The Master Plan for Bjelašnica-Igman as a year-round tourist destination was presented today at the Monti Hotel on the Olympic mountain of Igman.
Bjelašnica and Igman represent the largest and most promising area for the development of a sports and recreational tourism destination, and are considered a true gem of Sarajevo Canton.
Although Bjelašnica was originally developed as a venue for the 1984 Winter Olympics, the area is much more than just a ski resort. It is a synonym for winter sports, a favorite outing spot for many citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and at the same time, the greatest potential for developing the sports and tourism sector of Sarajevo Canton, as emphasized during the presentation.
“Four years ago, we began a new investment cycle focused on the development and renewal of sports infrastructure, primarily on Bjelašnica. To date, we have invested 34 million BAM, completing numerous projects such as the renewal of vertical transport, the construction of a 15-kilometer snowmaking system that meets the highest global standards, and the enhancement of various facilities,” stated Zlatko Mijatović, Minister of Economy.
He further explained that all investments were based on existing locations, ensuring compliance with valid regulatory plans that were drawn up in 1981 for the Olympic Games.
“The very fact that Bjelašnica-Igman is one of the most visited outing spots clearly shows that the 1981 plan was successful, with sports infrastructure primarily focused on winter tourism. However, with climate change being evident, it is clear that ski resorts must be transformed into year-round tourist destinations, and the construction of winter sports facilities must be based at higher altitudes. Considering these facts, nearly two years ago, we began developing the Master Plan for Bjelašnica-Igman as a year-round tourist destination,” the Minister noted.
He also mentioned that they took into account the experiences of European Union countries that have already gone through similar processes and stated that they wanted to incorporate the best practices from these countries. The European Union supported the creation of the master plan for Bjelašnica-Igman through financial assistance.
“The European Union provided financial support and entrusted the project to Input Project, one of the world’s leading companies in tourism destination development. In addition to Austrian consultants, local experts were involved to ensure that the project documentation aligns with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s legislation,” he explained.
According to Jasmin Mehić, Director of ZOI ’84, the main goal of the project is summarized in three key tasks:
- Transforming Bjelašnica-Igman from a ski destination into a year-round sports and recreational tourism destination.
- Connecting Bjelašnica and Igman with ski slopes, bike trails, and walking paths.
- Elevating ski slopes to higher altitudes.
He also mentioned that consultants followed current spatial planning documents during the project’s development, ensuring that the goal was to maintain the area as the largest sports and tourist destination. The project does not address the construction and urban planning zones, as that is a separate segment of planning.
Minister Mijatović emphasized that the Master Plan is a vision for the development of the Bjelašnica-Igman area from a sports-tourism perspective, and that in the future, it will be crucial to align tourism development goals with nature conservation objectives.
Sustainable tourism development is one of the key economic sectors for Sarajevo Canton, and ZOI ’84 is the first public company to clearly present its development vision.
The EU funded the creation of the master plan.
Stefano Ellero, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, expressed his satisfaction that the EU was able to help in creating an important document for the development of tourism in Sarajevo Canton. He also hopes that Bjelašnica and Igman, together with the Sarajevo airport, will become key players in enhancing the region’s tourism offerings.
“Sarajevo has great potential, and I am always happy when we can contribute to the development of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and its tourism. The EU is always ready to support tourism development in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I would like to thank Director Mehić and his entire team, and I look forward to continued cooperation,” said Ellero.
Hannes Triebnik, Director of Input Project Development, which has been working in this field for over 20 years, along with Ernst & Young d.o.o. and PPG d.o.o. who were also involved in the project, said it was an honor to work on such a significant project with historical importance.
“Sarajevo is an Olympic city, and it has been a great pleasure to work on transforming Bjelašnica-Igman from an exclusively winter destination into a year-round sports and recreational destination,” stated Triebnik.
