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Edinburgh Live
3 days ago
- Edinburgh Live
Popular holiday hotspot 'on the brink' as hundreds of cruise ships bring in tourists
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The picturesque coastal town of Kotor in Montenegro is grappling with a surge in tourism, leading to overcrowding and concerns about potential environmental damage. Kotor, a UNESCO World Heritage Site nestled against the limestone cliffs of Mt Loven, is renowned for its labyrinthine narrow streets and medieval architecture, including an array of Romanesque churches. The town also gained fame after featuring in the 2006 James Bond film, Casino Royale. Hundreds of ships dock in the harbour daily, bringing a large portion of Kotor's visitors. This has led to calls for an increase in the modest €1 (86p) fee that cruise ship passengers pay to access the town. Over the past decade, the number of cruise ship visits to Kotor has been steadily increasing. According to the Express, the town saw approximately 500 additional arrivals last year alone. On one day in August, a staggering 5,000 holidaymakers disembarked from cruise ships into the town, which has a population of just 23,000. This influx is reportedly causing significant harm to the marine ecosystem. As per the latest data from the Statistical Office of Montenegro, over 2.6 million people visited the country in 2024. The country also recorded a total of 15.5 million overnight stays, with 96.1% being foreign tourists, primarily from Serbia, Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey, Germany, Ukraine and the UK. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. The UN's GEF Adriatic Project warns: "Although the population size increase [in Montenegro] is relatively low, the number of tourists drastically increases every year, which poses a significant burden on local sewage capacities and increases the costs of their construction and maintenance." Milica Mandic, a scientific adviser at Montenegro's Institute of Marine Biology, voiced her alarm: "Such a number of cruisers requires a study to determine the maximum environmental load." Countless demonstrations have erupted across Europe over the past year as residents voice their frustration with the enormous surge of visitors flooding their cities and towns. Beloved holiday hotspots including Spain, France, and Italy have witnessed such unrest. This backlash has prompted many Britons to abandon these destinations and seek alternative locations for their summer getaways. Local Kotor tourism chief, Jovan Ristic, shared his worries: "The life of our neighbours is becoming increasingly difficult during the tourist season. All similar tourist destinations are working on reducing or selecting passenger ships and seriously collecting excursion fees."
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Popular town 'on the brink' as hundreds of cruise ships bring tourists flooding in
Kotor, a coastal town in Montenegro, is a hugely popular tourist destination - but its soaring visitor numbers are reportedly beginning to have a negative impact A coastal town in Montenegro has been battling to manage its massive influx of tourism, creating overwhelming crowds and sparking fears about environmental damage. The stunning town of Kotor sits on the Adriatic coast and boasts UNESCO World Heritage Site status. It's nestled near the limestone cliffs of Mt Loven and is famed for its twisting narrow streets and medieval buildings, including numerous Romanesque churches. The town also appeared in the 2006 James Bond film, Casino Royale. Hundreds of vessels dock in the harbour daily, bringing many of Kotor's visitors. This has prompted demands to increase the bargain €1 (86p) charge that cruise ship passengers pay to access the town. In other travel stories, Spanish beach bars demand urgent action as they reveal cost of Brits staying away READ MORE: I can't stop booking this £32 hotel right next to huge beach — it still has dates free for summer Cruise ship visits to the destination have been climbing over the past decade, with the town seeing roughly 500 additional arrivals last year, reports the Express. On one day alone last August, 5,000 holidaymakers poured into the town from cruise ships. Kotor itself has just 23,000 residents. This is reportedly causing serious harm to the marine ecosystem. According to the latest reports from the Statistical Office of Montenegro, over 2.6 million people visited the country in 2024. There were also a total of 15.5 million overnights, with 96.1% being foreigners mostly from Serbia, Russian Federation, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey, Germany, Ukraine and the UK. The UN's GEF Adriatic Project states: "Although the population size increase [in Montenegro] is relatively low, the number of tourists drastically increases every year, which poses a significant burden on local sewage capacities and increases the costs of their construction and maintenance." Milica Mandic, a scientific advisor at Montenegro's Institute of Marine Biology, expressed her concern: "Such a number of cruisers requires a study to determine the maximum environmental load." There have been numerous protests across Europe over the past year as locals express their dissatisfaction with the massive influx of tourists in their cities and towns. Popular holiday destinations include Spain, France, and Italy. This had led many Brits to ditch them and opt for other places to spend their summers. Local Kotor tourism director, Jovan Ristic, voiced his concerns: "The life of our neighbours is becoming increasingly difficult during the tourist season. All similar tourist destinations are working on reducing or selecting passenger ships and seriously collecting excursion fees."
