Europe

Less than two months after its first case was detected, Montenegro became the first country in Europe to declare itself free of the coronavirus, and it hopes to attract tourists to its stunning Adriatic coast this summer. In the coastal areas of this small Balkan nation, hotel staff have been scouring the sand for weeks on beaches deserted by the visitors who usually flock to them at the end of spring. But hope has returned since authorities announced that Montenegro has not recorded a single new locally transmitted case of COVID-19 since May 5 and no longer has any active cases. "A safe destination" "Let me take off my mask," Prime Minister Duško Marković exclaimed on Monday, announcing the good news in a country where tourism accounts for 20% of GDP and employment. "As of today, Montenegro is a special place, thanks to the results it has achieved in its fight against an invisible and unknown enemy," Marković added. Tourism companies seized the opportunity, posting photos of the turquoise waters and stunning mountain scenery of this leading European tourist destination free of COVID-19. "Safety is what people are looking for most," Ana Niveš Radović, director of the Kotor Tourism Association, told AFP. This medieval resort town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a prime destination for beach lovers and boasts that it has not recorded a single case of the novel coronavirus. Since the first case of the virus ten weeks ago, the country of 630,000 inhabitants has recorded fewer than 300 infections and nine deaths. Strict Hygiene Measures Radović emphasizes that people want a destination where they feel safe and secure. Nataša Spirić-Smiljanić, owner of two hotels overlooking picturesque coves, points to the implementation of strict hygiene measures in an effort to attract back the French tourists who usually flock to the area. “We are prepared in terms of hygiene, we have established new standards, and we have the necessary space,” Natasha told AFP, referring to the implementation of social distancing rules. However, she noted that there are no high hopes for a significant increase in visitor numbers. The recovery of tourism already appears to be complex, with the World Tourism Organization predicting a collapse of between 60% and 80% in the number of international tourists. Uncertainty remains regarding the conditions for reopening borders in Europe during the easing of lockdowns, as well as the resumption of air travel. Montenegro is expected to attract far fewer tourists than last year, when it welcomed 2.6 million – more than four times its population. Initially, Montenegro will only open its doors to tourists from countries deemed safe, meaning those with fewer than 25 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. While this applies to Croatians, Austrians, and Greeks, tourists from Britain and Russia, which are major sources of visitors to Montenegro, are not expected to return soon. Croatia: A Second “Safe” Destination Kai Diekmann, General Manager of the luxurious Regent Porto Montenegro Hotel, says: “I am sure that our first wave of guests will be from Croatia.”