GEMS OF SRPSKA WELCOME TOURISTS ON BILLBOARDS

The Old Town, Kastel, rafting on the Tara River, the beautiful Trebišnjica River, the famous pletenica cheese, and Sutjeska National Park are just a few of the treasures of Srpska that will be featured on billboards, inviting both domestic and international tourists to explore these locations, taste gastronomic specialties, and enjoy every moment spent in our Republic.

PHOTO: Radovan Dangubić

The promotion of Srpska's tourist offerings is part of the new campaign "This is Srpska Too," launched by the Tourism Organization of Republika Srpska (TORS) to increase awareness of and highlight the gems of our country.

Tourism workers are sending a message with this campaign that the unreal natural beauties, adventurous spirit, sources of healing thermal waters, lakes, rivers, mountains, gastronomy, and traditional hospitality are within reach throughout our Republic.

Sanela Šimun, PR associate at TORS, told "Glas" that the campaign will showcase locations with tourism motifs from all parts of Srpska through photos on billboards and social media, including cultural and historical monuments, water activities, local traditions, gastronomy, nature, and producers.

For example, a photo of Kastel and a dajak boat will represent Banja Luka, a photo of Trebišnjica and the Old Town will represent Trebinje, the national monument on Kozara will represent Prijedor and the surrounding Potkozarje, Sutjeska National Park and rafting on the Tara will represent Foča. We have also prepared photos from Bijeljina, Nevesinje, Ljubinje, while pletenica cheese from Šipovo and zmijanjski cake will represent the gastro offerings of RS. The billboards will also feature the Mačkića kamen viewpoint in Ribnik, honey producers from the Gradiška area, and more - Šimun said.

She emphasized that the campaign will be carried out through 22 billboards at key locations across Srpska, while social media and TORS's official websites will enable interactive communication with potential visitors.

Branka Branković, spokesperson for the Banja Luka Tourism Organization, welcomed TORS's campaign, noting that every previous advertisement for the city on the Vrbas has increased tourist visits.

We expect the same from this campaign. Banja Luka, as the largest administrative center of Srpska, with numerous tourist attractions, is inherently appealing to visitors. In the first six months of this year, we had just over 82,000 guest arrivals who stay two, three, or more nights. Slovenians remain the top tourists visiting our city - Branković said.

Darko Krsmanović, Deputy Director of the Višegrad Tourism Organization, agreed that promotional activities significantly contribute to higher attendance, stating for "Glas" that this campaign will be most beneficial for small municipalities.

Višegrad is very well-positioned on the tourist map of Srpska and BiH, we are among the most well-known cities, and guests visit us gladly and frequently. Unfortunately, this year's tourist season is somewhat weaker than previous years. During the pandemic, when borders were closed, we had an influx of domestic tourists and guests from Serbia. Fewer visitors this year are also due to the new Kolašin - Podgorica highway, which causes guests from Serbia traveling to the Adriatic to bypass us - Krsmanović said.