Kotor, (MINA-BUSINESS) – According to Mayor Kotor Vladimir Jokic, this town with around 22,000 residents gets visited by up to700,000 cruise tourists during the season – a number that requires careful and responsible management of cruise tourism.

Speaking at the panel discussion “Cruise Ships in the Bay of Kotor – Economy and Ecology”, part of the international conference “Bay of Kotor as a Sustainable Nautical Destination” held in Tivat, Jokic addressed the challenges cruise tourism poses to Kotor and the Bay of Kotor.

“As a city that hosts such a large number of cruise ships, we face enormous challenges. Kotor has only 22,000 residents, and up to 700,000 visitors passing through our port each season, in a limited area with infrastructure not designed for such pressure,” Jokic said, adding that this requires careful and responsible management.

The local administration of Kotor stated in a press release that he reminded the audience that the porthad been a part of Kotor’s identity for centuries – from sailing ships and steamers to modern cruise liners – and is an inseparable part of its maritime tradition. However, he warned that unchecked development could have serious consequences for the city and its residents.

“The economic impact of cruise tourism is significant. Just based on estimated passenger and crew spending, we’re talking about €60 million to €80 million in annual revenue – a major contribution to the local economy and a form of ‘virtual export’ of services. But these benefits must not overshadow the system’s real weaknesses,” Jokic noted.

According to him, the legal framework must be updated, as the current regulations do not provide sufficient control over the tourism products – especially in Kotor’s Old Town, where foreign leaseholders dominate with products disconnected from local culture and heritage.

The conference was organized by the Delfin Sailing Club from Tivat and the Faculty of Maritime Studies in Kotor, as part of the Wind Festival in Tivat.