TOURISM IN REPUBLIKA SRPSKA BREAKS RECORDS WITH OVER 1.2 MILLION OVERNIGHT STAYS IN 2025

The number of tourist arrivals in Republika Srpska in 2025 increased by 4.4% compared to 2024, while the number of overnight stays rose by 2.6%, said Darko Milunović, Director of the Republic Institute of Statistics.

PHOTO: TO Foča

During 2025, Republika Srpska recorded 514,740 tourist arrivals and 1,207,068 overnight stays, setting a new record. This surpassed the previous year’s result of 1,176,689 overnight stays and marked the fourth consecutive year of record-breaking tourism performance in Republika Srpska.

“Tourism represents one of the most vital branches of the economy in Republika Srpska, achieving record indicators for the fourth year in a row. In 2021, fewer than 750,000 overnight stays were recorded, followed by significant growth. In 2022, more than one million overnight stays were achieved for the first time, and last year more than 1.2 million. Positive indicators are also visible in employment and GDP, suggesting these trends will continue,” Milunović emphasized.

In 2025, domestic tourists accounted for 206,133 arrivals, while foreign tourists recorded 308,607 arrivals. Domestic tourists achieved 517,384 overnight stays, and foreign tourists 689,684 overnight stays. Compared to 2024, overnight stays by domestic tourists increased by 7.9%, while those by foreign tourists decreased slightly by 1.1%.

The largest number of overnight stays was recorded by tourists from Serbia (202,996), followed by Croatia (155,536), Slovenia (89,378), Turkey (36,422), and Montenegro (33,474).

By type of tourist destination, 579,304 overnight stays were recorded in other tourist places, 403,412 in spa resorts, 144,135 in mountain resorts, and 80,217 in other locations.

Out of the total, 1,097,525 overnight stays were achieved in hotels and similar accommodation, 86,974 in health resorts, 16,724 in camps and camping areas, and **5,845 in holiday and short-stay facilities.

As of September 30, 2025, employment in accommodation, food preparation and serving, hospitality and catering amounted to 13,530 employees, representing 4.7% of total employment in Republika Srpska (290,121).

The accommodation and food service sector accounted for 1.3% of Republika Srpska’s GDP in 2024 and recorded a real growth rate of 7.3% compared to 2023, further confirming the strengthening role of tourism in the economy.

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