site.btaBulgaria, Montenegro Have Joined Forces to Promote Sustainable Tourism in Balkans

Bulgaria and Montenegro have joined forces to promote sustainable tourism in the Balkans. Bulgaria’s idea of a shared tourism product of the Balkan countries is getting closer to realization during caretaker Tourism Minister Evtim Miloshev’s official visit to Montenegro. The introduction of direct flights between Balkan capitals is expected to support this initiative, allowing the region to market itself to destinations farther afield such as Japan and the United States, Miloshev told BTA. According to the Ministry’s estimates, with an integrated Balkan tourism product, next year could see an additional 250,000 tourists from markets like North America, South America, and Southeast Asia.

During his visit, Miloshev held several high-level meetings, where he presented the concept of a new Balkans tourism destination, a unified tourism destination that brings together the Balkan countries. "I have already visited Turkiye and Romania to discuss this integrated Balkan tourism product. Montenegro's Tourism Minister, Simonida Kordic, and I advanced these talks in Japan, which led to this visit and the signing of a plan for joint actions in tourism for 2025-2027. I am scheduled to hold discussions with Minister Mirela Kumbaro of Albania and hopefully with the Tourism Minister of Moldova as well," Miloshev said.

At a meeting with Montenegro’s Parliamentary Committee on Tourism, Agriculture, Ecology and Spatial Planning, Chair Dejan Durovic said that Bulgaria's experience and its examples of success, including the resorts of Bansko and Pamporovo, are crucial to the development of winter tourism in Montenegro, the Ministry said. "Bulgarian experience is valuable for us and can speed up the development of Montenegro as a year-round tourist destination," Durovic said. Sustainability was identified as a key principle in tourism development.

The Bulgarian Minister also conferred with Montenegro’s Prime Minister, Milojko Spajic.

Milosev emphasized the need to set up a regular air link between Sofia and Podgorica that would be an important step towards the realization of the integrated Balkan tourism product. "A 40-minute flight can reshape the opportunities for tourism, cultural exchange, and economic cooperation between our two countries," Miloshev said. He added that connectivity between the capitals is crucial to attract tourists from distant markets such as Japan and the US who want to visit several Balkan countries in one trip.

The Minister said that three operators are interested in operating regular and charter flights, adding that the project has the potential to start in spring 2025. "If we provide air connectivity, businesses will follow us and will venture into the tourism sector and other economic sectors," Miloshev said at his meeting with Spajic.  Montenegro and Bulgaria have great potential for the development of cultural, historical, spa and wellness, and gastronomy and wine tourism that can attract tourists from all over the world. "This is sustainable tourism that we can bring to the global market across the four seasons," the Minister said.

Miloshev and Kordic signed a plan for joint actions in tourism in the 2025-2027 period on Monday. With this document, the two countries pledged to strengthen cooperation in key tourism areas, including winter, cultural, wine, pilgrimage, and spa tourism, and expressed a will to ensure air connectivity between the Balkan capitals.

Kordic said that it is important to have a formal framework for successful cooperation. "I hope that we will soon take concrete steps to bring Montenegro and Bulgaria closer together and present ourselves to tourists from further afield. It is essential that we demonstrate political will and provide opportunities for economic cooperation to the benefit of both countries. Tourism is a bridge; tourism is an entry point, and when this bridge is opened, many economic activities flow across it."

The signing of this plan is an important step towards the implementation of the Destination Balkans vision and is key for the sustainable development of tourism in the region.

The Destination Balkans project, initiated by Miloshev, continues with upcoming meetings in Albania. The focus is on securing air connectivity between key Balkan capitals.