MOSCOW, October 22. /TASS/. The number of Russian tourists visiting Montenegro is expected to decline sharply, Russian Ambassador to Montenegro Alexander Lukashik said in an interview with TASS.

"According to estimates by non-governmental organizations, 70% of Montenegrin citizens support EU integration, with many expecting to improve their well-being through EU assistance programs. At the same time, it is no secret that most of them do not approve of further scaling back relations with Russia as the price of future EU membership," the diplomat said.

According to Lukashik, "representatives of the hotel and restaurant industry, property owners and tenants, and tour operators are particularly concerned, anticipating a sharp drop in revenues due to the projected decline in Russian tourist arrivals in Montenegro following the introduction of a visa requirement."

Earlier, Lukashik told TASS that Podgorica had officially notified Russia that it would introduce visa requirements for Russian citizens starting November 1.