Safet Alić has been investing in Srebrenica and its development for years. After building a hotel in the city center and other facilities in his hometown, he decided to realize another major project on Lake Perućac.
It is about constructing an ethno-village in Prohići, located about 35 kilometers from Srebrenica, where he wants to create a tourist heaven surrounded by untouched nature.
He sees the construction of the ethno-village not only as an investment. For him, this is primarily a way to showcase what this region has to offer and to bring people back to nature, which, as he said, is one of the greatest treasures of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“There used to be a macadam road here. Little by little, this place grew on me as it became my sanctuary. During my stay for a summer vacation with my family, I made a decision to build something in this place. Considering the beautiful natural surroundings, I decided to build an ethno-village,” Alić said in an interview with Fena.
Three small cottages/ vacation homes are currently being built on-site, alongside a large building spanning approximately 1,400 square meters. The building should have four floors and accompanying apartments. Ultimately, ten apartments should be available to guests.
Alić emphasized that he alone is financing the project, with his own funds, and construction of a tourist complex is not his only goal.
“I am striving to contribute to my city, Srebrenica, as much as possible, so that it would become a city that will not be forgotten. My goal is to contribute to all of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but our Srebrenica comes first. If everything goes as planned, in a year or two we should have the official opening of the ethno-village,” Alić said.
Lake Perućac and the Drina Canyon have attracted an increasing number of visitors in recent years, and Alić said that he noticed many new faces coming to the lake this summer, which bring him great joy. He hopes their interest will continue to grow.
An additional reason for optimism, as he said, is the improvement of the road infrastructure.
“The road leading towards the lake should be completed by the end of September. I hope that we will be even more connected in the near future,” Alić emphasized, and added that their vision is not focused only on accommodation. He wants to open a space where people will spend time in nature, away from the urban noise.
“Everything is connected to Srebrenica. That will be a huge project. We want people to spend their time in pristine nature and an oasis of peace. The Drina is our natural treasure. We must be aware that the Drina is untouched nature and that here we can see landscapes that can’t be found in many other places. I hope the time will come when we will value our own beauties more than we do others,” Alić said.
This project means much more to him. He wants to show that Srebrenica and eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina have a lot to offer through investments.
“We talk about Srebrenica and Perućac Lake to everyone, as well as Potočari. We didn’t need wars for our homes to be destroyed, only for us to start rebuilding from scratch. We are building everything up on our own. I hope that people of all religions will understand that the most important thing is co-existence, helping one another, sharing both good and bad together, and never allowing wars to happen again. My goal is for Srebrenica and eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina to flourish,” Alić emphasized.
He announced that the completion of the project will be marked by a special event, though he prefers not to disclose any details for now.
“I am preparing something special for the opening of the ethno-village, but I can’t talk about it. I am sure this will be an attraction which will make people want to come,” Alić concluded.
Perućac is an ideal place for vacation, bathing, fishing, boat rides, and enjoying untouched nature.
Cruising through the Drina River canyon offers a unique experience, with steep cliffs, green forests, and unique landscapes all the way from Višegrad and its famous bridge over the Drina.
For active travelers, options include swimming, rowing, boat rides, fishing, cycling, and hiking, Federalna writes.
