Rural tourism in Montenegro is experiencing steady growth, and the key to its further development lies in agritourism – the pairing of agriculture and tourism within a single household, stated the Director of the Regional Development Agency for Bjelasica, Komovi, and Prokletije, Jelena Krivčević, during her guest appearance on Radio Montenegro’s show “Link”.
According to her, from an initial ten registered households, Montenegro now has between 360 and 380 rural farms in the Central Tourism Register. Although their share in the total number of overnight stays nationwide remains small due to coastal dominance, the revenue and impact generated in the north are far more significant for local communities.
International Certificates as Proof of Quality
“We believe this is the only sustainable tourism that exists in Montenegro. The only examples of sustainable tourism are those we have at the agritourism level, and they are vital for the survival of our villages,” Krivčević emphasized.
The Director of the Regional Development Agency highlighted that service quality in the north has significantly improved, as evidenced by the recent international sustainability certification of 20 Montenegrin households less than a month ago.
The organic farm of the Pavićević family in Žabljak scored the highest points from independent auditors, serving as a prime example. Krivčević also addressed the recent demolition of barns in Žabljak, calling it a heavy blow to 42 local families who are the sole producers of authentic local goods in that area.
Infrastructure and Legislation as Main Obstacles
Speaking about the challenges ahead, Krivčević pointed out a chronic lack of coordination between different ministries and local administrations, alongside the unfair distribution of IPARD funds.
IPARD Funds: Instead of supporting small family farms, these resources mostly ended up with larger businesses and ethno-villages because small producers lack the capacity to handle such bulky paperwork.
Protected Zone Challenges: Herders in katuns located within protected areas face rigid administrative hurdles, making it impossible to upgrade basic facilities, such as installing bathrooms or sheds.
Land Misuse: She also highlighted the abuse of mountain pasture rights, where individuals who are not actual herders build holiday homes and tourist facilities, creating spatial conflict and complicating work for genuine farmers.
Katuns as Intangible Cultural Heritage: Krivčević recalled that late last December, Montenegrin katuns received national protection as an intangible cultural asset, with international protection procedures currently underway. In Montenegro, around 1,200 families still practice the traditional seasonal cattle migration to the mountains every year.
Guest Profiles and the Role of Women
Regarding visitor demographics, it was noted that northern agritourism does not rely on coastal tourists but attracts an entirely different clientele. In fact, 99% of visitors are foreign tourists, mostly from Western Europe – highly educated, financially stable individuals seeking peace, authenticity, and stays in pristine nature.
The role of rural women (planinkas) was singled out as a critical factor for the survival of these farms, as success in rural tourism is impossible without their involvement. Consequently, the Agency actively works on empowering women and breaking deep-seated stereotypes in rural communities.
