With support from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Tourism Organisation and the company One Montenegro have launched the campaign "Connect with Montenegro." As part of this campaign, tourists will be welcomed at border crossings with appropriate gifts and information about the destination.
The campaign kicked off this week at the two busiest border crossings, Dobrakovo and Debeli Brijeg, and will last a month. During this time, tourists crossing these borders will be greeted with refreshments and promotional gifts, including one-day cards with five gigabytes of internet and other items. This welcome gesture aims to satisfy tourists, encouraging them to promote the destination in Europe and worldwide. All tourists will also have the chance to participate in a prize draw organized by NTO of Montenegro and One Montenegro.
The main sponsor of the "Connect with Montenegro" initiative at these crossings is Aqua Bianca, with Wellbot as the campaign's partner.
Starting next week, the campaign will also cover Tivat Airport, in collaboration with Airports of Montenegro, and travelers will be greeted with a total of over 100,000 gifts.
Dr. Ana Tripković Marković, Director of the National Tourism Organization of Montenegro, explained that the primary goal of the initiative is to enhance the quality and experience of guests coming to Montenegro, as border crossings are the first point of contact for visitors.
"It is very important for us to show that we are good hosts and to make their first contact with Montenegro as pleasant as possible. Our promoters will be present at the border crossings, distributing symbolic gifts we have prepared and providing information about everything they need to know about Montenegro. This campaign aims to mitigate the negative effects of border crossing congestion and provide information for a worry-free stay in Montenegro. We believe this campaign will enhance travelers' experiences upon entering our country, improve tourists' knowledge, and help them truly connect with Montenegro in the right way. I hope that next year, with additional support from other institutions, we will expand this activity to other border crossings in our country," Tripković Marković said optimistically.
Senior Police Inspector First Class in the Border Control Department of the Border Police Sector, Aleksandar Mandić, believes that the campaign of distributing informational flyers and appropriate gifts to tourists is extremely positive and significantly contributes to the promotion and branding of Montenegro in Europe and the world. He noted that there has been a noticeable increase in passenger traffic at all border crossings this year.
"The total passenger traffic in June across all border crossings in Montenegro was 2,647,888, while vehicle traffic was 657,566. Compared to the statistics from June 2023, this represents an 18 percent increase in passenger entries and a 15 percent increase in vehicle traffic. In July, there were 1,347,563 passengers registered at the entry points, reflecting the same 18 percent increase I've mentioned. This trend continues across all parameters for July, and we hope to see an overall increase of about four to five percent," Mandić said.
Branko Mitrović, the CEO of One, stated that the company, as a network that its users can always rely on, is opening its doors to tourists at the border crossings with Serbia and Croatia. Recognizing the significant role mobile operators play in creating a tourist offering, they enable guests to connect with their loved ones and immediately send the most important message: "We have arrived, everything is fine."
"I would particularly like to highlight that, as we see in our network, there are always tourists who are enamored with our coast and impressive mountains, and return to Montenegro again and again. This gesture expresses gratitude for our traditional hospitality and connection with our country. This makes the connection between a sincere welcome, kind words, and gratitude so clear, which together and connected form the essence of our joint initiative. That's why we say, 'Connect with Montenegro'!" Mitrović said.
Tourists who received gifts and flyers from promoters at the Debeli Brijeg border crossing were initially surprised and then delighted.
Denis from Germany, who will be vacationing in Ulcinj, said he loves visiting Montenegro and was especially pleased to be greeted with gifts upon entering the country. He activated the 5 GB internet card immediately.
A tourist from Poland, visiting Montenegro for the first time, said she feels more than welcome and that the printed materials containing information about tourist sites, cultural offerings, and entertainment events will help her decide which destinations to visit and get to know the country better.
