Kotor, a historic coastal town with a population of around 22,000, sees up to 700,000 cruise ship visitors pass through its port each tourist season. This massive influx poses serious challenges for the city’s infrastructure and quality of life, said Vladimir Jokić, the Mayor of Kotor.
Speaking at the panel discussion “Cruise Ships in Boka – Economy and Ecology,” part of the international conference “Boka Kotorska as a Sustainable Nautical Destination” held in Tivat, Jokić emphasized the need for careful and responsible management of the cruise tourism phenomenon.
“As a city hosting such a large number of cruise ships, we face tremendous challenges,” said Jokić. “Kotor’s infrastructure wasn’t built to handle that kind of pressure in such a small area.”
He noted that Kotor’s port has been a part of the city’s identity for centuries, historically serving sailboats and steamships, and now cruise ships. While maritime tradition is deeply rooted in Kotor, unchecked cruise tourism could lead to serious consequences for both the city and its residents, he warned.
“The economic potential of cruise tourism is immense,” Jokić said. “Based on passenger and crew spending estimates, it could generate between €60 and €80 million annually—a significant contribution to the local economy and a kind of virtual export of services. However, this benefit should not overshadow the system’s real weaknesses.”
He called for improved institutional coordination and regulatory reforms, stressing that many issues stem from a lack of systemic alignment. “Institutions often act in isolation and only respond when there’s a joint initiative,” he stated.
Jokić also emphasized the need to update legal frameworks to regain control over the tourism offering, especially in Kotor’s Old Town. He criticized the dominance of foreign leaseholders offering products disconnected from local culture and heritage.
He urged a focus on verifiable issues rather than media-driven sensationalism, referencing unscientific claims about sulfur dioxide emissions from cruise ships damaging the Old Town’s historic walls.
“We live in a time of noise where any topic can be turned into a project. That’s why we must concentrate on what is genuinely and demonstrably harmful,” said Jokić.
The conference was jointly organized by the Delfin Sailing Club from Tivat and the Faculty of Maritime Studies in Kotor, as part of the Wind Festival in Tivat.
