Today, the Government and the Ministry of Economy of Sarajevo Canton held a press conference dedicated to the state of tourism in the Canton. The conference discussed various tourism projects and presented the newly adopted Strategy for the Development of Tourism in KS until 2030.
The conference was opened by the Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton, Nihad Uk, who emphasized the crucial role of tourism in the Canton’s economy and the need for a strategic approach to its further development. He also spoke about the inspection oversight conducted by the Cantonal Administration for Inspection Affairs over businesses operating in this sector this year.
The Minister of Economy, Zlatko Mijatović, detailed the key objectives and measures of the Strategy, which includes developing a year-round tourism offer, enhancing tourism infrastructure, and introducing innovative technologies in the tourism sector.
“The Strategy is the result of two years of work in collaboration with international partners and local experts, aiming to position Sarajevo as a recognizable destination globally, emphasizing sustainable growth and the preservation of the natural and cultural heritage of Sarajevo Canton,” said the Minister, who also presented amendments to the Tourism Law to improve the legal and administrative framework for the operation of the KS Tourist Board, including reducing the number of authorities and simplifying licensing procedures for travel agencies, as well as redefining the responsibilities and operations of the Tourist Board for more efficient functioning.
The press conference also introduced a plan to increase the tourist tax amount for 2025, which includes a diversification of the tax structure, recognizing a “festival tax” as a new category.
“Since the adoption of the Tourism Law and the establishment of the KS Tourist Board until 2023, the tourist tax has been charged at 2 BAM per overnight stay, in accordance with legal provisions. There has been no increase in the tourist tax, while tourist traffic in the same period has increased by over 50%, and investments in tourism through capital projects and support for important tourism development and promotion projects have risen from several hundred thousand BAM to millions. Considering economic indicators, the global tourism market situation, and regional trends, it is estimated that Sarajevo Canton should increase the tourist tax from the current 2 BAM per night to 3 BAM per night in 2025. We also plan to establish a ‘festival tourist tax’ at 4 BAM, applicable during our most eventful periods. It’s important to note that the tourist tax can be treated as a price inelastic category, meaning that an increase in price does not affect demand, nor is it expected that an increase in tax will impact the number of tourist arrivals and overnight stays,” announced Minister Mijatović.
The President of the KS Tourist Board, Haris Fazlagić, presented the tourism results recorded in 2024, highlighting a significant increase in visitor numbers and the economic contribution of the tourism sector to the local community.
“Thanks to the support programs from the Ministry of Economy of KS and new airline routes, the accessibility of Sarajevo as a tourist destination has increased. Based on our statistical indicators tracked through the application prijava.ba during the past months of 2024, we recorded an increase in tourist arrivals and overnight stays. In the past nine months, nearly 630,000 tourists visited Sarajevo Canton, representing an increase of about 25% compared to the same period last year. During the same period, we recorded nearly 1.37 million overnight stays, an increase of about 20% from the previous year. Of this, 90% were foreign tourists, and 10% were domestic. The highest number of arrivals was from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Croatia, China, Serbia, Germany, the USA, Slovenia, the UAE, and Kuwait. The average length of stay for tourists in KS is 2.2 days. Foreign tourists stayed an average of 2.2 days, while domestic tourists stayed 1.8 days. The number of accommodation facilities in Sarajevo Canton is 909, with a total of 7,693 rooms and 17,801 beds. Hotels account for the largest share of available rooms and beds, with over 95% of tourists staying in hotels, accounting for more than 80% of overnight stays. The most tourist arrivals in the KS municipalities are recorded in Ilidža, followed by Stari Grad, Centar, Novi Grad, Novo Sarajevo, Hadžići, Trnovo, Vogošća, and Ilijaš,” informed President Fazlagić the present media representatives.
In response to a journalist’s question, President Fazlagić expressed justified expectations that existing accommodation capacities would be filled during the planned organized New Year’s celebration in Sarajevo, while Minister Mijatović noted that new airline routes significantly impacted the increase in tourist visits to Sarajevo Canton.
“According to analyses, Ryanair flights stand out, as 90% of them are fully booked,” emphasized Minister Mijatović, announcing that results from the recent public call for subsidizing air traffic will soon be released, resulting in the establishment of flights to new destinations on the strategic routes list.
