Herzegovina has a lot to offer in terms of tourism, but the potential lies unused, according to Ivica Sivric, executive director of the Mostar-based Regional Economic Development Agency (REDAH).
“Until fifteen years ago, for 95 percent of people, tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans was reduced to going to the sea side, and now things are changing. People are becoming aware of how important activities are for their health,” Sivric said.
As he said in an interview with Fena, more and more tourists are opting for weekend vacations, instead of vacations lasting several days or weeks, and Mostar Airport with a couple of low-budget lines could greatly help increase the number of tourists coming to this area.
Sivric believes that the most important area for Herzegovinian tourism is the Neum – Medjugorje – Mostar area. The area within and around have numerous touristic benefits and must be able to keep tourists as long as possible.
New circumstances
In addition to the standard things that serve to promote tourism, Sivric warns that the approach to tourism must change.
“People and ideas are the most important thing in this story. You should not copy other destinations or expect results overnight by setting yourself some unrealistic goals. We must adapt Herzegovina to modern models of tourism, animate people. The most important thing is communication at the local level, it is necessary to gather quality people and a lot of things can be achieved“, says the director of REDAH.
According to him, the habits of tourists have changed, and in the new circumstances Herzegovina has a lot to offer, from natural beauty, cultural and historical heritage to adventure tourism.
“There are many destinations in Herzegovina that can be used for tourism. Eastern and northwestern Herzegovina with its mountains can offer a handful of outdoor activities, such as hiking, mountaineering, cycling, zip-line“, says Sivric.
He also referred to water tourism, which, according to him, is also largely unused, and Herzegovina’s rivers and lakes have huge potential.
“The whole area from Konjic to Mostar along the Neretva is unused, there is no “fair” boat. The area along the river Trebizat offers some content, but even that can be raised to a higher level. From Pec Mlini and the source of the river Trebizat, which tomorrow may have a camp with accompanying facilities to the bathing area along the already mentioned river, which offers vacation, but also active tourism within rafting“, said Sivric.
In this regard, REDAH, together with the City of Mostar, created a strategic project that would promote life from water tourism.
“It is necessary to enrich the contents of the lake and the river, if possible, make a promenade that would connect Mostar with the lake in Vrapcici, make and arrange hiking trails along the Buna, which would then serve for relaxation and activities. We have water, but we do not make a living from it as a tourist destination“, he pointed out.
There is, of course, flora and fauna, as an additional trump card.
“Flora and fauna are an unused part of the tourist offer. The potential of Hutovo blato can also be used to attract birdwatchers, and Hutovo blato as one of the ornithological reserves can certainly be a lure for tourists. We are also known for medicinal wild herbs, from which the story can also be made. Fishing as well,” says the executive director of REDAH.
Lack of camps
What you should definitely pay extra attention to are the camps.
“We do not have quality camps, for example Istria has 330,000 beds, and around 100,000 are in camps. In our country, Bunica has been unused for years. Both Trebinje and Livno could have their own camps, any city,” Sivric said.
Apart from natural and active tourism, the unused potential is also in the sphere of cultural and historical heritage.
“Unfortunately, our museums are poorly visited, although they are full of treasures. Museums should be presenters of cultural treasures instead of archives. Many Franciscan museums and public cultural institutions are full of artifacts that we can use to attract tourists,” Sivric said.
He also gave examples of Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian cultural, architectural and other heritage that could be targeted to the tourist market of Turkey and Central Europe.
“We have a very open potential for cultural events as well. We have three traditional events: Nevesinje Olympics, Grape Harvest Days in Citluk and Strljanica in Kupres, which do not advertise each other, and these events can certainly attract more tourists“, says Sivric and adds that other Herzegovinian cities have interesting cultural events that can be interesting to tourists.
In order to bring the complete tourist offer as close as possible to the public, REDAH and its partners have started creating a digital map.
“The interactive map we are preparing will contain information on restaurants, hotels, natural and cultural heritage, and events. It is time to start managing and promoting Herzegovina in a digital way. The mayors in Herzegovina will be presented with this interactive map, and they would then forward us information from their local self-government units, which we will process and add to this map“, says Sivric.
