The Ministry of Tourism of Montenegro, in its report on the public consultation process concerning the Draft Law on Tourism and Hospitality, accepted the key recommendations put forward by the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro. In particular, it endorsed the initiative to prescribe specific conditions for carrying out tourism and hospitality activities within UNESCO-protected areas, thereby establishing a legal basis for the clearer protection and sustainable use of these sites.
Under this solution, the Ministry of Tourism will be empowered to prescribe detailed rules and standards governing tourism and hospitality activities, taking into account the specific characteristics of each UNESCO site, and to oversee their implementation. Such an approach ensures a balance between tourism development and the preservation of the cultural and natural values that are of exceptional importance to Montenegro and its international reputation.
The Union of Municipalities emphasized in its recommendations that inadequate and uncontrolled activities within protected zones may undermine the values for which these sites were inscribed on the World Heritage List and could even result in the loss of their status. By accepting this proposal, tourism and hospitality activities can be aligned with the principles of sustainable development, thereby contributing to the long-term protection of these sites while also enhancing the quality of the tourism offering.
The acceptance of these recommendations confirms the importance of cooperation between state and local institutions in shaping the legislative framework. The Ministry of Tourism and the Union of Municipalities are jointly contributing to the development of a tourism sector that is responsible, competitive, and aligned with Montenegro's international obligations in the field of protecting the world's cultural and natural heritage.
By introducing specific conditions for UNESCO-protected areas, Montenegro is sending a clear message that tourism must not compromise values recognized at the global level, but should instead serve to promote and protect them. In this way, the sustainability of the tourism sector is strengthened while preserving the identity of the destinations that constitute the foundation of Montenegro's tourism industry.
Foto credits: GoMontenegro
