The summer tourist season in Neum is entering its most intense period. Despite accommodation prices rising by five to ten percent, tourist interest remains strong. Director of the Tourist Community Neum, Nikola Prkačin, told N1 that occupancy is satisfactory and that he expects a successful continuation of the summer.
In recent years, as he explained, a slightly lower occupancy trend has been noted in the first week of July, as some guests opt for the pre-season while others arrive only after July 10, when the peak summer begins.
“Today is the weekend, and Neum is quite full, and we are hoping, expecting that the rest of the season will be really good,” Prkačin said.
As in previous years, he emphasized that most guests in private accommodation during July and August will be citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosnia and Herzegovina diaspora.
“Neum still offers the best value for money, and there are no complications regarding crossing the border. Neum is easily accessible and, we belive, affordable,” he said.
Regarding foreign tourists, guests from France and Poland lead in numbers, as well as from other Western European Countries.
The cooperation with the French tour operator is particularly significant, as it brings a large number of guests to two major hotels in Neum throughout the year.
Speaking about prices, Prkačin confirmed that accommodation and hospitality services have increased by five to ten percent, depending on the establishment category, but he believes this has not affected tourist interest.
“We have one issue, the uncertainty due to the situation in the world and inflation, so people give up luxury first. Tourism, to be realistic, is a luxury, but for now we have no reason to worry,” he said.
He added that Neum remains competitive regarding the three nearest destinations in Croatia and Montenegro.
Commenting on prices that can reach up to 250 BAM per night for a four-member family apartment, while hotel accommodation costs around 200 BAM per person, Prkačin believes that Neum will not become unaffordable for domestic tourists.
“Neum will always be accessible to guests from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Neum is a traditional destination for citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it will remain so. We are the closest, we are the only seaside town in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and we see no reason to become unaffordable for ordinary citizens,” he pointed out.
One of the major challenges for tourism workers this year remains the lack of early bookings and the more prominent last-minute trend, present across Europe.
“People follow the situation in the world, gas prices, and inflation, so they decide in the last minute where they will reside. We must adjust to working in such conditions and be ready to act on the spot,” Prkačin said.
As the greatest advantages of Neum, he singled out a clear sea, good transport connectivity, quality gastronomic offer, and affordable prices compared to the destination’s competitiveness.
“Neum truly has, I believe, the cleanest sea in the Adriatic. We offer quality food and still unbeatable prices compared to surrounding destinations, with quality service,” he said.
In the end, he said that this year he is not expecting record-breaking results, but that the season will be successful if it reaches last year’s indicators.
“We will be happy if this season ends on par with last year’s, which was pretty successful,” concluded the Director of the Tourist Community Neum, N1 writes.
