In Bar, significant investments amounting to nearly 200 million euros are currently underway or planned, focusing on expanding hotel capacities and boosting employment by creating 1,000 new jobs. Additionally, there is a proposal for a cable car that would link the Adriatic coast with Lake Skadar.
- We are hopeful that this idea will come to fruition soon – stated Dušan Raičević, the Mayor of Bar Municipality, during a session of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of the Montenegrin Chamber of Commerce held at the De’Andros Hotel in Virpazar.
Raičević highlighted the importance of the new hotel in Virpazar, which is one of the key tourist destinations in the municipality and attracts numerous visitors.
- Virpazar has successfully executed a major tourism project with the De’Andros Hotel. Bar, once just a transit center, has evolved significantly over the past 15 to 20 years as a tourist destination, showcasing the potential of our municipality – Raičević remarked.
He detailed ongoing and upcoming investments in hotel infrastructure across the municipality, including developments in Čanj, along the Pearl Coast, in Maljevik, and the reconstruction of the Korali complex and the Inex Zlatna Obala resort, as well as a new hotel by the Akor group in the center of Bar.
- These investments, valued at close to 200 million euros, will create 1,000 new jobs, excluding Maljevik, which alone is projected to meet these numbers – Raičević added.
He emphasized that the growth of tourism hinges on improving infrastructure, a priority for the local government across all 12 local communities, extending beyond the coast into rural areas. Plans include the reconstruction of the road from Bar to Sukobin and the route from Virpazar through Sutorman to Bar, potentially serving as an alternative to the Adriatic Highway. The municipality is also addressing the lack of water supply and sewage infrastructure across a third of its territory and is calling for state and regional water authority support for these projects, along with the construction of a boulevard from Sutomore to Šušanj.
- We are on the verge of a successful tourist season, which started as early as March. Bar is recognized as a cruise destination: three ships with 15,000 tourists have already visited our port, and another 15 cruises are planned – said Bar’s mayor.
Raičević noted that Bar has a development strategy that prioritizes tourism and agriculture. The tourism product will be enhanced by focusing on activities like canyoning and hiking.
Nikoleta Nikčević from the Bar Tourist Organization emphasized that the area lives up to the slogan “Bar on Two Magical Coasts,” with the new hotel in Virpazar further contributing to this.
- Our focus is on promoting active and adventure tourism. We are working closely with the Chamber of Commerce to stimulate rural tourism development – Nikčević stated, adding that 200 km of hiking trails have been established, which is crucial for adventure tourism.
She mentioned that the tourism offering at Lake Skadar is diversifying and has room for further improvement.
- The results of visits to Lake Skadar are very encouraging, significantly surpassing those from 2019 – she said.
Dejan Belada, director of the De’Andros Hotel, expressed gratitude for the recognition of the hotel’s importance, noting that the project involved revitalizing a hotel that is around 50 years old, with reconstruction taking four years.
- We have created a new establishment at the old location, featuring 50 accommodation units, a wellness and spa center, and a sky bar. Our goal is to become a recognized name in central Montenegro and the Crmnica region. We employ 40 staff members, all from Montenegro – Belada stated.
Dragan Purko Ivančević from Mac Sun D.M.C. Montenegro praised the “significant development of tourism in Bar,” highlighting it as one of the few municipalities maintaining continuous communication with hotels, airports, and tourist sites, and expressing hope that other municipalities will follow this example to better manage their destinations.
- Bar is the only municipality that has successfully protected its tourist destination from residential construction, ensuring tourism remains a development priority – Ivančević said, expressing high expectations from the new director of Airports of Montenegro, Roko Tolić, in terms of increasing air access to our destination.
Solar-powered coffee
Luka Ivanović from the company Ray & Jules introduced a new concept to the Montenegrin market: coffee roasted using solar energy. He explained that the aim is to modernize the coffee roasting process, emphasize renewable energy sources, and recognize the value of coffee and its producers.
He added that the plan is to work together with growers to develop systems where coffee is roasted in its countries of origin, thereby creating fair value for coffee and stimulating local economies in the process.
