of tourists and raising the quality of offer.
The remaining 20 percent of total revenues will be allocated for financing projects of the National Tourism Organization.
According to decision adopted on January 21st, the fee for yachts and ships will range from five to 150 euros, depending on the duration of tourists and length of the boat.
According to estimates by the Ministry, created on the basis of official Statistical Office’s data for 2014 on the traffic of yachts and cruise ships, for the shortest period of up to seven days and the average minimum amount of tourist tax for yachts and ships, total revenues would be EUR 84.000 – 66.000 from yachts and 18.000 from ships.
“For the longest period of up to one year, with an average cost of tax of 90 euros, revenues from yachts would be around 316.000 euros, or with tax of 150 euros for ships, a total of nearly 52.000 euros. This represents an estimate of the total income of about 368.000 euros”, pointed out the ministry headed by Minister Branimir Gvozdenovic.
Government says the fee in a lump sum is to be paid by the owner, lessee or operator of the vessel providing accommodation services. It applies to ships and yachts with beds, on which accomodation is provided for rest, leisure, sport and recreation activities, excursion tours and cruises.
Yachting tourism, which is one of the world’s leading businesses, has been so far most developed in Tivat, through activities in the most luxurious harbor for yachts and mega yachts in the Mediterranean – Porto Montenegro. When it comes to cruise tourism, Port of Kotor is leader in Montenegro with nearly 400 huge ships. Ports of Bar and Zelenika also have the potential to develop this type of tourism, but they haven’t so far achieved significant results in this area.
The Ministry points to the data of the World Tourism Organization, according to which a record number of tourists is expected to visit the Mediterranean region this year. This means the total nautical tourism traffic should be increased for about five percent.
“In order to not burden owners or user of vessel, or diminish the number of vessels arriving in the territorial waters of Montenegro, the Government decided to establish the lowest level of tax in the region”, concluded the Ministry.
