Camping tourism in Europe reached record levels last year, according to data from the Eurocampings.nl portal, which reported more than 20 million online searches for camping accommodations for the first time.
That marked an 11% increase compared to 2024, while online bookings rose 30%. Across the European Union, 3.08 billion overnight stays were recorded, with 413 million, or 13%, attributed to campsites. The figures reflect sustained growth in camping as a segment of the broader tourism market.
In Montenegro, comprehensive official statistics for the sector remain limited. However, the Camping Association of Montenegro, founded in 2023, said 2025 was a strong year, with more arrivals and longer stays.
Veselin Bajčeta, executive director of the association, said the organization was created because “the camping sector in Montenegro did not have an organization that would represent the interests of campsites and the camping community. It was important to connect the owners of the campsites and the campers themselves, enthusiasts who travel with campers and promote Montenegro as a destination.”
The association now gathers more than 70 members and states that its network represents most of the country’s active camping supply. Bajčeta said its strategic goals include raising standards in line with European practices, promoting Montenegro internationally as a camping destination, improving the business environment, and developing a national network of camping stops.
“We have become members of the World Camping Federation, and since March we have been a full member of the European Camping Association,” he said, adding that the group is working with the Ministry of Tourism to improve regulations and service quality.
Montenegro currently has more than 50 registered campsites, though Bajčeta noted that “due to ambiguities in administration and procedures, their exact number, however, is unknown.” The association is working to standardize records and improve mapping of campsites to provide clearer sector data.
He said sustainability is becoming central to competitiveness. “Sustainability in camping is no longer an added value, but is becoming a basic condition for competitiveness in the market,” Bajčeta said.
He cited the “Green Transformation of Camp Ilijin Vir” project, which introduced renewable water-heating systems, automatic lighting sensors, rainwater collection, and selective waste disposal.
According to the association, these measures reduced energy and water consumption by about 30%. The camp also participated in the European Cross-domain Open Innovation Programme, alongside about 80 projects from five EU countries and Montenegro.
Geographically, Montenegro benefits from its position along the Adriatic route toward Albania and Greece and between several Balkan countries. Bajčeta said that in 2025, higher campsite prices in Croatia and restrictions on so-called free camping in Greece redirected some demand to Montenegro.
The camping season typically begins in April and can extend through November, with May, June, July, and September generating the most overnight stays. Early and late-season demand is often driven by retirees from Western and Central Europe, while July and August see stronger family travel from the region.
At the same time, challenges remain. Bajčeta pointed to pressure on coastal land use, infrastructure gaps, and electricity stability issues in some municipalities.
“Without a clear spatial policy and support for small camps, we can hardly keep up with the region in the long term,” he said. He added that improved road access, signage, service zones for motorhomes, and streamlined administrative procedures would be critical to sustaining growth.
For campground and RV park operators in other markets, Montenegro’s trajectory offers several takeaways: the importance of coordinated industry representation, early adoption of sustainability measures that deliver measurable cost savings, diversification beyond peak-season demand, and collaboration with government on infrastructure and regulatory clarity.
As European camping demand continues to expand, secondary and emerging destinations may find opportunities in positioning around season extension, smaller-scale developments, and integration with local communities.