The Public Company for Coastal Zone Management needs to reevaluate the rental fees for beach areas, particularly on Sveti Nikola Island near Budva, where prices have soared compared to those set in a tender five years ago, despite Školje lacking water, electricity, and sewage facilities.

Andrija Vuksanović, the former tenant of the beach on the southern side of Budva Island, told “Vijesti” that they feel discriminated against because the beach lacks basic conditions. They are compelled to construct a wooden platform each season for guests, while it is designated as a beach on Slovenska plaža that has complete infrastructure and a significantly longer operating season.

The tender issued by Morsko dobro on February 17th, with bid submissions opening on March 10th, also featured a bathing area labeled 5C – a public family beach that is 85 meters in length.

According to the public announcement, there is the option to install a 42×7 meter sunbathing pontoon, providing a total area of 513 square meters with an additional 294 square meters, at an initial price of €28,035.50.

Vuksanović pointed out that this starting price is six times higher than in 2019, when the beach was leased for €4,800.

“We continually want to inform the public that the beach remains completely undeveloped—rocky and hard to access. Each summer we must enhance it by building a boardwalk, a task that requires daily work for a month. We use around 300 kilograms of nails. There’s no disputing that the beach is 800 square meters. We are then required to dismantle this structure by the end of August because, unlike tenants on Slovenska plaža or other areas of the Budva Riviera, our season barely lasts a month and a half. Sometimes, we question whether it even lasts that long, as rain or southern winds prevent tourists from reaching the island by boat,” he stated.

He emphasized that the beach lacks both water and electricity, forcing them to transport 1,500 liters from Budva daily.

“Additionally, the waste disposal issue remains unresolved. We must also transport waste to the port by boat, where we then discard it into containers. This is why we are puzzled that this section of the island is considered luxurious and compared to Budva’s most attractive beaches, where the season lasts for half a year,” Vuksanović highlighted.

He urged the Coastal Zone management to reconsider the rental prices and address their valid concerns regarding Sveti Nikola Island.

The Budva Catering Association believes that the tender for beach leases has been unduly delayed and suggests postponing it to November 1st, while proposing that existing contracts be extended to ensure the season isn’t jeopardized.

“The timeline for the public tender is too short for obtaining the necessary documentation, especially the bank guarantees. Following the bid opening and evaluation—which could take weeks depending on the bids—an eight-day appeal period follows. If the current tenant submits a lower bid and loses, they must return the site to its original condition, which requires at least two weeks,” the Association explained.

They also noted that the new tenant must submit urban planning and technical specifications, a conceptual design, and various approvals within ten days of signing the contract with the Coastal Zone, which can be a lengthy process.

“We are acutely aware of the time involved in obtaining each of these documents,” stated the Budva Catering Association.

Following high interest, the Public Company for Coastal Zone Management (JPMD) announced an extension of the documentation submission deadline for all tenders by seven days.

The bid opening for 96 Budva beaches was initially set for March 3rd but has now been rescheduled for March 10th.

“The tender process for leasing portions of the coastal zone is proceeding effectively, with substantial interest from applicants, highlighting the significance and appeal of the locations offered. To ensure thorough implementation, we’ve employed all necessary measures and resources available within the Public Company, enabling timely, transparent, and effective execution of the tender,” emphasized the Coastal Zone management.

Minister of Spatial Planning, Urbanism, and State Property Slaven Radunović previously stated that they expect to generate at least €15 million from leasing maritime properties this year, potentially doubling that figure to €30 million.

“We are generating significant revenue for the state while working to eliminate discrimination against citizens,” Radunović remarked at the time.

In mid-February, the Government approved an updated initial fee schedule for the use/lease of maritime domains, refining existing pricing, outlining lease proposals, and adjusting the Program for Temporary Facilities within the Maritime Domain for the period 2024-2028.

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