The City of Bihac is recording continuous growth in tourism, and the local administration and the Tourist Board are investing great efforts in improving accommodation capacities, infrastructure, and the promotion of the destination. This year, more than 125.000 guests from 124 countries stayed in Bihac, and revenue from residence taxes reached 232.063 BAM, according to data presented at the Local Economic Forum of this city.
According to the records, in the last two years, five new hotels have opened, bringing the total number to 16. The city also has three motels, while other accommodation facilities make up a total of 521 units, with 1.132 rooms and 2.045 beds available to tourists.
“All investments in tourism are the result of investments by domestic forces. The data show that this year we had guests from 124 countries who achieved 125.678 overnight stays, and based on residence taxes, 232.063 BAM was collected. The most numerous are guests from Arab countries, as well as domestic guests and guests from Europe and the region. The number of accommodation capacities and tourist attractions is increasing, the accompanying offer is richer, the communal and traffic infrastructure is of higher quality, and there is an increasing number of registered accompanying activities such as crafts, souvenir shops, tourist guides and taxi drivers, so we expect continued growth in the coming year as well,” said Nihad Susnjar, coordinator of the Business Club at the meeting of the Local Economic Forum of the City of Bihac.
Mayor Elvedin Sedic emphasized that many projects have been implemented in recent years, including the construction of the asphalted section from Kulen-Vakuf to Martin Brod, the arrangement of parking for tourist buses, public toilets, communal and traffic infrastructure in microlocations such as Lohovo, Racici, Pritoka, and Kostel. Funds were also invested in international promotion and the development of winter amenities, as well as the demining of the Zeljava location, which has been established as a tourist destination.
“Almost 95% of the residence tax in Una-Sana Canton (USC) is collected in Bihac, and that is a sufficient indicator of where we stand compared to other local communities. Our desire is for them to develop as well, because from every neighbour who works well we also benefit,” emphasized Mayor Sedic.
The Tourist Board is actively working on branding Bihac and organizing events, and this year’s Summer Fest on Gradska otoka has been rated the best so far. According to visitors’ reactions, Bihac has established itself as a regional centre of New Year’s festivities, with a significant influx of tourists and additional funds in the budget for improving tourism.
“This year’s Summer Fest on Gradska otoka has been rated the best so far, and every subsequent event organizationally must be above this one. Bihac will, according to all indicators and reactions in the last ten or so days, be the regional centre of New Year’s festivities. Performers and bands who are coming to Bihac and the accompanying program will bring thousands of guests whose demands we all must meet. At the same time, we expect an increased inflow of funds into the budget, which should justify this year’s allocations and investment in tourism in 2026. We will certainly continue to work on the implementation of all projects that will lead to better visibility of Bihac on the tourist map of Europe and the world,” said the director of the Tourist Board, Dijana Pecenkovic.
Una National Park
The City of Bihac is strategically developing selective forms of tourism: sports-recreational tourism (rafting, sailing, parachuting, cycling, fishing, and hunting tourism), eco-tourism, hunting tourism, as well as cultural-historical tourism. The Una River has become a brand of Bosnian tourism, and the natural beauty of the area further attracts visitors from the country and abroad.
Una National Park, proclaimed in 2008, holds special significance and covers an area of 19.800 hectares, representing a unique natural whole in western Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The park includes the canyons of the Una and Unac rivers, cascades and waterfalls in Martin Brod, Strbacki Buk, the primeval forest area of Pljesevica, the Una valley to Bosanski Novi, as well as springs and sources such as Ostrovica in Kulen Vakuf. This protects original natural values, rich cultural-historical heritage, and maintains traditional activities of the local population, such as fishing, hunting, forestry, and agriculture.
The public enterprise Una National Park, headquartered in the centre of Bihac, manages this area, provides information to visitors, oversees nature protection, and implements the Management Plan for the next ten years.
These results show that Bihac, through strategic planning and investment in infrastructure and tourist amenities, is becoming one of the most promising destinations of continental tourism in BiH. The growth in the number of tourists, the development of accommodation capacities, and the valorization of natural potential, especially Una National Park, confirm that Bihac is on the path to becoming a recognizable tourist brand in the region and in Europe, Forbes writes.
