WINTER SEASON IN SRPSKA PROMISES ADVENTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT

Republika Srpska is preparing for one of its most successful winter tourism seasons yet, with expectations already surpassing previous years, according to Sanela Šimun, spokesperson for the Tourism Organization of Republika Srpska (TORS).

Šimun announced that the official opening of the winter season is scheduled for December 11 on Jahorina, where visitors will be greeted with a wide range of activities and entertainment options.

“In addition to Jahorina, we expect ski operations at the Igrišta Ski Center, as well as on Mount Kozara,” she said.

A significant influx of tourists is also anticipated during the upcoming New Year holidays. Most cities across Republika Srpska will host open-air New Year’s Eve celebrations, alongside numerous events in hospitality venues.

“There are also New Year festivals kicking off in late November and running until mid-January, offering daytime programs, ice skating, various exhibitions, as well as excellent gastronomy and local products,” Šimun highlighted.

She added that TORS is currently finalizing its program for the upcoming year, which includes a variety of activities, projects, and measures aimed at boosting tourist arrivals and enhancing the promotion of Republika Srpska’s tourism offer both domestically and internationally.

“We are satisfied with this year’s tourist arrivals and overnight stays, which continue to grow annually. In the first nine months, we recorded over 16,500 more overnight stays and 17,835 more arrivals compared to the same period last year,” Šimun stated.

From January to September, Republika Srpska welcomed 393,266 tourists who achieved 928,226 overnight stays—an increase of 4.4 percent in arrivals and 2 percent in overnight stays compared to the previous year.

Šimun noted that aside from domestic tourists, the majority of overnight stays were made by visitors from neighboring countries—Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, and Montenegro—as well as guests from other European nations, including Turkey, Germany, Austria, and Italy.