09 August 2019 - Prohibition of smoking in enclosed public places in Montenegro will enter into force on Wednesday, August 14^th, after the Law on Restriction of Tobacco Use was published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Montenegro on August 7th.

The law, which bans the use of tobacco products in public indoor areas, except in casinos, was passed by parliament in a unanimous vote of 42 votes on July 31^st, reports RTCG. It is scheduled to enter into force eight days after its publication in the Official Gazette of Montenegro.

At a session of the parliamentary Committee on Health, Labour and Social Welfare on July 16, Health Minister Kenan Hrapović said that the initiative for this law was due to the fact that the previous acts regulating this area did not produce the expected results.

With the adoption of the new Law on the Restriction of the Use of Tobacco Products, the Law on Fees will cease to apply, and it will no longer be possible to pay fees to allow smoking in some part of the facility.

It is possible to designate a specific part of the space that the owner or user designates solely for this purpose. The law clearly stipulates the conditions of insulation, surface, position and equipment of that part of the space: the room must be insulated in such a way that no tobacco smoke can flow into the rest of the space, and the surface must not be less than 10 square meters, must not occupy more than 20 per cent of the workspace or public space and should not be intended for passage to other spaces.

The new law does not allow smoking in any room or area where food and drink are consumed. The request of the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro that organisers of games of chance should be an exception to the law was accepted, and the casinos expressed their willingness to pay fees in addition to specific ventilation apparatus and air purifiers in the amount determined by the Government.

Minister Hrapović said earlier that in our country, about 400 people have lung cancer a year, and that, according to data from 2015, it costs about 70,000 EUR to treat just one patient. According to Hrapović, this is, among other things, an alarm for the health system, which indicates the need for improvement, first of all, preventive action.

Read more about lifestyle in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

08 August 2019 - The summer tourist season in northern Montenegro is in full swing and the capacities of the ski centers have been active since June. Cable cars on Savin kuk on Durmitor has been functioning since 1 June and the one in Kolašin 1600 was officially open on 6 July.

CEO assistant of the Ski Centers of MontenegroNeda Bokan said that six-seat cable car at Kolašin 1600 ski resort is available for use every day. Tourists can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of extraordinary Montenegrin mountains. The starting point is at 1.600 meters.

“The panoramic cable car ride enables tourists to enjoy our beautiful Bjelasica mountain. From the exit point, this pastoral mountain invites nature lovers for an easy hike towards the peak Troglav (2.075 m). The view from here is amazing, as tourists can see Prokletije, Komovi, Sinjajevina, and Moračke planine,” pointed out Bokan.

And for more active visitors, there’s a tour around the trails of Bjelasica. From Troglav, they can head towards Zekova glava. From the top of Zekova glava tourists can enjoy a prolonged stop at a nearby glacial lake – Pešića lake. Then, they can continue towards the highest peak – Crna glava (2.139m).

“Also, Kolašin 1600 ski resort has a coffee shop and a five-star restaurant. There’s a new playground - Bambi,” Bokan added.

Durmitor also has a lot to offer this summer. There are two cable cars on Savik kuk. They connect the bottom and the top of Savin kuk. The cable car fun finishes near Savina voda.

“The Savina voda source is an attraction. It is located at an altitude of 2.212 m and it never dries out. The legend says that the water in Savina voda has healing properties. From Savina voda, visitors usually hike to reach the main peak – Savin kuk (2.313m). There they can enjoy all the beauties of the National park using two telescopes for panoramic sightseeing,” stated Bokan, as CdM reported.

Ski resort Savik kuk complex also has a coffee bar, a restaurant – Durmitorsko sijelo, a playground and adventure park.

Panoramic cable car sightseeing of Bjelasica at Kolašin 1600 ski resort costs 7 EUR for the adults, 4 EUR for children and 5 EUR for groups. At Savin kuk ski resort adults will pay 8 EUR, children will pay 5 EUR and group visitors will pay 6 EUR.

