DESTINATION AS A HOME, AND THE TOURIST AS A GUEST WITHIN IT

Marko Radić, former director of the Tourism Organization of Trebinje and now head of the Tourism Promotion Sector at the Tourism Organization of Republika Srpska, frequently shares his perspectives on domestic tourism through his blog and social media channels.

In a recent blog post titled “Destination as a Home,” Radić offers a compelling reflection on how we perceive tourists and treat our surroundings.

He invites us to imagine a tourist destination as our own home, and the tourist as a guest who brings valuable gifts into it: their money, time, trust, and recommendations to others.

Too often, the word “tourist” is trivialized—seen as someone who simply passes through, spends a night, and visits a few attractions. However, the modern traveler seeks much more than sightseeing. They want to know where we sleep, what we eat, where we go out, and what our streets, yards, and riverbanks look like. They want to taste local food, walk our paths, and meet our people. In short, they want to become part of our everyday life for a few days—and they are willing to pay fairly for that experience.

Even by rough estimates, an average tourist spends around 100 euros per day in a destination. This amount quickly circulates through the local economy—from bed and breakfast accommodations, morning coffee, and restaurant meals, to taxi rides, car rentals, fuel, souvenirs, and local products.

But how do we behave when we expect guests in our own home? We don’t leave dirty socks in the middle of the room, pile garbage bags behind the door, or throw an old mattress into the yard. We clean, air out the space, dust surfaces, and often even buy flowers for the table. These actions reflect respect—both for ourselves and for our guests. So why should it be any different when it comes to our destination?

Why do we tolerate overflowing garbage containers, plastic waste accumulating along rivers and lakes, and litter scattered beside roads traveled by both tourists and our own children? If we take care of our living room, why do we treat riverbanks like landfills? If we would tidy up our homes so guests don’t have to step over clutter, how can we leave trash in public spaces and expect no one to notice?

Statistics and global trends leave little room for negligence. According to relevant tourism platforms and organizations, more than 70% of today’s travelers consider environmental awareness and cleanliness when choosing a destination. A single negative review about illegal dumping on the way to a viewpoint, or a photo of litter shared on social media, can erase dozens of positive ratings in an instant. A tourist who encounters neglect rarely returns.

To change this, we must understand that tourism is not solely the responsibility of tourism workers, utility companies, or local hospitality businesses—it is a reflection of society as a whole.

Real change requires concrete steps: recognizing that public spaces are not “someone else’s responsibility,” but our shared backyard; ensuring that authorities provide adequate infrastructure, which is often a key factor contributing to individual negligence; and enforcing zero tolerance for those who damage the environment—whether through civic initiatives or stricter application of legal penalties.

A destination is a mirror of our way of life. The extent to which we care about the place we live in will determine how much it matters to our guests. Cleanliness, order, and environmental care must be the minimum standard of our personal and collective self-respect.