"FUTUR2025" CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS TRENDS AND DIGITALIZATION IN DOMESTIC TOURISM

Under the patronage of the Ministry of Trade and Tourism of the Republic of Srpska, the first conference on new tourism trends, titled “Futur2025”, was held at the Chamber of Commerce in Banja Luka. The event was organized by the Banja Luka-based agency Out of the Box.

PHOTO: TORS

The Futur2025 conference brought together experts from the fields of tourism, economy, and information and communication technologies (ICT). Key topics included emerging trends and the application of new technological solutions in tourism, with a special focus on the impact of digital transformation and artificial intelligence on the tourism industry. The goal was to explore new opportunities for connecting the tourism sector with ICT professionals.

The event featured two panel discussions: “New Horizons in the Promotion of Tourist Destinations” and “Digital Transformation in Tourism: From Automation to Personalization”. These panels addressed the development of tourism strategies based on greater use of modern technologies and examined how digital transformation is reshaping the way the tourism industry operates.

Opening the conference, Minister Denis Šulić told reporters that this gathering represents a significant step forward in promoting and presenting the tourism offerings of the Republic of Srpska, providing new tools to those who live and breathe tourism 24/7.

He reminded attendees that the Ministry continues to support tourism in Srpska, including through initiatives like travel vouchers, which were active in June. He also noted that, compared to the previous year, there have been over 20,000 more overnight stays recorded in the first seven months of 2025.

Dragana Šobot, Secretary of the Tourism and Hospitality Association at the Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Srpska, stated that the conference served as an opportunity to reflect on achievements in tourism so far and to recognize it as a strategic sector for economic development.

“To effectively present our tourism offerings to both domestic and international visitors, we’ve embraced modern promotional strategies that incorporate new trends, such as digital transformation and the use of artificial intelligence tools. These efforts aim to position Srpska as an attractive holiday destination,” said Šobot.