The ski season at the state-operated Kolašin 1600 Ski Center resumed on February 16th after a brief hiatus, thanks to a fresh layer of snow. This snowfall has rekindled optimism and attracted new visitors to the ski area; however, it has not translated into higher occupancy rates for local accommodations.

In a bid to attract more visitors, ski ticket prices have been slashed by 20 percent and will remain discounted for the remainder of the season. Since the official opening on December 21st last year, the ski center has only offered 15 days of skiing before the new snowfall, whereas its private counterpart, Kolašin 1450, has been able to sustain operations longer owing to its advantageous slope positioning and artificial snowmaking capabilities.

According to Bojan Medenica, the manager of Kolašin 1600 Ski Center, the turnout has pleasantly surprised them, especially given that the slopes were previously closed for over a month. Medenica noted that trails associated with the K8 cable car and the beginners’ training area are currently operational.

“The recent snowfall and our efforts to ensure our infrastructure is well-prepared have proved fruitful. We remain hopeful for additional snow and a substantial number of ski days. The price for a one-day ski pass is now 20 euros for adults and 13.2 euros for children. Additionally, a three-day ski pass has been reduced to just 45 euros for adults and 30 euros for younger visitors,” Medenica stated.

Discounted pricing also applies to seven-day ski passes, which are now priced at 84 euros for adults and 60.4 euros for kids. The Board of Directors of the Ski Resorts of Montenegro (SCG), which oversees Kolašin 1600 Ski Center, made the decision to lower the prices for ski infrastructure utilization.

While the ski center expresses satisfaction over visitor numbers, private accommodation owners in Kolašin claim that the snow has not attracted any new guests. They report a lack of long-term reservations, with most visitors opting for one-night stays. The Association of Private Accommodation Providers informed “Vijesti” that the continuation of the ski season has not resulted in substantial benefits for them.

“There are definitely no longer-term bookings; it’s a day-to-day situation. Overnight stays are mostly individual cases involving skiers who are staying just for one night. The new snowfall and continuation of the ski season haven’t significantly improved the situation for private accommodations compared to when skiing was unavailable on Bjelasica,” the Association commented.

They noted that the last winter season ended with no recorded ski days and deep financial losses. This year, they anticipate being able to conclude the season at a break-even point. Owners of private accommodations seem to be relying on the upcoming summer tourist season to recuperate their winter losses.

SCG has not yet disclosed the losses incurred due to the weeks-long interruption caused by insufficient snow. However, it is evident that even with ample snowfall, visitors to the state ski center have not had access to the full range of ski infrastructure this winter. The K7 cable car remains non-operational after sustaining damage to the base of one of its pillars during the previous spring’s work by a private contractor, rendering it unsafe for use. This six-seater, built by the state at a cost of around nine million euros, links both the state and private ski resorts and serves 10 kilometers of trails. There has been no official announcement regarding the repair timeline or the extent of the damages incurred due to its inoperability.

The SCG Board of Directors revealed in early January that they are uncertain about the duration needed for remedial work around the K7’s fourth pillar and, consequently, when the cable car may resume operations. They clarified that, based on instructions from the Ministry of Tourism, the K7 cable car must remain deactivated until a satisfactory safety report is provided. Furthermore, they emphasized the need to investigate accountability for the damages to SCG’s infrastructure, stating that those responsible should reimburse both repair costs and any lost profits arising from the cable car’s inoperability throughout the winter tourist season.

The K7 cable car is not the sole facility that has remained inactive this season. Despite being installed six months ago, two types of ski lifts, “sidro” and “tanjir”, are still non-operational. Medenica has recently stated that they have been awaiting the completion of procedures for operational permits regarding this part of the ski infrastructure.

Last week, the Board of Directors expressed concern over perceived negligence by the Directorate for Capital Investments, the contractor, and oversight authorities regarding the delay in activating the two new lifts. They pointed out that the construction of the ski lifts was completed at the end of summer, yet as of now, no operational permit has been granted. They announced plans to reach out to Prime Minister Milojko Spajić in pursuit of resolving this issue promptly.

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