Project “Development and Promotion of Health Spa Tourism in Cross-Border Region BiH-Serbia – Cross spa” should contribute to development of cross-border cooperation to improve tourist offer in both countries, it was stated at the Conference organized on the occasion of completion of this 18-month project.
Project worth 452.152 Euros is funded by the European Union within IPA Cross-border Cooperation BiH-Serbia, and its aim is to strengthen regional cooperation and sustainable economic development of cross-border area by establishing a joint integrated tourism offer of spa tourism.
The Head of Operations Department for Social Development, civil society and cross-border cooperation of the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina Massimo Mina stated today that project showed to be relevant for all participants and partners and that development of health tourism at the time of economic crisis is important for economic development of countries.
”Health tourism is blossoming and many countries are struggling to offer high quality services in health tourism in acceptable prices. Citizens of great number of countries, especially many EU countries, are traveling abroad to have access to services that are being developed within this project,” emphasized Mina.
Project helped identify potential and capacity in health tourism, he said, but also to identify difficulties in development of this form of tourism in the EU and Middle East markets and he concluded that joint health services and cultural potential could contribute to tourism becoming key industry for both countries.
Executive Director of the Local Democracy Foundation, which is leading implementer of the Project, Jasmina Mujezinović emphasized that aim of all cross-border cooperation projects is regional and economic development and this project was trying to use natural potential which health tourism should be based on.
Director of the Tourist Organization of Serbia Western region, which is a partner in the project, Miroslav Rađen emphasized that implementation of the project improved the offer of health spa tourism by expanding the range of tourist services which promote healthy living.
He especially reflected on development of health tourism in global market in general, emphasizing that profit from this form of tourism is increasing every year by 20 to 40 percent, and that he expects the profit from health tourism to be around 100 billion dollars at the global level this year.
”When foreign tourists visit some region, they want to visit as many countries as possible, which is why joint activities are important in foreign markets,” said Rađen, adding there is initiative for cooperation of health funds of the two countries.
Project partners are Sarajevo Regional Development Agency SERDA in BiH and Regional Development Agency Zlatibor in Serbia.
The Project included thermal spas from BiH – Terme Ilidža, Reumal Fojnica and Aquaterm Olovo and air spas in Serbia – Čigota in Zlatibor, Zlatar and Priboj Spa.
(Source: Fena/ photo sutra.ba)
