The Association of Tour Guides of Montenegro says the profession is undervalued and lacks proper legal and institutional support, despite having its own activity code. Most guides work as freelancers and face difficulties registering in a way that reflects the seasonal nature of their work.
They cite a range of challenges — from inadequate parking for tour buses in popular spots like Perast and Virpazar, chronic traffic jams on scenic routes such as the Kotor–Njeguši road, and a lack of public toilets, to long-term construction disruptions, poor waste management, and environmental neglect. Guides say they are often expected to hide these issues from tourists through storytelling.
The association criticizes the lack of inclusion in policymaking, noting that guides are not recognized as a separate tourism sector, licensing is poorly regulated, and training often focuses only on theory rather than practical group management. They also object to foreign nationals obtaining Montenegro’s tour guide licenses without sufficient language proficiency — a practice they say would not be possible in most other countries — and to limited field inspections that allow unlicensed foreign guides and tour leaders to operate freely.
Their proposals include:
- Revising national license requirements to match EU best practices, with training lasting at least two years and 40% practical work.
- Restricting licenses for foreign nationals in line with EU norms.
- Addressing language shortages by limiting the oversupply of English-speaking guides.
- Allowing registration models similar to Croatia that account for seasonal work.
- Enforcing strict penalties for illegal guiding, increasing the number of inspectors, and extending the licensing process.
The association also calls for formal involvement in national and local tourism bodies to help monitor and improve the tourist season.