“By 1 September, season ski pass at Kolašin 1600 ski resort will cost 150 euros. With ski pass, tourists get gratis vouchers for three-day skiing at Olympic Center Jahorina and three-day skiing at one of the Serbian resorts,” concluded Bokan.

Read more news about traveling through Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

07 August 2019 - Agency for the Control and Assurance of Quality of Higher Education received a total of 27 requests for the accreditation of new studying programs last year and in the first quarter of this year.

The Report on the work of this authority states that the accreditation procedure is carried out for the assessment of a study program quality and its harmonization with professional needs and adopted standards, its comparability with the same or similar programs abroad, as well as its representation and credit rating.

“Accreditation of studying program is issued for a period not longer than five years. For the programs which take longer than five years, the accreditation is issued for a period equal to the duration of a studying program,” reads the document adopted by the Government, as CdM reports.

However, the Agency has not given its opinion on the accreditation of new studying programs submitted by the Faculty of Business Management in Bar. Also, the Agency has not responded to the requests submitted by the Faculty of Design and Multimedia of the University of Donja Gorica or to the Initiative launched by the Faculty of Finance, Banking and Economic Diplomacy. The proposal made by the Faculty of Business Economy in Bar is currently on hold.

On the other side, the request for opening master academic studies submitted by the Faculty of Mediterranean Business Studies in Tivat was granted, along with the request for opening doctoral and master academic study program for nautical tourism submitted by University Adriatic and request for opening basic academic study program in tourism submitted by the same university.

The following Faculties have been given green light: Faculty of information system and Technologies at the UDG for doctoral academic program, Faculty of Culture and Tourism at the UDG for post-graduate academic study program for culture and tourism, Faculty of Business Economy Bar at the University Adriatik for undergraduate and master academic studying programs, HEC Faculty which requested opening of applied master studies of international management in hospitality and gastronomy, Faculty of Arts at UDG for doctoral academic studying program for communication and media, Faculty of International Economy, Finance and Business at UDG for master academic study program for information management in healthcare system, Faculty of Tourism, “Montenegro Tourism School” at the Mediteran University for undergraduate academic study program for management in tourism and hospitality, as well as request for master academic study program for international management in tourism and hospitality and doctoral academic study program for management in tourism.

The Agency also approved the request for the master academic study program for European law submitted by the Faculty of Law at the Mediteran University, as well as the request for master academic study program for public management. It approved the request for undergraduate and master academic study program for English language and literature submitted by the Faculty of Foreign Languages at the University of Mediteran and the request for master academic studying program for management in tourism and hospitality submitted by the Faculty of Business and Tourism in Budva.

In 2018, the Agency received nine reaccreditation requests submitted by the high education institutions. Reaccreditation procedure is carried out every five years. It is based on the report on external evaluation of the institution and its studying programs, in compliance with the prescribed standards. Only the reaccreditation request submitted by the Mediteran University has been approved. Other requests are still pending.

Documents adopted by the Government point out that the higher education system in Montenegro consists of 8 institutions – four universities and four independent faculties with a total of 285 study programs. High-education institutions have a total of 44 organization units.

The Report says that preparation activities on defining ranking methodology will begin this year.

The Report says that a base of experts for accreditation/reaccreditation of study programs has been established and formed based on public call for the experts from Montenegro and abroad. The list was compiled for the centralization of data about the experts who are going to be engaged in the accreditation and reaccreditation process. There are 105 experts on the list.

Read more news about lifestyle in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

06 August 2019 - The Ministry of Economy of Montenegro is launching a new phase of the Energy Efficient Home program tomorrow, August 7, which aims to reduce heating costs and increase household comfort, achieve a significant reduction in CO2 emissions, and develop the market for heating systems for modern forms of biomass in Montenegro.

