Four years under a padlock: The symbol of Montenegro is sliding towards disappearing from the tourist map
Sveti Stefan, once one of the symbols of Montenegro, is now closed and, unless something is done urgently, it is slowly sliding towards permanent disappearance from the tourist map, writes Vijesti from Podgorica.
Vladimir Mitrović, witness to the greatest success of the popular “Svec” and its director from 1969 to 1975, points out that the state needs to take over the city-hotel, invest money and restore it to its former glory.
He said this while commenting on the fact that this city hotel has been closed for the fourth year in a row and welcomes its 64th birthday with a padlock on the iron door.
A small fishing village in Pashtro, a medieval fortress that for centuries resisted the invasions of invaders, was transformed on July 13, 1960, by the decision of the then communist authorities, into a fashionable resort.
“Svetac” has become synonymous with luxury and prestige, and the world’s most famous movie stars, politicians, kings, emperors have stayed in it.
Unfortunately, the recent history of “St. Stefan” is written by the governments, starting with those led by Milo Đukanović, up to the governments since the fall of the DPS, ending with the last one by Milojko Spajić, writes Vijesti.
Sveti Stefan together with the Villa “Miločer” and the hotel “Kraljičina plaža”, which was demolished in the meantime and the construction of a new one with apartments for the market started in its place, was leased in 2007 to the company Adriatic Properties, which entrusted the management to the Aman brand.
A disaster for Montenegro
The conflict between the tenant and the Government, which escalated with an international arbitration in London worth a hundred million euros, has resulted in the closure of the popular resort for the fourth year, and there is little hope that guests will vacation on the island this summer.
“For four years, “Sveti Stefan” did not work, and it did not work for four years due to renovations, practically eight years. It is a disaster for Montenegro, for Budva, because the city-hotel is one, unique in the world, there is no such thing anymore. The French tried to imitate it, but they failed. We give an opportunity for someone who comes to Montenegro to say that if ‘Sveti Stefan’ is the best thing you have and if it is closed, then something is wrong here,” said Mitrović.
Mitrović points out that the best thing would be for the city-hotel to be taken over by the state and, as he says, bring it back to where it used to be. He points out that “Saint Stefan” should be returned to where he was when he plundered the whole world, when the emperor’s kings came, the guests were seen.
Source: News
Photo: Pixabay
Source: bizlife.rs
