IS TOURISM INVESTMENT THE BUSINESS OF THE FUTURE?

Tourism is a growing economic sector in the Republic of Srpska, showing continuous growth for the third consecutive year. According to the Tourist Organization of Srpska, investing in tourism is considered a business of the future.

From January to July this year, 286,816 tourists visited the Republic of Srpska, recording 694,155 overnight stays — an increase of 4.6% in arrivals and 3% in overnight stays compared to the same period last year, data from the Tourist Organization shows.

The most notable growth was seen in mountain destinations, where overnight stays increased by 6.9% compared to the same period last year. Spa resorts also experienced a rise in popularity, attracting 3.5% more tourists.

"Other tourist destinations — including those with attractive climate, cultural-historical sites, and locations by rivers and lakes — recorded an increase of about 2%," said Sanela Šimun, PR associate at the Tourist Organization of the Republic of Srpska. She added that guests typically stayed between two and four days.

Šimun emphasized that tourism in the Republic of Srpska is on a steady rise, reinforcing the idea that investing in this industry is a forward-looking and promising opportunity.

"The sooner we all realize this, the faster we will see additional progress in the sector," she noted.

She expressed hope that more people will recognize the tourism potential of the Republic of Srpska and that the region could soon become a leader in the Balkans.

Šimun also announced that the Tourist Organization of the Republic of Srpska will mark World Tourism Day on September 27 with a special event in Zvornik, aligning with this year’s global theme: "Tourism and Green Investments."

World Tourism Day has been celebrated globally on September 27 for 45 years, highlighting the social, cultural, political, and economic significance of tourism through various activities and initiatives.