Tourism Minister Gvozdenović takes part in UNWTO meeting in Baku: Montenegro on its way to becoming all-year tourism destination

Baku, Azerbaijan (6 April 2014) -- Montenegrin Minister of Tourism and Sustainable Development Branimir Gvozedenović attended the 57th meeting of the Regional Commission for Europe of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) during the International Travel and Tourism Fair which was held in Baku.

The 57th meeting addressed the topic “The Number One Short-Term Priority for National Tourism”, where participants discussed the need to pursue European model of tourism. This model is very successful, having in mind the high ranked labour force, excellent cooperation between different sectors, strategic investments in infrastructure, high professionalism in serving sector and willingness to adopt new technologies, the meeting’s participants agreed.

Minister Gvozedenović informed the meeting's participants about activities Montenegro is implementing in the field of tourism, adding that the Government of Montenegro is committed to boosting economic growth through strengthening tourism as a key driving force of the Montenegrin economy.

According to international organisations' surveys, Montenegro is one of the five fastest growing tourism destinations in 2013 and the only Mediterranean destination which, regardless to the crisis, shows continuous trend of growth, Minister Gvozdenović stated.

“Our tourism offer is more diversified and improved, and the number of nature enthusiasts and tourism adventurers staying in Montenegro is increased. The increased influx of tourists before, during and after the season creates conditions for making Montenegro a unique and all-year tourism destination”, he emphasised.

In 2013, tourism revenue increased by 3%, number of tourists increased by 3,6% and overnight stays by 2,8% compared to 2012, he underlined. 

During his visit to Baku, Minister Gcvozdenović also attended an investment conference, where he presented the current and potential investments projects in Montenegro. To date, more than one hundred countries have invested their capital in Montenegro and the influx of foreign direct investments (FDI) is estimated to amount to EUR 3,7 billion for the period 2003-2011, Minister Gvozdenović underlined. The ongoing tourism investments in Montenegro amounts to EUR 3 billion, and the necessary conditions for further investments totalling EUR 20 billion have been provided, he pointed out.

“Having in mind that the foreign direct investments have already resulted in an increase of 0,7% of Montenegro’s GDP and in extra EUR 20 million of the budget revenues, we hope this conference will attract other local investors for doing business in Montenegro”, Minister Gvozdenović underlined.

On the sidelines of the meeting in Baku, Minister Gvozdenović met with Mr Taleb D. Rifai, the UNWTO Secretary General, for talks on cooperation between Montenegro and the UNWTO. The two officials voiced common interest in promoting Montenegro’s tourism, as well as in improving conditions for making Montenegro an all-year tourism destination. They also noted that collaboration in the field of expert assistance in creating the key tourism documents should be strengthened.

Although the Mediterranean sub-region is one of the most visited in the world, there are a great number of challenges affecting this part of the world which cannot be solved unilaterally, but only through the neighbourhood partnership dealing with innovations, knowledge and sustainable development, Minister Gvozdenović said, adding that it is the only way to ensure tourism competitiveness of the Mediterranean as a whole.