Preparations for the tourist season are underway. Tourist workers are working to enrich the offer. With better weather, the first tourists arrive in Herzegovina, more precisely in Mostar. Expectations are high, the first indicators are weekends, which already record a large number of tourists. The tourist mosaic of Herzegovina is expanding, not only in Mostar but also in other places. This is definitely a branch that needs continuous investment.
After two pandemic years, tourism workers are finally looking with optimism at the new season. The announcements, they say, are encouraging. The first organized groups of guests prove it.
Natural beauties, cultural and historical monuments – the tourist offer of this part of our country is diverse, but modern tourists are always looking for more. Therefore, tourist boards and tourism workers present new projects in the field of active and destination tourism from season to season.
Glass walkway on the hill Fortica, adrenaline parks inKonjic, Mostar, Grude… Tourists want to complete their vacation with various facilities.
”I think that is being done quite well. There are projects implemented by USAID through the development of sports and adrenaline tourism, the development of rural tourism, where we are directly involved,” states Semir Temim, Deputy Director of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Tourist Board.
They are also working on improving the tourist offer in the West Herzegovina Canton. As part of the Cycling rural project, they set up telescopes at four locations with the aim of developing innovative tools for tourism infrastructure.
The Tourist cluster of Herzegovina hopes that this year will be a way out of the pandemic crisis, but, on the other hand, they are afraid of a new one.
”The only situation that is threatening us at the moment is the escalation of the war conflicts between Russia and Ukraine. This cannot be in favor of tourism in any way, it is ‘timid’ and difficult to bear turbulences, especially those of the war type,”Stjepan Primorac points out, President of the Tourist cluster of Herzegovina.
A group of 150 Ukrainian pilgrims and 48 monks prayed for peace in their country in the Medjugorje shrine. The news of the war greeted them with spiritual renewal.
”When we were in prayer, I felt peace, but also the voice that we should return home, be with our families, which is the role of us priests – to instill peace and hope. I do not feel fear now because this place has given me strength,”said a Greek Catholic priest from Ukraine.
Pilgrims from all over the world come to this Herzegovinian sanctuary for spiritual strength, therefore speaking about the importance of religious tourism. It is believed that many prayers for peace will be sent from this place this year.
E.Dz.
