After stagnation due to the coronavirus pandemic, Međugorje recorded a large number of pilgrim visits last year and almost reached pre-pandemic figures. However, Croatia’s entry into Schengen could impede one-day visits to Herzegovina because some transport companies from that country have already announced that they will not organize trips to Međugorje or Herzegovina due to possible congestion at the border.
President of the Association of Tourism, Hoteliers and Room Renters from Međugorje, Davor Ljubić, told FENA that they recorded a noticeable increase in the number of visits since May.
“The return of Western European pilgrims is encouraging, meaning people from Ireland, Italy, and Spain are coming in increasing numbers, as well as the return of overseas pilgrims, primarily from Latin America and Mexico. There has been a large number of people from America, thanks to the opening of a direct line between New York and Dubrovnik. In any case, we are satisfied. This is a big shift compared to 2000 and 2001,” Ljubić pointed out.
He emphasized that it can be said that Međugorje is returning to pre-epidemic numbers.
Speaking about the preparation for the upcoming season, he said that, in addition to everything else, the presentation at the fairs and the capacitation of the staff are being carried out.
He thinks that work should be done as soon as possible on the revival of the Mostar Airport, and this was confirmed by Croatia’s entry into Schengen.
“These days we could already see the impact of Croatia’s entry into Schengen. I am afraid that, if some things between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina are not resolved, traffic jams will be created during the summer season, so they might even forget about one-day trips, from which Mostar and Mostar’s restaurants and shops made their living in the first place. If you have to wait for several hours at the border, I am afraid that there will be no trips to this part of the country. Because of these problems, some transport companies from Croatia are already announcing that they will not organize trips to Međugorje, that is, to Herzegovina,” emphasized Ljubić, Fena reports.
