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When two friends with the same interest teamed up and decided to start their own business, they kept in mind that they persevere, even if they are not the fastest. This is the story of Amila Sehovic and Merima Dervisbegovic, tourism enthusiasts and Bosnia and Herzegovina enthusiasts, who started Penelope Tours, an agency that offers the development of tourist services in Sarajevo and discovering its spirit through old history, new history and gastronomic offer. Their goal, as they say, is to attract clients and capital to our country, not to export it. Their dreams and visions are big and they plan to expand their offer to other cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Right now, their heads are in the clouds and their feet are on the ground.
When I asked them what it was like to develop this business, they told me they had come a long way. Although they knew a lot about the industry in which they work, starting a business brought new challenges. Both have been present in the tourism industry for the last ten years. Amila, working as a tour guide throughout Europe and the world, has gained extensive experience working at Cosmos. On the other hand, Merima, after finishing her studies at the Academy of Fine Arts, due to lack of work, started working as a tourist guide in Sarajevo. All this time, the desire to start their own business began to grow. Merima told us: The desire to become an entrepreneur was the logical next step – if a painter can become a tourist guide, then a guide can become an entrepreneur. Becoming an entrepreneur, Amila decided to use the knowledge and experience she has, pay back her country’s debt and improve tourist services throughout the country. Interesting and united, Amila and Merima, in cooperation with our community and our media partners RadiYo Active Zenica, are giving you a free tourist tour in Sarajevo:
Full of hidden stories, a walk through the city, with our guide, offers an inspiring couple of hours where you will see this city with different eyes. In addition to the walk, you will enjoy a traditional soup in the oldest restaurant in the city, eat one of the best pies in Baščaršija and, finally, enjoy a relaxing conversation with Bosnian coffee and cake. With our agency’s service, get to know Sarajevo or fall in love with it again. Merima, Penelope Tours