The Program entails an attractive and sustainable financial mechanism for the implementation of energy efficiency measures in households, reports PR Office of the Ministry. For the purpose of this Program, the Ministry of Economy has provided 100.000 EUR for subsidizing interest and fees for processing loans to households in Montenegro for:

- the purchase and installation of heating systems for modern forms of biomass (pellets, briquettes), including boilers/furnaces, pipework and/or radiators;

- installation of thermal insulation on the facade of the residential building and

- installation of energy-efficient facade joinery.

Under the Program, citizens will be able to apply for interest-free loans up to a maximum amount of 10.000 EUR, with a repayment period of up to six (6) years, for the implementation of the aforementioned energy efficiency measures in their households, while the Ministry of Economy will subsidize interest costs and loan processing for the entire loan repayment period.

The Ministry of Economy is implementing this program in cooperation with partner companies (contractors): Mikromont (Bijelo Polje), Home Systems (Podgorica), Plam Engineering (Podgorica), Veneta Plamen (Podgorica), Energos (Podgorica) and the consortium "LD gradnja-Cerovo "(Nikšić) as well as partner banks: Hipotekarna Bank and Lovćen Bank.

The program provides for a citizen to contact a qualified contractor to obtain more detailed information on the offer under the Energy Efficient Home Program. Upon receiving the bid for the works, the citizen applies to the Ministry of Economy, with a request for confirmation that he or she is eligible to participate in the Energy Efficient Home Program, with supporting documentation proving that the object on which the works will be performed is legal, or that is in the process of legalization.

The request and supporting documentation can be submitted to the archives of the Ministry of Economy (Rimski trg 46, 81000 Podgorica) in person, by mail or by email at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

If the request is approved, the Ministry of Economy issues a certificate that the citizen is eligible to participate in the Program, after which the citizen applies to the bank and applies for a loan.

Procedures for implementation of the Energy Efficient Home Program, contacts of partner companies and banks, unit prices of materials, equipment and services offered under the Program, application form for obtaining a certificate for participation in the Program can all be downloaded at the website www.energetska-efikasnost.me.

The Energy Efficient Home program is a continuation of the Energy Wood program, which has been implemented by the Ministry of Economy through three phases since 2013, and has installed around 1,010 pellet and briquette heating systems throughout Montenegro.

All information regarding the said program can be obtained by e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by tel. 0038220 482 186. Information on the dynamics of implementation of the Program will be regularly published on the website: www.energetska-efikasnost.me.

Read more about lifestyle in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

06 August 2019 - Are the rivers in Montenegro polluted? Recently conducted research by the Institute for Hydrometeorology and Seismology of Montenegro shows that rivers Morača and Bojana mostly have a 'moderate status', which means that the chemical status in these rivers is not good.

Tara also has a moderate status in terms of water quality, while the water in Ćehotina is of low quality, the research shows. The cleanest river in the country is Cijevna, but the fact that the latest research did not include Piva, which had the highest quality water so far, should be taken into consideration when concluding.

A new water testing methodology, which was implemented by the Institute for Hydrometeorology and Seismology this year, classifies rivers’ status as “very good, good, moderate, bad or very bad”. "This new water testing methodology includes the determination of the chemical and ecological status of the waters of each river. The interpretation determines the category of the river, according to the status, which can be very good, good, moderate, bad or very bad," said Water Quality Department Chief of the Institute for Hydrometeorology and Seismology, NevenkaTomić in an interview for RTCG.

Research showed that, as in previous years, Ćehotina has a low-quality status (bad water quality), but also that river Tara is no longer clean as it used to be.

"River Tara has certain turbidity that causes the tested parameters to step out of their “ideal” range. This turbidity is probably influenced not only by the construction of the highway, but also by the flow of the Kolašin River, which during the spring and now when tunnel construction is underway causes washing of soil and materials, especially in the rainy season.“ Tomić said.

There are several causes of such a state of the rivers in Montenegro. "The main reason, as always, is wastewater. All of our cities do not have treatment plants, as in the case of Podgorica, which means we have various other discharges, landfills, rinses, in some situations oil or fuel spills, and also there are road constructions that affect the state of the rivers," Tomić warns.

