Mountain real estate in focus of investors - Will Zlatibor, Kolašin and Jahorina become "mini Alps"?

In the past, the value of real estate on the mountain depended almost exclusively on the number of ski days during the winter, but in recent years that model has been changing rapidly. Investors are no longer building only for skiers, but for guests who come all year round, so in recent years the development of the mountains in the region has been followed by a strong investment cycle that includes new hotels, apartment complexes, wellness centers, congress facilities and summer tourist attractions.

The focus is no longer just on winter tourism, but on creating a destination that can generate traffic throughout the 12 months. It is also the key reason why the real estate market in the mountains is continuously growing.

- Zlatibor is one of the favorite destinations for visitors who in this tourist place can enjoy not only the natural beauty and clean air, but also numerous attractions, active vacations, theme parks, wellness and spa centers, modern hospitality and traditional local specialties. Today on Zlatibor, there are numerous accommodation facilities - from the most luxurious five-star hotels, which offer a high level of comfort and facilities for especially demanding guests, to homestay accommodation in private apartments, guest houses and rural tourist households. The destination has successfully positioned itself on the map of camping tourism, through the operation of the Zlatibor car camp, which allows guests to stay in a pleasant environment, in direct contact with nature - said TO Zlatibor for our portal.

All this, they say, makes Zlatibor attractive to different generations and different profiles of guests - from families with children, through athletes and recreationists, fans of camping tourism, to tourists looking for peace, nature, quality service or a more luxurious type of vacation.

The rapid and dynamic development of a destination also brings numerous challenges, and the Tourist Organization indicates that in the modern tourist market, continuous improvement of the offer is one of the key conditions for competitiveness. It is particularly important that Zlatibor continues to develop through new facilities, while preserving natural resources, the quality of life of the local community and the distinctive identity of the mountain.

- Rural tourism, gastronomy, local food, handicrafts, local products, numerous attractions in the surroundings, represent an important part of the identity of this destination and contribute to the authenticity of the entire tourist offer.

Speaking about the development of tourism in the coming years, the Zlatibor Tourist Office says that the focus will be on the further improvement of a unique tourist product, which combines nature, quality offer, diverse contents and rich programs for guests of all ages.

- Guests can enjoy the natural beauty of the mountain, active rest, walks and being in the fresh air, but also in the rich offer of content - from theme and amusement parks and numerous attractions, to authentic gastronomy, for which Zlatibor is recognizable - they say.

- The fact that Zlatibor offers almost limitless possibilities for active vacations gives special value to future development. Hiking and biking trails, hiking, paragliding, horseback riding, zip-line, activities on Tornik, adventure parks and numerous excursions in the surrounding areas allow guests to experience the destination in many different ways. Precisely such facilities prolong the stay of tourists, enrich the offer and additionally position Zlatibor as a mountain of active, healthy and year-round vacation - they explain.

The potential of Bjelasica and the wider region has been recognized by international media and investment analysts, who indicate that the Balkans are entering a new phase of mountain real estate development. While European mountain investment was dominated by the Alps for years, with markets such as Switzerland, France, Austria and Italy, these markets are now mature, expensive and limited for new investors. In this context, Southeast Europe stands out more and more as an alternative, thanks to lower entry costs, growing tourist demand and the development of year-round mountain destinations. Analyzes such as those reported by international portals emphasize that Montenegro, through projects like Kolašin Valleys, is becoming one of the most promising new mountain investment markets in Europe, with a combination of an open market, the euro as a currency and the status of a candidate for the EU.

Nevertheless, despite the strong investment momentum and the development of the highway that significantly shortened the road connection between Kolašin and Podgorica and the coast, the infrastructure still remains a key challenge. Communal systems, including water supply, sewerage and power networks, are still not fully ready to follow the dynamics of construction, which affects the pace of opening of certain facilities. Part of the already completed hotels in Bjelasica, although construction is complete, is still not operational due to the lack of basic infrastructure, which remains one of the main limitations in the further development of this investment cycle.