The number of visits and overnight stays by domestic and foreign guests in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (HNC) has drastically increased compared to last year, as was confirmed by the Tourist Board of the HNC.
During the first six months of this year, there were 70.764 arrivals, of which 35.442 were guests from other cities of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and 35.442 – guests from other countries. In the same period, 148.139 overnight stays were achieved, including 70.338 domestic guests and 77.801 foreign guests.
”When compared to the first six months of last year, the increase in the number of arrivals in percentage amounts to 233.06 percent. The increase in the number of BiH guests was 163.75 percent, and foreign guests were 403.11 percent. The total number of overnight stays increased by 258.64 percent. The number of domestic guests staying the night in Mostar increased by 179.32 percent, and the number of guests from abroad staying overnight increased by 431 percent,” said Ramiz Basic, senior expert advisor at the Tourist Board of the HNC.
Among the foreign guests, those from the countries of the region dominate.
“The largest number of guests come from Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia, followed by Saudi Arabia and Turkey, from which a large number of guests also come, as well as tourists from European Union (EU) countries,” Basic adds.
Tourists mostly leave positive reviews and the Tourist Board does not receive many complaints. Previously, there were complaints about begging or garbage on the streets of Mostar, but these problems are less pronounced this year.
One of the problems faced by tourism workers in Herzegovina is the collection of residence tax. Basic says that the Tourist Board does not know whether and to what extent the tourist tax is being avoided at the moment, and more details about this problem regarding this year will be known at the end of the season, Federalna writes.
E.Dz.
