Montenegro is aiming to get ahead of other tourism hotspots this summer after becoming the first European country to declare itself COVID-19 free.

Often in the shadow of Croatia, the Balkan country, which boasts a picturesque Adriatic coastline, is optimistic that this year's tourism season hasn't been destroyed by the coronavirus.

Less than two months after detecting its first case, it is now free from COVID-19, having recorded a total of 320 cases and nine deaths. 

The country's secretary of state for tourism, Damir Davidovic, is in upbeat mood looking to the summer.

"We cannot expect this season to be like the previous one," he said. "But I believe it is possible to achieve a much better result than the pessimistic forecasts we had just recently."

However, Montenegro will remain cautious and it will only allow in people from countries that have no more than 25 cases per 100,000 people.