The Olympic Center Jahorina has announced ambitious plans for the 2025/2026 winter season, with special focus on regional cooperation, infrastructure improvements and a more competitive tourism offer, according to a press conference held in Podgorica.
The Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Olympic Center Jahorina, Nedeljko Elek, stated that an agreement has been signed with Ski Resorts of Montenegro, marking a significant step towards the establishment of a unified regional ski pass.
“What is important for our friends and citizens of Montenegro is that today we signed an agreement with Ski Resorts of Montenegro. This means that a ski pass purchased at Kolašin will also be valid at Jahorina, and since we already have an agreement with Ski Resorts of Serbia, it will also be valid at Kopaonik,” Elek said at the conference where the Olympic Center and the local tourism industry presented their activities and new developments.
He added that an initiative has been launched to introduce one ski pass for the entire region, which would be valid across all ski resorts in Serbia, Montenegro, Republika Srpska, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia.
“The goal is to connect, because the competition is truly enormous and it is difficult for us to compete with more developed privately-owned ski centers in Italy and Austria, while our ski resorts in Montenegro, Republika Srpska and Serbia are state-owned and therefore face many barriers,” Elek emphasized.
Ahead of the season, Jahorina continues to invest intensively in artificial snowmaking systems, ensuring a reliable and stable winter season regardless of weather conditions. According to plans, between 60% and 70% of the mountain’s ski capacities will be covered with artificial snow by late December.
“The mountain is fully ready for artificial snowmaking. One slope – the main slope – is already operating, and by December 31st we will have around 60% to 70% of the mountain covered with artificial snow, which means we can guarantee skiing regardless of natural snowfall,” Elek noted.
He also stressed that Jahorina remains one of the most competitive ski resorts in the region and in Europe.
“The price of a ski pass at Jahorina is twice as cheap as anywhere in the EU. For ten days of skiing at Jahorina, in the EU you might not even afford four. People often say they paid €300 for accommodation for seven days in France, but when you ask how long it takes to get to the gondola, they say an hour by shuttle. That means they were an hour away from the ski resort, while here for that same amount of money they could stay 300 meters from the gondola and ski for €25 a day,” Elek said.
Special attention was given to the importance of regional cooperation in tourism, especially with Montenegro, as well as the need to improve road infrastructure and reduce waiting times at border crossings, recognized as one of the key constraints on further tourism growth.
“Connections between Montenegro, Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina are still quite poor and this is an area where a lot needs to be done. Apart from that, there are no major issues.
A unified presence on third markets is crucial – joint promotion, especially of these border-area products such as rafting on the Tara River, which is closely tied to the Montenegro border. You have tourists on both sides and there is great interest among visitors spending their summer holidays in Montenegro to use a day or two for rafting or visiting a national park, but waiting 4–5 hours at the border makes all of it pointless,” Elek pointed out.
The President of the Jahorina Hoteliers Association, Aleksandar Prović, highlighted that Jahorina enters the season with a diverse offer, a rich entertainment program and more affordable prices, especially in the early season, aimed at further strengthening its position for regional guests.
Prović added that hotel operators and the Olympic Center have introduced joint package deals this season with significant discounts, particularly during off-peak periods.
“This year we created special packages that we launched already in December, forming a unified offer for the entire market. During off-peak periods we offered discounts of up to 50%. As Nedeljko mentioned, daily ski passes are already available from €25, and in the pre-season the price is reduced by 50%,” Prović said.
He emphasized that discounted prices are not limited to hoteliers, but are also offered by ski schools, rental services and other operators. Numerous concerts featuring regional music stars will be held in hotels throughout January and February, accompanying the ski offer.
“I would like to invite everyone who has not yet made reservations or perhaps did not plan to visit Jahorina this winter, to come and visit us. During January and February, in addition to skiing, you will be able to enjoy evening entertainment programs and performances by many regional stars that have already been announced,” Prović added.
Source: RTCG