Frustrated residents in a popular holiday hotspot in Montenegro have urged their government to increase the local tourist tax to enter the “overwhelmed” town.
Like many other destinations on the continent, the charming town of Kotor has been struggling with a growing influx of tourists in recent years.
Thousands of visitors arrive daily on small boats, yachts and cruise ships, sparking concerns for the environment as well as disrupting the daily lives of the local community.
The surge in visitors has prompted residents to demand an increase on the €1 (85p) tourist tax holidaymakers coming in on cruise ships have to pay to enter the town.
The number of visitors on cruises represents the biggest concern, with 500 ships expected to have docked in Kotor’s small harbour by the end of the year.
Last week, approximately 5,000 tourists descended on the town as four cruise ships docked in the holiday hotspot regularly named one of Europe’s prettiest towns.
The town, which stands on the edge of a bay overlooking the Adriatic Sea, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has seen its popularity increase after parts of the James Bond film Casino Royale were filmed here in 2006.
But despite the economic boost tourism has brought to the town, its 23,000 residents have seen the pressure grow on them as costs continue to rocket and crowds routinely clog the narrow alleyways of their hometown.
Much like other European holiday hotspots like Majorca, Barcelona and Venice, housing costs and congestion are at the top of the list of concerns among the locals.
Speaking to The Independent, tourist organisation director Jovan Ristic said: “The life of our neighbours is becoming increasingly difficult during the tourist season.
“All similar tourist destinations are working on reducing or selecting passenger ships and seriously collecting excursion fees.”
Environmentalists have also raised the alarm about the impact uncontrolled cruise ship traffic could have on the area.
Milica Mandic, a scientific advisor at Montenegro’s Institute of Marine Biology, said: “Such a number of cruisers requires a study to determine the maximum environmental load.”
Venice introduced a new £4.27 fee on day-trippers arriving on particularly busy days in the hope of deterring some visitors from heading to the main island.
Earlier this year, Amsterdam announced it would ban cruise ships from docking in the Dutch capital by 2035 to curb overtourism and protect the city. Barcelona banned cruise ships from docking near the centre last year.
A new survey this week found nearly 50 percent of Italians are in favour of stricter rules to control and limit tourism in top cities such as Rome and Florence.
