Bar, (MINA-BUSINESS) – The Municipality of Bar welcomed the Government’s decision to declare the year-round air service connecting Podgorica and Bari a public service obligation route in air transport.

“The Municipality of Bar, whose twin city is Bari, nominated this route to the Ministry of Transport in November last year to be declared a priority and a route of public interest,” the local administration stated in a press release.

According to the press release, the cancellation of the traditional Bar–Bari–Bar ferry service resulted in the loss of one of the most important links with that part of Europe, significantly reducing the number of passengers and tourists, as well as the level of economic activity between that important market, Bar, and the country as a whole.

“As a market of 60 million people, Italy is Montenegro’s largest neighbouring country and one of the most important member states of the European Union, which Montenegro aspires to join,” the press release stated, adding that it holds great development potential.

The Municipality of Bar expects that the new air route will partially compensate for the decline in tourist arrivals and business exchanges from this market and help strengthen the competitiveness of Bar, as well as the Montenegrin coast and the country overall.