BORDER DELAYS – A BURNING ISSUE FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

Season after season, the same story repeats itself. Long queues at border crossings during the tourist season are frustrating and represent one of the most serious obstacles to developing competitive tourism in the region.

When travelers spend hours waiting in traffic jams under the sun or trapped inside buses, it’s hard to expect them to describe their experience as enjoyable. Time meant for rest and relaxation turns into an exhausting test of patience, which diminishes the overall quality of the trip right from the start.

The situation is especially sensitive for tourist buses, where the paradox often arises that the journey to the destination is shorter than the waiting time at the border. Such experiences leave a negative impression and often negate all the effort and investments made to improve tourism offerings, since the first impression largely shapes the entire stay.

Compared to the European market, where borders within the Schengen zone are almost nonexistent, tourists traveling here still face hours-long waits reminiscent of a bygone era. Limited infrastructure and lower capacity at border crossings create bottlenecks that directly reduce the destination’s appeal.

If we truly want to develop tourism as a strategic sector — something we often proudly claim — it is clear that the problem of border congestion must be seen as a tourism issue as well.

Investments in accommodation, cultural attractions, and other services lose their meaning if the tourist’s first experience is an exhausting wait at the border.

That is why it is crucial to recognize the need for smoother border traffic during peak season as a priority for tourism development in the region. Without faster and more efficient procedures, building a competitive destination will remain a challenge.

By Marko Radić, Head of Tourism Promotion Sector, Tourist Organization of Republika Srpska