Montenegro is predicted to lose between 25 and 30 percent of its Russian tourists after introducing a visa requirement, travel executive Maya Kotlyar told Radio Komsomolskaya Pravda.
The Balkan country introduced its new visa regime for Russian citizens on 1 November 2026. Kotlyar, the founder and head of the custom travel company Mayel Travel, said that while it is too early to write off Montenegro completely as a destination, Russian tourist traffic to the country is forecast to drop by 25 to 30 percent.
Speaking to Radio Komsomolskaya Pravda, also known as Radio KP, Kotlyar noted that there has been no direct air service to Montenegro for a long time, with the absence of direct flights now in its fifth year. Because Russian travellers must take connecting flights with layovers to reach the country, she said Montenegro is no longer a mass market holiday destination.
Travel costs and visa barriers in Montenegro
Kotlyar added that Montenegro ceased to be a cheap destination for Russian holidaymakers long ago in terms of both flight tickets and accommodation. She emphasised that difficulties with visa application procedures have now been added to those high travel and lodging expenses, which will lead to the drop in visitor numbers.
According to Kotlyar, the introduction of visas is a serious barrier for ordinary holidaymakers. She concluded that the people still flying from Russia to Montenegro will mainly be those who own real estate and hold residence permits there, travellers with family ties in the country, and the destination's most dedicated fans.
Russian retaliatory visas for Montenegro citizens
Montenegro is a Southeastern European country on the Adriatic coast of the Balkan Peninsula, bordered by Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, and Albania. Its Adriatic coastline makes international tourism a major sector of the national economy, while an official residence permit allows foreign nationals to live in the country without needing a short-term tourist visa.
Following Montenegro's decision to introduce a visa regime for Russian nationals on 1 November 2026, Russia announced a retaliatory measure. Authorities in the Russian Federation stated that citizens of Montenegro will be required to obtain visas to enter Russia starting on 30 December.
