WASHINGTON, June 13 (UPI) -- A year after independence, Montenegro is stepping up efforts to lure more visitors to its shores.
The World Bank approved a $10 million loan late Tuesday to help the tiny Balkan nation develop its tourism sector. The money will be used to ensure good coastal zone management by keeping a lid on coastal degradation and encourage environmentally sound tourism at the same time.
The bank said that tourism contributes about 15 percent of the country's gross domestic product growth rate, as well as 15 percent of its employment, and is the second-largest source of foreign income.
One of the main bottlenecks for tourism development, however, has been insufficient water supply at the coast, which is one of the highest potential tourist destinations on the Adriatic Coast.
Montenegro joined the World Bank in January, having split from Serbia in May 2006.
