Montenegro is no longer just a prestigious destination on the world map, but also an active creator of global tourism policies. The Ministry of Tourism, together with UN Tourism, organized the first high-level Interregional Tourism Forum of Europe and Asia in Podgorica, placing our country at the very center of an international dialogue on the future of the tourism industry and strategic investments.
509 views0 comment(s)
Photo: Ministry of Tourism
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.Promo content
01.11.2026. 08:00h
For a country where tourism is the leading economic sector, this diplomatic and economic breakthrough opens a completely new development era – from penetrating distant markets and extending the tourist season, to attracting large international capital, creating new jobs and the balanced development of all Montenegrin regions.
Historical international conference
Podgorica brought together ministers, high-ranking state officials, diplomats, renowned global investors, financiers and tourism industry leaders from more than 40 countries – from Japan to Spain. For the first time, under the auspices of UN Tourism (the World Tourism Organization), representatives of the regional commissions for Europe, South Asia and East Asia and the Pacific met at a joint high-level forum, initiated and hosted by Montenegro.
Leadership role in international policymaking
As Chair of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for Europe (2025–2027 mandate), Montenegro has taken a leadership role in intercontinental connectivity. Opening strategic corridors to fast-growing Asian markets gives the country a key advantage in an increasingly competitive global game.
Direct channel to global capital and investment guide
Direct networking with the international investment community was crowned by the presentation of the prestigious publication “Tourism Doing Business: Investing in Montenegro”, produced in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and UN Tourism, which presents global investors with concrete investment opportunities in our country.
From an attractive destination to a leader in international cooperation
“We see this presidency as an opportunity to actively contribute to strengthening international dialogue, linking tourism policies and creating concrete opportunities for cooperation between countries and regions.”, said the Minister of Tourism of Montenegro Simonida Kordić.
The strong international resonance of the Montenegrin initiative was confirmed by the highest UN Tourism officials and representatives of other countries. UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Al Nuwais emphasized that the international community recognizes Montenegro’s potential and has full confidence in it as an investment destination:
“In Montenegro, tourism already occupies an important place at the heart of society. It already accounts for as much as 30% of total GDP, with revenues that exceeded 1,3 billion euros last year alone. And this year, in August alone, growth of more than 11% was recorded. This is a remarkable success, and the future looks even brighter.”, Al Nuwais said.
UN Tourism Executive Director Natalia Bayona assessed that Minister Kordić is focused on results, highlighting the country’s strong investment momentum:
“I think Montenegro is seeing a significant boost in tourism – the country is not only growing, but investments are also increasing. What I liked most was how the ecosystem is growing quickly, because tourism is ultimately based on small and medium-sized enterprises and people.”, Bayona said.
The representative of the Philippines and Chair of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for East Asia and the Pacific, Dakila Gonzalez, also praised Montenegro’s vision, leadership and commitment in bringing together the leaders of Europe and Asia, while Bulgarian Minister of Tourism Ilin Dimitrov highlighted the organizational capacities of our country:
“We greatly appreciate Montenegro’s active role and its commitment to promoting sustainable, competitive and inclusive tourism across Europe.”, said Dimitrov.
The Head of the World Bank Office for Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Liang Wang, congratulated the organization of the Europe-Asia Forum, adding that it significantly contributed to the international visibility of Montenegro and the connection of tourism markets.
The North and Central Region as a New Development Opportunity
A special dimension of the event was the Investment Forum, a platform that enabled direct connections between Montenegro and international investors, financial institutions and leading companies in the tourism industry. Minister Kordić recalled that Montenegro has already been recognized by some of the world’s most prestigious hotel brands such as One&Only, Aman, Regent, Hilton, Hyatt and The Chedi, as well as the investors behind the Porto Montenegro, Portonovi and Luštica Bay projects.
“It is particularly important that these brands are not only present in Montenegro, but are present in numerous important destinations, and continue to invest and expand their businesses. This is a strong signal that international investors recognize our potential and see Montenegro as a reliable partner for long-term cooperation.”, Kordić pointed out.
A special space for a new investment momentum has been recognized in the north and central part of the country, where there are significant opportunities for mountain, rural, adventure and wellness tourism.
“Our goal is not only to attract new investment, but also to ensure that the benefits of tourism development are felt throughout the country – through extending the season, creating new jobs, supporting local businesses and creating opportunities for local communities outside of already established tourist centers.”, emphasized Kordić.
Executive Director of Porto Montenegro, Andrea Eggers, said that the investment conference, within the framework of the Interregional Forum of Europe and Asia, was extremely fruitful, and congratulated Kordić on the successful organization of an event of great importance for presenting Montenegro’s investment potential.
“Investing in Montenegro”: A Roadmap to Global Capital
One of the most significant concrete results of the Forum was the presentation of the publication „Tourism Doing Business: Investing in Montenegro“The official handover of this document was carried out by Minister Kordić and Secretary General Al Nuwais, while its key findings were presented by Executive Director Natalia Bayona.
This international investment guide provides the global business community with an overview of the Montenegrin business environment and development priorities, covering investment potential in Podgorica, Herceg Novi, Žabljak, Nikšić and Mojkovac, with a special emphasis on the development of the north, tourism infrastructure, quality accommodation and sustainable forms of tourism.
“We want to make Montenegro’s investment opportunities more visible and accessible to international partners and to turn interest into concrete projects and long-term partnerships,” Kordić said.
News
The ministry of tourismdestinationInterregional Tourism Forum of Europe and Asia
Source: en.vijesti.me
