(Photo: Visit Konjic Agency)
Konjic is the heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina, right in the center where Bosnia and Herzegovina meets, a town on the banks of the beautiful Neretva River. You can stop briefly, see the Old Stone Bridge from the Ottoman period, but you will certainly stay longer seeing the mountain ranges and slopes of Mountain Prenj, begins the story for eKapija Sanjin Bubalo, director of Visit Konjic, with whom we discussed tourism development plans for 2022.
– I am sure that Konjic is the future place of outdoor tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina and has all predispositions to be a place of multi-day stay and adventure tourism. The most attractive outdoor activities are rafting and canoeing on the Neretva River, canyoning on the Rakitnica River, Boračko and Jablaničko Lakes, MTB, hiking on Prenj, Visočica, Bjelašnica, then rural areas and ethno village Lukomir are unavoidable – explains Bubalo.
Konjic is also a city of woodcarving and Zuko Džumhur, with more than 4,000 stećak tombstones. You should visit and try Bosnian coffee, traditional dishes from restaurants on the banks of the river, go with friends and family on an unforgettable rafting down the drinkable rapids of the Neretva River canyon, our interviewee points out.
This town on the Neretva River boasts a rich cultural and historical heritage, necropolises of stećak tombstones in the city center and the surrounding area. There is also the Mulić Record Museum, Nikšić Handicrafts, the Homeland Museum, religious buildings from the 14th and 15th centuries as well as the Atomic War Command, building D0 better known to the public as Tito’s bunker.
– Currently in Konjic we have accommodation facilities such as private apartments, hostels, 3 or 4 star hotels. It is already visible that the trend of growth and demand for Konjic as a multi-day destination should be monitored in the future with the construction of new accommodation facilities.
This is, as Bubalo said to eKapija, the reason why they started building the Outdoor Resort Visit Konjic”
– Outdoor Resort Visit Konjic is a concept of complete atmosphere for adrenaline lovers and outdoor content, both foreign and domestic tourists. It spreads over about 10,000 m2, in a natural environment, in the valley of Bijela in Konjic, at the foot of the mountain Prenj, the Herzegovinian Himalayas, as true lovers of hiking and nature like to call it – says Bubalo.
Five zones have been planned. The first zone, the so-called the Gathering area and the base pentagon building are in the final phase and there is a basement-storage area, a reception area with an internal restaurant area, ten double rooms and a roof terrace. An artificial rock for climbing is also planned next to the mentioned facility. Other zones are: Bungalow zone, so-called Mountain village with natural lake, Gastro zone – fountain, Glamping zone and recreation zone in the forest area of the resort.
– The complete investment will cost around 2 million BAM. We are already somewhere in the middle of our works, because the base facility is the biggest investment. We have been in tourism for more than ten years, and thanks to our personal efforts, we managed to enter this project on our own and start construction. We are currently open to negotiations and new investments. We have certain offers, innovative and inspiring people from the region and EU countries. Our goal is to create a unique outdoor story, through which the tradition of Bosnia and Herzegovina, natural values will be a priority. We want to create a combination of relaxation and adrenaline, cultural values and innovative modern achievements – our interviewee points out.
Return to nature is a great chance for tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina
A good geographical position is crucial in communication, transport and high tourist traffic, Bubalo believes. Konjic is only 50 km away from Sarajevo, and it is close to the southern part of our homeland – about 60 km away from Mostar.
(Photo: Visit Konjic Agency) – This route Sarajevo-Mostar is the most attractive and the largest number of tourists decide on programs and activities from the capital to the south. Konjic is in the center and outdoor activities are easily organized, all tours start in a very short period of time from 30 minutes to an hour. Our municipality is rich in forests, has about 50 villages and that is certainly one of the potentials that will affect the development of rural, mountain tourism in the future. We are witnessing that during the pandemic, most people return to nature, they are looking for local products and organic food, mountainous areas, and the municipality of Konjic has it all.
Given the expansion of tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina in recent years, Bubalo believes that much more investment and innovation is needed to achieve the appropriate standard and quality of service.
– In this regard, I think that the support of local and cantonal authorities should be greater, government participants should be more enterprising and innovative in order to strengthen ties with tourism workers. First of all, it is necessary to regulate and apply legal regulations in tourism. Strategically approach in a way that the potentials of certain cities, cantons and countries are promoted and appear together on the market. Observing especially local communities, the most important thing is to implement measures for environmental protection, arrangement of infrastructure, mapping of tourist offers and potentials, then the fight against the black market, i.e., illegal work.
Plans for the next period
The two-year pandemic had the greatest impact on the plans of tourist workers, including in Konjic. Bubalo tells us that their priority in 2022 is to complete the Pentagon facility with an artificial rock until the beginning of the summer season.
– I believe that we are facing a year of new adventures and that we will be able to open the doors of our resort.
They plan to open accommodation facilities, as well as increase the number of outdoor activities.
– Excursions to the Prenj mountain valley, jeep safari tours combined with easy walks and hiking tours will certainly be in the foreground. Indispensable are camps in tent settlements, thematically designed for young people, families and team building groups. This is a great opportunity to invite all nature lovers to discover the mountains of Bosnia and Herzegovina, join our excursions specially planned and tailored to individuals and groups. Welcome – says Sanjin Bubalo, director of Visit Konjic.
See what the Outdoor Resort will look like in the gallery:
Teodora Brnjoš
Photo gallery
