The first international meeting of tourist operators “Meet Up Sarajevo 2019” gathered travel agencies from 100 countries on Friday to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s (BiH’s) capital Sarajevo.
More than 200 travel agencies had the opportunity to try BiH’s traditional dishes and coffee, and to get acquainted with tourist offer of BiH and Sarajevo.
“The city of Sarajevo has enriched the tourist facilities, reopened cable car riding to Trebevic Mountain and renovated museums,” Sarajevo Mayor Abdulah Skaka said prior the event, adding that this event will accelerate tourism growth and help the whole economy.
The travel agencies engaged in networking, exchange of experiences and new co-operation, and it was an opportunity for BiH tourism workers and hoteliers to connect directly with international companies.
Tour operators and guests visited on Friday some of the most attractive tourist locations in Sarajevo and met tourist operators from BiH in order to establish contacts and direct business communication, which will contribute to the overall tourist growth.
A total of 573,227 tourists visit Sarajevo in 2018, recording a 18.8 percent increase year-on-year.
Foreign tourists recorded an increase in arrivals by 18.1 percent or arrival of 498,885 tourists, and the growth of the number of overnight stays by 22.7 percent or 1.060.988 overnight stays.
Domestic tourists recorded an increase in arrivals by 24.2 percent or arrival of 74,342 tourists, and a rise in the number of overnight stays by 24.8 percent or 128,171 overnight stays.
“The absolute hit with arrivals in 2018 was achieved by Chinese tourists. It is ranked third in terms of number of arrivals and the sixth place by number of overnight stays,” Tourist Association of Canton Sarajevo said in a report.
In 2018, tourists from 167 countries visited Sarajevo, and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) put BH in top 10 destinations with the fastest growing number of visits.
(Photo FENA/Almir Razic)
