INCREASING TOURIST NUMBERS IN SRPSKA: IS THE BEST YET TO COME?

The natural beauty, historical landmarks, delicious cuisine, and warm-hearted people are just a few reasons why more tourists from the region, Europe, and beyond are choosing to spend their vacations in the Republic of Srpska.

PHOTO: Nezavisne novine

According to data from the Republika Srpska Institute of Statistics, 227,195 tourists visited Srpska in the first six months of this year, a slight increase compared to the same period last year. Last year, from January to June, 226,713 tourists visited Srpska, which is 482 fewer than this year. This year, Srpska recorded 563,365 overnight stays, approximately 27,000 more than in the same period last year.

Marko Radić, Head of the Tourism Promotion Sector at the Tourist Organization of the Republic of Srpska, told "Nezavisne novine" that the next three months will be the busiest and will significantly increase the number of overnight stays, thanks to the number of events in Trebinje, Banja Luka, Prijedor, and Foča, where rafting is still popular.

"Also, the increase could be due to various events organized in Bijeljina and Laktaši. Gradiška, for example, is also very active in terms of events," he added. He expects that by the end of September, there will be over 60,000 more overnight stays compared to the same period last year.

Nikola Kokić, spokesman for the Tourist Organization of Trebinje, is very satisfied with the tourist visits and numbers in the first six months of this year. He believes that new records could be set if nothing unexpected happens.

"We can proudly say that this year there hasn't been as much seasonality as in previous years. The city started filling up slowly from March, and then there was a tourist boom in May. May had fantastic results. Currently, our tourist organization has data showing that Trebinje has achieved 100,000 registered overnight stays. If we compare this with the previous year, which was a record year with 200,000 registered overnight stays, it shows that if this trend continues, and we believe it will, 2024 will be a record year," Kokić told "Nezavisne novine."

He expects the coming months to bring even more tourist traffic.

"The best is yet to come. We have August ahead of us, when Trebinje is always known for excellent tourist results. From mid-July, the city reaches the peak of the season, and every day and night, it's hard to find available accommodation or a free restaurant. Shopping centers and supermarkets are full, indicating that the best part of the tourist year has arrived, which is the summer tourist season," he said. In addition to nature, history, and cuisine, Trebinje stands out for its hospitality, and tourists who visit the southernmost city of Srpska can feel the Mediterranean spirit.

In the first six months of this year, more than 55,000 tourists visited Banja Luka, according to the city's Tourist Organization, with most of them being foreigners. According to the organization, a total of 82,172 overnight stays were recorded. "The Banja Luka Tourist Organization, citing official statistics, records a growth trend in arrivals and overnight stays. We are no longer a seasonal destination. Banja Luka has been a year-round tourist destination for the last ten years. As you can see, foreigners outnumber domestic guests in both arrivals and overnight stays," said Branka Branković, Senior Public Relations Officer at the Banja Luka Tourist Organization.

The beauties of Srpska are most frequently visited and the cuisine most enjoyed by tourists from Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia, followed by tourists from Turkey, Montenegro, Germany, Austria, and China.