However, they expect the Government to disclose the agreed contract with the tenant as soon as possible, so that all financial and other details about the Kraljičina plaza complex are known. Mrdović is of the opinion that the state's profit should be tied to business income, so that the tenants do not often show the full amount of the profit that is being paid out.
The information published after the Government session is incomplete, so it would be better to wait until the Settlement Agreement reached with the tenant of Sveti Stefan is disclosed.
This was assessed by Professor Ivo Županović and Ines Mrdović from the Action for Social Justice (ASP).
"As an economist, I would like to have more data on that contract, in terms of seeing how much and whether the financial performance has improved," he says.
Mrdović believes that the Government is obliged to publish all documentation regarding the latest agreement.
"And to finally tell the citizens how much the arbitration claim was. Was it a hundred million or more, if it was more, then clearly tell us how much more it was," says Mrdović.
The good news, our interlocutors agree, is that, according to the announcement, the symbol of Montenegrin tourism, Sveti Stefan, will be open this tourist season.
"I say this from a marketing and promotional perspective, it's great news," he says.
"So the positive news for the upcoming tourist season is that Svetac will be open, if of course it actually happens," says Mrdović.
If there is an agreement with the local community, it gives the entire process more quality, says Županović.
"Given that sustainable tourism is always a combination of economic, ecological and sociological aspects, we are talking about the local population," he points out.
The negative news, Mrdović believes, is the extension of the lease for five years and the approval of the tenant to build 66 apartments in the Kraljičina plaza complex, which was decided a decade ago.
"So, DPS allowed the Kraljičina plaza condo hotel, and now it's with this agreement, at least according to what has been publicly announced and confirmed," he points out.
Mrdović positively assesses that the rent price will be adjusted to inflation, but he notes that it was necessary to agree on 10 percent of business income, not profit.
"Because the company that manages Sveti Stefan and Budvanse hotels, not only does not have any reported profits, but at the end of 2024 it had almost 270 million in accumulated debt. So, if you want to make a certain profit, then you will tie it to annual business income because it is always made, and your profit is always on a seesaw and hanging somewhere in the air," says Mrdović.
As a reminder, after the Government session, it was announced that a proposed settlement agreement in the proceedings before the International Court of Justice in London had been adopted. Prime Minister Milojko Spajić assessed that the formal conditions for the opening of the city hotel this season have been met. The companies Aman and Adriatic Properties are satisfied that the settlement agreement has been concluded.
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