Having in mind the official statistical data, this year’s season has been more successful than the one last year. Nevertheless, the increased tourist arrivals didn’t affect better tourism business as, according to Pobjeda daily, generated revenues have decreased by approximately 30% and tourist spending has been less than ever. Of course, there are exceptions, especially with hotel facilities with a long tradition, but they all agree in one thing – no one orders expensive wines and fish dishes.
Owners of restaurants, pizza bars and coffee shops strive to be majestically straightforward and deeply affordable, and as they say, VAT increase has caused somewhat higher prices of services.
“Guests usually order coffee, juice, ice-cream or water. When it comes to dishes, they usually eat pasta or salads, i.e. cheaper meals. Only the rare order quality seafood and full-bodied wines,” said Jovan Vukalović of the ‘Gradska kafana’ (literally: City pub).
A restaurant in Đenovići, on the other hand, is pretty satisfied with this year’s season, especially with the fact guests return to their place for many times while staying in Montenegro. The restaurant managerial structure says their guests are mostly from Russia but from the region as well.
The owners of Bar-based restaurants are also satisfied with the number of visitors this summer. “Although the number of visitors in the 2018 summer season has mildly declined, we are satisfied with the final outcomes. Our guests prefer the national cuisine but, of course, there are those who opt for bbq dishes,” said Savo Vukčević, owner of the restaurant “Pod lozom” (literally: Under the Vines).
According to the restaurant owners from Sutomore, this town usually attracts tourists with less money, while Tivat restaurant owners, on the other hand, claim that, unfortunately, tourist visits have been lower in this year’s peak summer season.
But there comes the president of the Montenegrin Tourism Association, Žarko Radulović, to explain that this season’s lower tourist spending is case not just in Montenegro but in all other Mediterranean countries, in all aspects of business. People are trying to save the money and spend as less as possible due to the widespread disruption of the global financial system, according to Radulović.
