The Vjetrenica Cave, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in July of this year, was visited by a record number of tourists this year. It is expected that the number of visits will continue to grow, and intensive work is also being done to expand the tourist offer and enrich the content for visitors.
“Speaking of this tourist year, we can say that it is the same record for the number of visits to the Protected Landscape Vjetrenica – Popovo polje – said to Fena news agency Davor Baković, director of the Public Company Vjetrenica, adding that in the first ten months of this year, the Protected Landscape Vjetrenica – Popovo polje was visited 18,000 visitors.
He says that they are happy that the project activities related to protection, but also tourist promotion, by improving the tourist infrastructure, have contributed to the increase in the number of visits both to the Vjetrenica cave and to the entire protected area.
“This year is also the first in which the ratio of domestic and foreign visitors is almost equal, which encourages us to continue working on promoting the value of the protected area on the international market,” adds Baković.
In addition to tourists from neighboring countries, Vjetrenica was most visited by guests from Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia, the Netherlands and Scandinavian countries.
Baković also emphasizes that the inclusion of Vjetrenica on the UNESCO World Heritage List brings with it certain tasks.
These relate primarily to further work on the protection of all values of the protected property, their promotion and the continuation of educational activities in order to develop awareness of the importance of sustainable development and preservation of natural property.
“This international recognition will certainly lead to stronger networking with various international experts and scientists from various disciplines so that together we can systematically ensure the permanent sustainability of the UNESCO site and enable its inclusion in international projects,” explains the director of Vjetrenica and adds that in terms of tourism, there will certainly be an increase in the number of visits.
However, as he says, it is necessary and obligatory to ensure tourism development in accordance with sustainable development and ecological standards (environmental carrying capacity).
The protected landscape Vjetrenica – Popovo polje offers its visitors a tour of the UNESCO site, the Vjetrenica cave with experienced speleologists. A tour of the Vjetrenica cave is an excellent opportunity to explore the mystical, underground world, learn about the origin of caves, witness spectacular scenes such as lakes, waterfalls, cave decorations and get to know the rich biodiversity of the cave, considering that Vjetrenica has almost 230 species of cave organisms (the most famous “Human fish”).
The cave can be visited throughout the year, and visits are organized 700 m from the entrance.
Given that Vjetrenica is located on the edge of Popovo polje and the famous narrow-gauge “Ćiro” trail, visitors can also enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking or cycling (Ćiro bicycle trail).
Along with a tour of the cave, all visitors can visit the first biospeleological museum in the world, which is located 300 m from the entrance to the cave, and offers different thematic units and a synthesis of all scientific disciplines related to one speleological object like the Windmill.
In addition, the Info – educational center Vjetrenica is an additional visitor center where, through large displays and VR content, visitors can get to know the cultural, historical and natural heritage of the Protected Landscape Vjetrenica – Popovo polje, Ravno municipality, and the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Through project activities, year after year we work to expand the tourist offer, and we believe that in the next year 2025 we will also enrich our content for visitors,” emphasizes Baković at the end.
It was decided at the 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, which was held in July of this year in New Delhi, India, that the Windmill be included in the World Heritage List.
With this decision, Vjetrenica became the first independent natural phenomenon from Bosnia and Herzegovina to be included on the world list of protected monuments.
