Visit-Montenegro.com: Nenezic: We are on the right track towards high quality tourism

Budva – The Russian Corporation “Metropol” sealed a deal with the world-renowned hotel brand “Banyan Tree Holding Limited” on management over the future summer resort which is to be built on Sveti Marko Island near Tivat.

After the presentation of an ambitious project of integrated summer resort worth nearly half a billion Euro (at a rough estimate) held in the congress room of the hotel “Splendid” in Becici, the agreement was signed in the presence of the Tourism Minister- Predrag Nenezic by the General Director of “Metropol”- Mikhail Slipenchuk and the Managing Director for hotel operations of “Banyan Group”- Bernold Schroeder.

Slipenchuk refused to disclose any information regarding the amount of money paid for the island or how much the company intends to invest in the project and he said that as soon as they get the permission they will start with the project implementation.

He described Sveti Marko Island as the jewel of Montenegrin economy and tourism.
- This jewel will get its final polish today ahead of the project implementation – asserts Slipenchuk who is an ecologist and PhD in Geography.

He remarks that the island suffers from soil erosion and unless some measures are undertaken its dimensions will be significantly changed.

Slipenchuk adds that the appearance of Sveti Marko Island will undergo slight changes and for this particular reason the company “Banyan Group” was selected as a partner whose mission is to maintain harmony between the island and nature.

Representative of “Banyan Tree” Bernold Schroeder says that finalizing the agreement between “Banyan Tree” and “Metropol” is highly anticipated since it leads to opening of the fabulous Resort and Spa Center on Sveti Marko Island.

- “Banyan” was founded 15 years ago and the company is focused on building small hotels which reflect the local culture and blend seamlessly into natural surroundings. We began business as a bank founded in 1994 and afterwards we expanded our business into building hotels and cooperation with tourism operators. Today the “Group” owns and operates 35 hotels and 69 spa centers in Europe, Asia and America. Our network of hotels and spa centers is growing and according to the plans we will have 60 hotels and 120 spa centers by 2012. Despite the financial crisis, 2009 will be a good year for us and we intend to open centers in Mexico, Thailand, China and Bahrain. The center built on Sveti Marko Island will comprise features of harmony between the physical and spiritual with the emphasis on the holistic balance. “Banyan Group” is dedicated to development of sustainable tourism and the company has high level of social responsibility. We are eagerly waiting for the beginning of the project – Schroeder declares.

The Minister Nenezic remarks that “this is an important day for tourism in Montenegro”.

- Montenegro committed itself to development of high quality tourism, which is supported not only by the tourism development strategy but also by the national strategy for sustainable development of Montenegro. Over the past ten years, we have been building Montenegro as high quality tourism destination, brick by brick. Today it cannot be denied that Montenegro is marching decidedly towards its goal. Coming of the financially powerful owner who is fully dedicated to transforming Sveti Marko Island into an elite tourism resort marks an important moment for tourism industry in Montenegro, and particularly in the area of the Bay of Kotor. I am convinced that the Russian company “Metropol” is a good strategic partner – Nenezic observes.


Artificial peninsula as protection

During the presentation of the project, the Director General of the “Metropol” - Oleg Korol said that the six-star hotel will be built on the island. There will be 120 rooms (60 suits) in the central part of the hotel and 60 bungalows along the inlet.

- On the western and eastern side we plan to build villas and a zone with boutiques, shops and restaurants. According to the plan, the entrance to the island should be constructed and it would serve as protection and at the same time it would allow easy access to the island in any time of the year. On that point there is a sunken reef now but one of our ideas is to build an artificial peninsula Palazzo in that location. This artificial peninsula would serve a number of purposes – one of them would be to protect the island and we also plan to build exclusive Miami-style villas there. This part of peninsula can be developed and covered by greenery and thus look like extension of the green part of the island when observed from Tivat.

His associate Yuriy Vodopyanov said that more than one fifth of the island’s land will not comprise buildings and when asked how many apartments and villas will be built for the market he replied the following:
- This is an integrated resort and in accordance with the world’s best practice it will belong to the major owner while those who buy villas will be able to rent them by the means of hotel operators.


By V.L.