Even if the international airport Sarajevo records an increase in passengers every month, the introduction of a bus line from the Airport to the Center of the capital city of B&H was not put in place, even though all interested sides agree that this would be of great use and importance, for the citizens of Sarajevo and for foreign guests.
The Need to Introduce a Line
Spokesperson of the Tourist Board of Sarajevo Asja Hadžiefendić-Mešić repeated the fact that the capital city of B&H is one of the rare European cities that does not have a bus line between the center and the airport. She said that it is difficult for foreign guests to get to the center of the city, especially when they do not know the rules that apply for a city.
‘’In most cities, the line is established by the airport or the public city transport. The fact that public transport does not exist and many taxi drivers take advantage of this leaves and unsightly impression on guests who come to Sarajevo for the first time’’, said Hadžiefendić-Mešić to Anadolija, and considers that there is a need to introduce this line.
She said that the international airport is opening to low-budget airlines, and that the transport to the center of Sarajevo would soon amount to one third or one fourth of the price of airlines tickets to international destinations.
‘’This is one of the many important segments of offers that do not fall into the touristic, but rather the communal services’’, concluded Hadžiefendić-Mešić.
Getting Any Carrier
Minister of Transportation in Canton Sarajevo Jusuf Bubica said how the initiative from the Ministry was launched last year, but was not met with understanding from any of the transport companies nor with the Board at the International Airport of Sarajevo.
‘’Ministry of Transport would be very happy to have a line established with any carrier, which would accept this line’’, said Minister Bubica for Anadolija.
He recalled that such a line existed in 2009, in cooperation with the companies Centrotrans and GRAS, but was soon shut down due to non-profitability. Minister Bubica thinks that the question of profitability again could present an obstacle to the opening of a line.
‘’If the line is not profitable, then someone should donate it. We do not have the means to donate, and no carrier accepted this’’, said Minister Bubica. He said that the Ministry would launch an initiative again if citizens show interest in this type of service.
‘’The Ministry of Transport is of the view that they would cede this line to any carrier under the conditions that they do not require subsidies’’, said Minister Bubica.
Large Number of Foreign Tourists
According to Darjan Veličan, Marketing Manager of the international airport of Sarajevo, this company welcomes the idea of introducing a line from the Sarajevo airport towards the center of the city.
‘’We are ready to provide a space and everything else that is necessary, of course accompanied by adequate documentation from the relevant institutions. Since the service is important to passengers, the international airport of Sarajevo is ready to provide marketing and technical support to introduce such a service’’, said Veličan.
He thinks that the need for such a service is present because every day, Sarajevo airport records more passengers, among which there are a great number of foreign tourists who are coming to Sarajevo for the first time.
‘’Such a service would greatly enhance their stay n Sarajevo and would reduce the costs for users of our services and our travelers’’, said Veličan.
Spokesperson of the company Centrotrans Aida Smajić said that this company is interested to reestablish the line from the airport to the center of the city.
‘’We recall that such a line was previously closed due to non-profitability and it would be necessary, in agreement with the international airport of Sarajevo, to establish a plan of driving in accordance with the timetable for flights’’, said Smajić for Anadolija and added that it would require the will of all sides in the agreement, with the necessary approval of the competent ministry.
(Source: radiosarajevo.ba)
