Montenegro’s tourist season hits record with 1.5 million passengers

The current tourist season is proving to be a record-breaker, with 1.5 million passengers served so far, announced Roko Tolić, Executive Director of Airports of Montenegro (ACG).

“We are experiencing a challenging yet highly successful season. As of July 21, we’ve served nearly 1.5 million passengers, reflecting a significant increase compared to last year and the record-setting year of 2019,” Tolić said at a press conference.

He highlighted that this increase is evident at both of Montenegro’s main airports.

“One of our key objectives was to enhance air connectivity. Aviation seasons are planned a year in advance, and this season was prepared by my predecessors. However, our team is continuously exploring ways to make our services more attractive and to ensure an even busier next season,” Tolić explained.

Tolić also mentioned a recent meeting with Ryanair, which opens new opportunities.

“When I took office, we faced a situation where all winter flights were canceled except for the London route. We are working to reverse this trend, and our discussions with Ryanair provide a chance to make a substantial improvement for the upcoming period,” he said.

Regarding staffing, Tolić acknowledged that there had been a certain status quo.

“I appreciate the unions’ cooperation in informing us about the situation. There is a mutual understanding and alignment of views. We expect to finalize a collective agreement soon, which will further motivate our employees,” he noted.

Tolić also addressed the issue of capacity constraints.

“Podgorica Airport was designed to handle 600 passengers per hour, but we are currently managing 1,300. This exceeds our capacity, and we are able to cope thanks to the dedicated efforts of our staff,” he added.

He recognized that improvements won’t occur overnight but assured that efforts are ongoing to find solutions for increasing traffic and addressing short-term needs to ensure the success of the next season.

Tolić revealed that the second round of selecting a concession partner is currently underway.

“It’s not my role to make the final assessment but to manage the company as directed by the majority owner. The decision will be made by the Montenegrin government,” Tolić stated.

He reassured the public that the bidders are of high quality, which could result in a win-win situation for the country.

Tolić emphasized that ACG must explore options to expand its capacity. With some funds already allocated for this purpose, ACG remains a stable company focused on its growth and development.