Read more information on lifestyle in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

06 August 2019 - Due to incredible interest, Air Serbia will increase the number of flights between Belgrade and Tivat. By the end of August, there will be 26 flights per week. Passengers will have almost 2.000 seats at their disposal in the Airbus and ATR aircraft. The Serbian national carrier introduced direct flights between Niš and Tivat on 16 July. From today until the beginning of winter season, flights will be operating three times per week.

Representatives of the Air Serbia stated that their company is committed to developing air traffic with Montenegro, as CdM reports.

“Tivat and Podgorica are out most frequent destinations, with 216 return flights in August. Increased flight intensity comes as no surprise considering that Tivat is a very popular tourist destination. We firmly believe that we will make trips so much easier for our passengers,” said CEO of Air Serbia Duncan Naysmith.

Danilo Orlandić, CEO of the Airports of Montenegro, said that Air Serbia was a very important partner for Montenegro. Last year they transported over 245.000 passengers to and from Montenegro.

“That number is going to be higher this year, especially thanks to the new Niš-Tivat line. That will contribute to the improvement of our economy. We expect that the Airports of Montenegro will serve 2,6 million passengers,” pointed out Orlandić.

Serbian national air carrier and Airports of Montenegro have been cherishing successful partnership for decades.

Recently, the latest annual report of Airport Council International was published, which states that the Airports of Montenegro significantly boosted air accessibility. The report suggests that Tivat Airport is among the leading growing destinations with 352 per cent growth rate, Executive Director of the Airports of Montenegro Danilo Orlandić stated.

Read more about business in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

06 August 2019 - Budva-based companies Adriatic Properties and HTP Miločer, are going to construct the new Queen’s Beach Hotel. Acting chief state architect, Dušan Vuksanović, gave consent for a conceptual design for this hotel, as CdM reported.

The old Queen’s Beach Hotel in Pržno was recently torn down, making space for the new 5-star hotel at an area of 37,296 square meters. The Adriatic Properties management earlier announced the construction of the new, 70-million worth hotel would start after all the necessary permits are obtained. The construction should be finished in two and a half years.

The new hotel was designed by Podgorica-based Studio K in line with the urban and technical requirements issued by Montenegro’s Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism on 31 December 2015 and 12 April 2019. The total area is 12,255 square meters. The technical part of the project suggests that hotel capacities are going to be significantly expanded, thus enabling the development of high-end tourism compared to the old hotel.

Queen’s Beach Hotel is going to have two underground levels with 137 parking lots, a ground floor and four floors. There will be 126 accommodation capacities in it, of which 60 rooms and 66 luxury apartments.

Adriatic Properties earlier emphasized that preservation of natural beauties and cultural heritage of this area had been their topmost priority while selecting the conceptual design for the new hotel.

The old hotel, built in the early 1980s was removed following the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism decision of 7 June 2017. Adriatic Properties is a long-term leaseholder of the town-hotel Sveti Stefan and Villa Miločer, as well as Queen’s Beach Hotel based on the 2007 lease agreements with HG Budva Riviera and HTP Miločer.

Petros Stathis is the President of the Board of Directors of Adriatic Properties, while Goran Bencun is the CEO. HTP Miločer CEO is Dragan Miković, the President of the Board of Directors is Milena Radulović, while the Government of Montenegro is its owner.

The area of hotel rooms will be ranging from 30 sqm to 70 sqm, projected as single and double rooms. Apartments’ surface will range from 62 sqm to 317 sqm, and they have been projected as double, three-bed, four-bed, five-bed and 6-bed suites. The apartments are going to have a dining room, a living room, 2-4 bedrooms with a separate bathroom and a wardrobe, a workroom, a staff room, a kitchen and a terrace surrounded by greenery.

Read more about traveling through Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

05 August 2019 - One of the UK's largest walking and outdoor holiday providers with over 100 years of experience, HF Holidays, created an exceptional guided walking holiday which includes the cultural discovery of Montenegro, the ‘Black Pearl’ of the Balkans.

“Montenegro is one of the smallest and newest Balkan countries. Walk around its beautiful Lovćen National Park, pass through traditional villages and enjoy a boat ride on Lake Skadar, one of the largest lakes in Europe. It has 40 different kinds of fish and 270 bird species! It has a mountainous interior and a superb Adriatic coastline. The footpaths in the hills are seldom walked and are rich in natural beauty, ”says the detailed explanation of the tour provided by the organisers.

They also explained that Kotor Bay is one of the most famous areas of the country, located in the Adriatic Sea. Its landscape and features make it difficult to define what it is, due to the unusual geographical information surrounding it. Places of interest include the Blue Grotto, St. Tryphon's Cathedral and Mount Orjen, providing a variety of activities and day trips throughout the holiday.

Situated on the beautiful Montenegrin coast, the small resort of Petrovac is a very attractive base from which to explore the local area. The town itself centres on the pretty promenade and picturesque harbour, where tourists find a good selection of souvenir shops, bars and cafés. Immediately behind rise the Paštrovići Mountains, the foothills of which form the basis of some of the walks within the holiday. Just to the north of Petrovac is the stunning old town of Sveti Stefan built on a tiny island and reached by a spit of land. Inland lay the beautiful waters of Lake Skadar, and the tour will include a cruise after a walk above its shores. The highlight of a fantastic week’s walking will be the day spent in Lovćen National Park high above the dramatic Kotor Bay, and a trip to the perfectly preserved old towns on the bay is highly recommended for the planned free day.  A visit to Montenegro, the Black Pearl of the Balkans, is a fascinating cultural experience and walks and sightseeing visits of the tour provide great insight into this charming new country.

The offer includes a full programme of guided walks with 2 options every walking day, all transport to and from walks, the services of experienced HF Holidays leaders, "with flight" holidays include return flights from the UK and hotel transfers, 7 nights' accommodation in en-suite rooms and a half board - continental breakfast and evening meal.

The holiday package includes accommodation the 4-star Hotel Palas in the Petrovac resort, which is located on the promenade with attractive terraces and gardens planted with orange and olive trees.  It is within easy walking distance of the shops and behind the hotel is the towering Paštrovići Mountains.  The hotel owns part of the sandy Lučice beach.  WiFi is available throughout the hotel.

Get more information about the holiday, including tips on what to bring and the review of the tour at HF Holidays' official website.

05 August 2019 - Once considered a hidden treasure of south-eastern Europe, Montenegro has become a tourist magnet over the past few years. Its excellent location and exceptional beauty have put the small country firmly on the map as the go-to holiday destination, particularly for those seeking a more luxurious experience.

“After all, when you have such a gorgeous country and God gave you this incredible location, it would be a sin not to do something about it, don’t you think?” says Nikola Milić, co-founder of Hotel Casa del Mare Mediterraneo in an interview for Cecilia Calatrava, Communications advisor for EBRD.

This one-of-a-kind family-owned 4-star boutique hotel on the waterfront of the Bay of Kotor is one of the country’s hottest destinations, and one of the more than 600 small businesses in Montenegro the EBRD has supported since 2002.

“People who come to our hotel are looking for uniqueness and a personal touch. That’s why every room has a completely different interior that brims with the charm and tradition of Kotor Bay,” explains Milana Milić, co-founder and Nikola’s wife. “Our idea was to capture the local Mediterranean vibe.” 

Indeed, the hotel is a symphony for the senses: the stunning seaside, the fresh herbal-fruity scent of the lavender fields, mimosa trees, summer pomegranate, tangerine, olive trees. Each of its seven rooms triggers a slightly different experience which transports guests directly to their happy place.

This jewel, now completely renovated, dates back to 2010, when Nikola and Milana (then 24 and 23 years old) decided to get married, have a baby, and also open their first hotel.

“It all happened very suddenly. At the time, people thought we were crazy. Kamenari – the town the hotel is located in - was not known as a tourist destination, but rather as ‘the fishermen town where the ferry boat stops’, and that’s pretty much it”, explains Nikola.

 “This was not in our favour when we tried to get some financial support, which we needed at the time. But when nobody believed in us, the EBRD did, which still means a lot to our family,” he adds.

The EBRD, with funding from the Netherlands, paired the hotel with a consultant to help install new software that allowed them to manage the reception and accounting much more efficiently.

Several ‘Wild Beauty Awards’ for the best small hotel on the Montenegrin coast, and seven brand new boutique hotels later, the Casa del Mare hotel group has become one of the best examples of a successful business in Montenegrin tourism.

But the couple didn’t stop there. In 2014, Nikola and Milana decided to give a final polish to the hotel by giving their waterfront restaurant, Bocasa, a first-class reputation.

With the help of an EBRD-funded consultant, they designed a new menu that gives a modern twist to local flavours and ingredients.

“The biggest move forward is the switch from the à la carte model to a tasting menu where we want to present our guests with the strongest postcard of Montenegro,” explains Vanja Puskar, Head Chef at Casa del Mare Mediterraneo and founder of New Balkan Cuisine.

The EBRD’s support also included a training programme for the next generation of chefs taking Balkan cuisine to the next level.

When asked about their secret ingredient to success, the couple’s answer is always unanimous: “love and dedication” – a concept that resonates across both the restaurant and the hotel.

Read more about this Mediterranean gem at EBRD's website, or find more recommendations on which places in Montenegro you should visit at TMN's dedicated page.

05 August 2019 - Croatia has been complaining about a weak summer season, which is probably happening due to the high prices. The situation in Montenegro is different and the prices, according to foreign tourists, have not changed compared to the last year and correspond to the quality of Montenegrin offer, as CdM reported.

Managing Director of the Directorate for the Development of Tourism Destination in the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism Ćazim Hodžić said that prices in the Montenegrin cities are the same as last year.

“We have not changed the prices, but I have to say that many places enhanced the quality of their offer,” Hodžić pointed out.

He claims that Montenegro is not an expensive tourism destination and also that the country offers packages for high and low net-worth individuals as well.

Comparing the tourism offer with the region, Hodžić said that Montenegro is way cheaper than Croatia. As for the results of this year’s summer season, Montenegro visitor numbers hit record levels, but it is too early to speak about the revenues and the number of tourists.

General Manager in Hilton Podgorica, Nemanja Nikolić, also believes that Montenegro cannot categorize a destination as cheap or expensive, but that it can be said that certain amenities in a destination are cheap or expensive.

“As for Montenegro, it has diversified tourism offer, that is, we are oriented towards both high net-worth individuals and those spending less money in our country. Unfortunately, we can not describe our country as the leading tourism destination as we need much more than 5-star hotels. All tourism destinations are easily accessible and it is important to understand that Croatia or Greece are not our only competitors but all the other destinations similar to ours,” stressed out Nikolić.

President of small and medium-sized hotels in the Montenegrin Tourism Association, Dejan Rađenović, thinks prices easily succumb to changes thanks to the internet.

“Every tourism company/entrepreneur determines its own pricing policy. Prices easily succumb to everyday changes thanks to the internet, depending on the offer and demand in accommodation capacities,” Rađenović emphasized.

He also pointed out that Montenegro is not too expensive and that the tourists can choose different kinds of accommodation, depending on their finances.

President of small and medium-sized hotels in the Montenegrin Tourism Association, Dejan Rađenović, believes prices are not the greatest problem of Montenegrin tourism, but that the problem is the grey economy.

“In addition, this year the authorities did a lot in order to reduce noise and that is a huge step forward,” Rađenović concluded.

Read more news about traveling through Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.