Today, officials, members, and supporters of the Albanian Forum have gathered in Ulcinj to stand against unjust and harmful decisions, as announced by the coalition which is part of the Government.

The statement emphasizes, “The people’s resilient response to injustice and resistance to oppression have been hallmarks of this region for centuries, and we take pride in that.”

Three organizations urge a protest

The Beach Tenants Association, the Ada Bojana Association, and the Restaurant Association have previously called for a peaceful demonstration today at 10 am. The gathering is set to take place in front of the Coastal Authority’s office in Ulcinj.

They are insisting that the government’s “rushed decision” to initiate a tender for leasing bathing areas and facilities in the coastal zone be revoked, especially since it was done without consultation with local governments and business stakeholders.

Following the assembly, the protestors will peacefully march from the Coastal Zone office to the Municipality building, aiming to collectively express their discontent with the “damaging and illegitimate decisions” imposed by the Government and Coastal Zone authorities.

“We are opposing the Montenegro Government’s rapid move to announce a tender for the lease of bathing areas and facilities in the Coastal Zone via an electronic session, bypassing the consultation of local governments and business owners. The decision to drastically hike lease prices by up to 300% threatens the livelihoods of leaseholders, increases the cost of tourist services, and jeopardizes the tourism industry of Ulcinj and Montenegro as a whole. Such a move endangers the status of Ada Bojana as a well-known tourist destination, as it imposes unbearable financial conditions on leaseholders. This decision threatens the survival of thousands of families who depend on tourism, making Montenegro less competitive compared to neighboring countries. The exclusion of liability criteria for leaseholders from tenders opens the door to individuals with criminal backgrounds, jeopardizing the security and reputation of Montenegrin tourism,” the associations stated collectively.

According to them, the government is disregarding the concerns expressed by all coastal municipality presidents who have opposed this leasing model and requested to continue contracts under previous terms.

They are demanding an immediate retraction of the tender announcement under the current conditions, a return to a realistic leasing framework, protection for the tourism industry in Ulcinj and other coastal towns from “unreasonable price hikes,” and that decisions regarding the marine domain should be made collaboratively with local governments and businesses, rather than through unilateral actions by the Government.

They also call for a transparent and equitable leasing system that does not favor criminal organizations or compromise the security of the tourism sector.

“This isn’t merely a conflict among tenants—this is a battle for the future of tourism in Montenegro. Let’s not allow years of hard work to be dismantled,” stated the Association of Beach Tenants, the Ada Bojana Association, and the Restaurant Association.

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