Montenegro is known as the pearl of the Mediterranean, and is one of the most interesting places in the world. Although it covers only 14,000sq km, and is inhabited by a mere 620,000 citizens, its contribution to global cultural heritage far outstrips its size.
In the heart of the Med, Montenegro is one of the most southern European states and faces the Adriatic Sea. It has proved itself a safe, politically stable, and economically viable state with the potential for rapid growth. About 500km from Rome, 1,500km from Paris and Berlin, and 2,000km from Moscow, Montenegro lies on the Balkan Peninsula in the very heart of Europe.
International tourism accounted for 1,201,000 arrivals in Montenegro in 2011
Naturally beautiful
Montenegro is an ecological state, granting it a prime position on tourist maps, and making it a key medical tourism destination. With 180 sunny days on average, and plentiful snow in winter, the two most developed forms of tourism in Montenegro are beach-based and skiing. The average temperature is 27 degrees Centigrade in summer and around 13 degrees in winter.
Geographic diversity means Montenegro can offer a morning bath in the Mediterranean, and an afternoon skiing in the Alps. The sea, the lakes, the canyons or the mountains let everyone decide the best way to enjoy a quality vacation. In one day, the curious traveller can have a coffee on one of the Budva Riviera’s numerous beaches, eat lunch to the sounds of birdsong on Skardar Lake, and dine by a fireplace on the slopes of the Durmitor Mountain. As a tourist destination, Montenegro has a lot to offer.
Visitors and investment
International tourism accounted for 1,201,000 arrivals in Montenegro in 2011. EU citizens, Americans, Canadians and Australians do not require a visa for trips up to 90 days. Russians and Ukrainians can visit Montenegro with a 30-day tourist visa.
Montenegro’s tax regime has also become one of the most competitive in the whole of Europe. With a nine percent corporate profit tax rate, companies operating in Montenegro enjoy not only a business-friendly environment but also an extremely low tax burden. This allows business-owners to maximise their operational profit.
In the Republic of Montenegro foreign investors can establish a company and invest under the same conditions as domestic persons. Foreign investors are encouraged to invest freely within any industry and to transfer all assets, including profits and dividends.
Medical tourism
This strong combination of favourable location and climate, beautiful natural surroundings and historical heritage, make Montenegro a perfect location for medical tourism. Hence, in 2011, Optimal, a modern private eyecare centre was established in the country’s capital Podgorica.
Optimal Day Hospital is a unique healthcare centre, specialising in ophthalmological microsurgery. It is dedicated to the research, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases. Optimal boasts the most innovative medical equipment, eminent Russian ophthalmic surgeons, and a patient-centred approach.
The fundamental values of the Optimal Day Hospital are inspired by its owner and CEO Milisav Zečević, who hails from Podgorica. Since the conception of Optimal, Zečević has had the support of his family and they are all fully dedicated to the hospital’s management. This approach to the business ensures patients are treated as members of the family. This is what makes Optimal so different; the company philosophy is to treat every client as a guest entering a family home – carefully, devotedly and with respect, and always providing the best quality.
Mr Zečević has always wanted to contribute to medicine in his home country. He decided to fulfil this goal by creating a hospital in Montenegro, giving the country new options for high-quality healthcare. Zeˇcevic´ had been in touch with the esteemed S N Fyodorov, founder of the world-famous Russian Institute of Eye Microsurgery – an eminent ophthalmological clinic in Russia and one of the best of its kind in the world. Zeˇcevic´’s acquaintance with Fyodorov encouraged him to create a similar eye-care institute in Podgorica.
Podgorica, as capital of Montenegro, is served by the main airport, which is just a 15-minute drive away. The nearest seacoast line is reachable in only 40 minutes. Before or after the treatment, patients can relax and enjoy such spectacular destinations as Budva, Kotor, St Stefan islet, the splendid marina Porto Montenegro and many others.
The best doctors
Dr Med Sc S Alpatov and Dr E Starunov, prominent Russian ophthalmic doctors from Fyodorov’s institute, lead the process of client care. They have long-running careers in Russia and are regular contributors to conferences in England, Germany, Holland, and Austria. They are also authors of many articles, books and experiments. They discovered and patented unique ways of treating different diseases of the eye, for which they have received international authorisation from ophthalmological authorities.
It’s exceptionally important that the doctors are always in Montenegro, so Optimal’s patients can contact their doctor at any time. The high quality of treatment is achieved not only through the professionalism of the team, but also thanks to the hospital’s most modern facilities. Zečević took care to source state-of-the-art medical equipment from leading manufacturers in Germany, Japan and the United States. These enable the use of all types of diagnostics of the eye, from the front and back, and allow Optimal’s doctors to explore parts of the eye that could not previously be observed. The equipment is computerised, minimising the possibilities of mistakes and providing the most precise results.
Optimal believes that high-level healthcare service should be provided at reasonable prices, so clients feel fully satisfied after every treatment. Hence, Optimal provides the most comfortable conditions for its patients.
