HOSPITALITY SECTOR IN REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA GROWS THANKS TO LOCAL VISITORS

From April to June, the revenue in the hospitality sector in the Republic of Srpska increased by almost 28 percent compared to the same three months last year.

It is unclear whether this rise in revenue is due to an increase in the number of visitors to hospitality establishments or the rising prices of offered goods, which is quite likely, as coffee and other beverages have become more expensive.

According to the data from the Republic Institute of Statistics, revenue in hospitality venues in the second quarter of 2024 increased by 18.3 percent compared to the first quarter of the same year.

Compared to the average of 2023, the increase is 25.8 percent, while compared to the 2010 average, the increase is 226.6 percent, according to the Republic Institute of Statistics, as reported by InfoBijeljina portal.

In earlier statements to the media, local hospitality owners shared that it is a tradition in this region to spend money in cafes and restaurants.

When a child is born, we celebrate in a café, when a child is baptized, we celebrate in a café, when they start school, and especially when we celebrate the 18th birthday, we organize big parties in restaurants, they said.

In some consumer protection associations, they believe that even unemployed individuals set aside their last mark to have a coffee.

In Western countries, during working days, you mostly see tourists in cafes and restaurants, while local residents rarely visit such places, they added.