Montenegro’s travel and tourism industry (T&T) is expected to generate EUR 730 million (USD 1.02 billion) of economic activity in 2009 equivalent to 20.8 per cent of the Adriatic country’s GDP, 0.7 per cent up from a year earlier, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) said.

The contribution of Montenegrin T&T sector to the country’s GDP is expected to rise by an average 6.2 per cent per year over the coming 10 years to EUR 1.791,5 billion in 2019, equivalent to 25.6 per cent of country’s GDP, WTTC said in a report.

Exports earning from international visitors and tourism goods are expected to generate EUR 565.8 million in 2009, 41.5 per cent of total exports, and to grow to nominal EUR 2.071 billion in 2019, the report said.

The contribution of T&T economy to employment is expected to rise from 29,000 in 2009, or 17.8 per cent of total employment in Montenegro to 41,000 jobs, or 23 per cent of total employments by 2019.