MOUNTAINEERING ASSOCIATION OF REPUBLIKA SRPSKA ENRICHED BY 890 NEW MEMBERS

BANJA LUKA - The growing number of mountain enthusiasts in Republika Srpska is confirmed by the fact that the Mountaineering Association of RS has gained 890 new members during this year.

PHOTO: "Abonos" Banjaluka

Currently, there are 3,115 registered mountaineers in Srpska, and according to our sources, the promotion of mountain tourism, as well as the numerous benefits enjoyed by mountaineers who are members of the Association, are the main reasons for the increase in the number of mountaineers.

The President of the Mountaineering Association of Republika Srpska, Neno Dobrijević, stated for "Nezavisne novine" that the Association brings together 74 mountaineering clubs, but, as he added, there are still clubs that are not part of the Association, as well as individual mountaineers who venture into the mountains.

"We have a lot of mountains. What we have is a really wide range of low, medium, and high mountains. Here in Krajina, we have Kozara, Manjača, Čemernica, Vlašić, in the high Krajina part there is Osječenica, Klekovača, Dimitor, and we also have Jahorina, Romanija, Bjelašnica, and, of course, Maglić as our highest mountain," said Dobrijević.

According to him, they have proposed to the Ministry of Trade and Tourism of RS the idea of ​​creating an interactive map, or the development of a digital form.

"We need help to create a digital interactive map of mountains, mountain lodges, and a geoportal of mountain trails, which means that along with a brief description and photos of existing trails that are organized and marked, we enter GPS coordinates. Everyone coming from outside can easily find that trail and move along it," Dobrijević said, adding that the Association is trying to encourage as many clubs as possible, as well as all associations to become their members.

As he said, they have sent letters to the relevant ministries for understanding and assistance.

Marko Radić, Head of the Tourism Promotion Sector at the Tourism Organization of Republika Srpska, told "Nezavisne novine" that the promotion of mountain tourism in Srpska has contributed to the increased number of mountaineers.

"The offer we have is based on 15 mountain peaks over 1,500 meters above sea level and dozens of kilometers of hiking, cycling, and mountaineering marked trails leading through the most beautiful landscapes of Republika Srpska, connecting the offer along river flows and lakes into an incredible experience, and the number of newcomers to the Association indicates that people are turning more and more to nature and active leisure, which is the basis of the tourist offer of Republika Srpska and, along with cultural heritage, makes up the DNA of the offer we are proud of and present and promote through various activities," said Radić.

According to him, besides active people in that sense, there is a large number of recreationalists who opt for a vacation that involves visiting natural attractions.

As he added, through the tourism development strategy of Republika Srpska, this type of offer has been indicated as crucial for the development of a destination that will be one of the most desirable destinations in the Western Balkans for active leisure and authentic experiences by 2027.

"Definitely the largest number of visits is to the mountain peaks of the NP Sutjeska, while the Nature Park Orjen and Velež are becoming increasingly popular, for example, Velež has about 60 climbing routes, so mountaineers from the entire region came here for some sort of preparation for climbing the Himalayas. The rapid increase in the offer of ascents and climbing can also be seen in the large number of 'via ferrata' trails that are under construction and offered from Kozara to Leotar in the south," Radić concluded.