Montenegro Coastal Residents Denied Access to Beaches
Residents of Sveti Stefan and Pržno in Montenegro are reporting continued denial of access to local beaches and complexes. They claim that despite being locals, they are being prevented from entering areas they have historically used. The local community council has stated they will not provide a list of residents to the beach concessionaire, "Aman," asserting that access to parts of the beaches should be free for all. "Aman" claims that they have designated some beach areas as open but have not received a list of eligible locals. Consequently, "Aman" suggests that security guards will have to identify residents themselves to grant them entry. This situation highlights a dispute over public access rights versus private concession management along the Montenegrin coast.
The conflict between local access rights and private concession management at Sveti Stefan and Pržno beaches exemplifies a common tension in tourism-dependent economies. As coastal areas become privatized for exclusive resort use, the historical rights of local communities can be eroded, leading to public dissatisfaction and potential legal challenges. The proposed solution of guards identifying locals is impractical and prone to arbitrary enforcement, undermining clear access policies. Moving forward, robust legal frameworks are needed to balance the economic benefits of tourism concessions with the fundamental right of public access to natural resources, ensuring equitable distribution of benefits and preventing the alienation of local populations.
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