Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a story of collaboration and partnership, not just of travel destinations. Behind every trail mapped, every guesthouse restored, and every protected area strengthened stand domestic institutions at the state, entity, cantonal and municipal level, together with communities, civil society and businesses, supported by international partners including the United Nations, the European Union, Italy, Sweden, the Global Environment Facility and many others. Their shared goal is to make tourism a driver of jobs, rural development and conservation, while ensuring that growth respects both people and nature.
Thanks to this joint effort, tourism is creating new livelihoods in mountain villages, safeguarding landscapes like Prenj Mountain, and positioning the country on the global tourism map. Whether through sustainable trail networks, support for Herzegovina’s olive oil producers, adventure or climate-resilient tourism in the Olympic Mountains, these initiatives are showing what is possible when partnerships deliver for people and the planet.
Nature and Communities at the Core
With support from the Global Environment Facility and other international partners, UNDP is working with authorities, private sector actors and communities through the Sustainable Protected Areas (SPA) project to harmonise tourism with conservation. Sponsorship and advertising schemes were piloted in Sarajevo Canton, helping parks raise funds for infrastructure and conservation. In Kozara National Park, a new cost recovery pricing model was introduced to make tourism more sustainable.
In total, five protected areas developed fire prevention and resilience plans, while restoration in Tišina wetland and the regeneration of the Bosnian alpine newt in Prokoško Lake showed how protecting biodiversity strengthens the tourism offer. The proclamation of the Prenj Protected Area, supported by local authorities and environmental partners, laid the foundation for eco-tourism in one of the country’s most iconic landscapes.
Connecting Communities Across Borders
The Via Dinarica tourism platform, developed with support from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and other international partners, entity and cantonal governments and tourism ministries, has become a symbol of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s transformation. Since its launch a decade ago, more than 2,800 kilometers of trails were mapped, 100 jobs created and 1,000 beds upgraded in mountain huts and guesthouses. Visitor numbers rose from just 4,500 in 2015 to 90,000 in 2017 and to 200,000 in 2021, with global recognition from National Geographic and Lonely Planet as one of the world’s premier adventure and outdoors tourism routes. The most recent acknowledgement came in 2024 when the TransDinarica biking trail, closely connected to the Via Dinarica, was listed among the top 10 global cycling routes by TimeOut magazine.
Even during the pandemic, the initiative mobilized over USD 700,000 in local co-funding with 18 municipalities, supported more than 60 service providers, created or retained 80 jobs (60 percent for women) and delivered nearly 20 small infrastructure projects. By 2021, Via Dinarica welcomed 200,000 visitors, half of them from abroad. The current phase is maintaining almost 1,000 kilometers of trails, creating 30 new jobs and helping more than 20 service providers modernize their offers with eco-standards and digital tools.
Strengthening Rural Economies
Through the EU4AGRI programme, financed by the European Union and implemented by UNDP and partners, rural communities diversified their economies and created new tourism opportunities. With USD 2.7 million invested in 30 projects, almost 500 farmers and entrepreneurs were supported to develop new products, services and hospitality offers. Olive oil producers in Herzegovina secured geographical indications, with local producers winning 11 international medals in 2024, gaining recognition in global markets while offering tourists authentic Mediterranean traditions.
Investments in rural markets, guesthouses and small-scale hospitality created jobs, boosted local economies and made Bosnia and Herzegovina’s villages more attractive to visitors seeking authentic experiences.
Resilient Tourism in the Face of Climate Change
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country of mountains, rivers and trails that inspire – from runners on Trebević, to rowers on the Drina in Ustiprača, to cyclists on Jahorina. Yet climate change is reshaping these landscapes, shortening winters, reducing snowfall and putting resources under growing pressure. That is why UNDP, together with institutions and partners, is helping shape a Resilient Tourism Vision for the Olympic Mountains and beyond.
Key actions include diversifying year-round tourism to reduce reliance on winter revenues, creating educational hiking trails, installing a modern meteorological station to strengthen climate monitoring, digitizing operations for more efficient resource use, and improving the energy efficiency of mountain infrastructure. These measures, developed in dialogue with institutions and aligned with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s climate commitments, are ensuring that tourism is both sustainable and resilient.
Building Tourism and Empowering People – Together
None of this progress could have been achieved by one actor alone. It is the result of collaboration among domestic institutions, municipalities, communities, civil society organisations, local businesses and international partners, including the European Union, Italy, Sweden and others. UNDP’s role has been to help connect these actors, provide technical expertise and ensure that tourism development is both sustainable and inclusive. Inclusivity also means adapting tourism destinations to the needs of people with disabilities, so that everyone can benefit from and contribute to the growth of this sector.
On this World Tourism Day, Bosnia and Herzegovina can look to the future of tourism with confidence. By valuing nature, empowering people, building strong partnerships and ensuring that no one is left behind, the country is showing that tourism can be a driver of prosperity for people today and for generations to come. In this way, sustainable tourism is positioning Bosnia and Herzegovina to advance its commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals, UNDP writes.
