Saturday, August 10, 2024
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Nestled along the scenic Adriatic bay, the UNESCO World Heritage town of Kotor, Montenegro, is grappling with a significant influx of tourists that are overwhelming its narrow streets and raising environmental concerns.
Tourists are flocking to Kotor in droves
A large number of visitors reach Kotor via the hundreds of boats, yachts, and cruise ships that dock daily in the town’s harbor. This has led to calls for an increase in the 1-euro ($1.09) entry fee currently charged to cruise ship passengers.
In the past ten years, the frequency of cruise ships docking in Kotor has steadily risen, with nearly 500 anticipated this year. On a single Wednesday, four cruise ships, bringing roughly 5,000 tourists, arrived in the town, which gained fame for its appearance in the 2006 James Bond film “Casino Royale.”
Although tourism accounts for about a quarter of Montenegro’s economic output, the 23,000 residents of Kotor are increasingly feeling the burden.
