Montenegro to lure the Med superyacht market

12:18 AM Mon 23 Feb 2009 GMT

'Montenegro enjoyed superstar status in the 50s and 60s and plans to regain its sheen through five-star tourism.' . Click Here to view large photo

Fans of the Med are looking forward to a new place to park their superyachts. Porto Montenegro plans to offer the world's yacht owners exactly what they need most - ultra generous berths.

To accommodate the growing number of super-yachts, which has more than tripled over the past 10 years, Porto Montenegro will be constructed on the site of a former navel base at Tivat in the Bay of Kotor on the Adriatic.

Its aim is to become the number one home away from home and home port for yachts, no matter what their size. Included in the plans for the marina is a new community of waterfront homes, hotels, cafes, shops and restaurants.

Back in its heyday of the 50s and 60s, Montenegro was the favoured retreat for Hollywood stars like Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor and Kirk Douglas. UnderYugoslav and Serbian rule its appeal dulled somewhat, and these days, the small state is relatively unknown save for a steady stream of backpackers and history buffs.

Three years ago, Montenegro regained its independence, through peaceful negotiation and it is now enjoying stable democratic rule and an open economy. The government is focused on high-end tourism to stimulate jobs. Major five-star hotel brands, among them Four Seasons, Kempinski and Aman Resorts have committed to building hotels there.

Chief investor, Hungarian-born Peter Munk's vision was created from his own personal experience as a boat owner. 'Yachts are getting bigger and bigger and people are complaining that they can't find proper berths for them. That's no problem in Tivat. It used to cater for warships.'

More at www.visit-montenegro.com

by Jeni Bone

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