Inflation and market disruptions have led to a decline in tourist arrivals, as well as an increase in the prices of services in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Authorities warn that urgent action is needed to adapt to the new situation, primarily through the opening of borders and the seasonal abolition of visas for tourists from the Gulf countries.
There has been a noticeable decline in arrivals, but also the cancellation of previously planned visits. In such circumstances, the tourism sector is seeking concrete measures to mitigate the negative consequences of the global crisis.
Decline in arrivals
Statistical indicators that previously recorded an increase in income from the Gulf countries are now, due to global events, on the border between expected and real. The opening of air traffic and the abolition of visas are highlighted as key solutions.
Elmedin Konaković, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina said that the problem is partly technical in nature. “We had an incorrect publication in the Official Gazette by the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers. I hope that we will resolve this issue soon and allow tourists with whom we do not have security challenges to come again,” Konaković said.
Cancelled arrangements
In addition to the decrease in arrivals, the Tourist Board is also warning about the cancellation of arrangements not only from the Middle East, but also from Far Asia. Multi-million investments are being made in promoting potential. This year alone, the Tourist Board of the Sarajevo Canton has allocated 3.5 million BAM for direct flights.
“People fleeing war conflicts are finding refuge in hotels in Sarajevo. In the last two years, we have allocated more than 10 million BAM,” said the president of the Tourist Board of the Sarajevo Canton, Haris Fazlagić.
The Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism says that it is necessary to work on developing new strategies aimed at a wider market, because our country has great potential for this in its significant cultural and historical heritage and connecting the East and the West.
“There is something to offer every tourist who wants to spend their vacation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The focus in the coming period should be on these markets,” emphasized Farida Cikotić, Assistant Minister of Environment and Tourism of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
There are no raw materials arriving from the Gulf countries to Bosnia and Herzegovina, but tourists could arrive in greater numbers and mitigate the current decline in tourism. A prerequisite for this is the abolition of visas for Gulf countries. In Baščaršija, in the heart of Sarajevo, there are noticeably fewer tourists than usual, and the occupancy of accommodation capacities has also decreased.
Citizens and tourism workers state that guests from European countries dominate, while tourists from the Gulf countries are significantly less present.
“Most of them are from Turkey, there are also guests from China and other Eastern countries, but there are fewer tourists from Arab countries,” said one of the surveyed citizens.
Others point out that currently the most numerous guests are from the region and Europe. “Now, most of the guests are local – from Serbia and Slovenia, but there are also Italians and Spaniards,” said the interviewee.
Among tourists who have already been to Sarajevo, the impressions are positive. “We have visited several really beautiful destinations and we are enjoying this city,” said a tourist from Italy.
Joint measures from the state level, through the entity level to the cantonal level, can ensure better use of the tourism potential that our country has.
