Announcing the Global Tourism Event: Resilience & Innovation To Be Held in June 2024 in Sarajevo!
“The future of travel and tourism is moving towards sustainability, with the private sector taking the lead,” stated USAID/BiH Economic Development Office Director Dr. Karl Wurster, during the Step Forward session. “Our goal is to help everyone, including partners from the private and public sectors, to find innovative solutions to ensure that Bosnia and Herzegovina becomes one of the global leaders in sustainable tourism development.
A delegation of tourism professionals from Bosnia and Herzegovina participated in the A World For Travel (AWFT) forum, which was held in the Spanish city of Seville on 18. October 18 and 19. The forum brought together representatives from governments and the private sector to dedicate attention to the urgent need for transformation of the travel industry practices with the aim of improving sustainability. The delegation from Bosnia and Herzegovina, supported by the US Government through the USAID Turizam project in Bosnia and Herzegovina, presented the ways in which the dynamic tourism sector in the country is attracting worldwide attention.
Mirza Hujić, Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism at the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina,joined the head of European Projects and International Relations at the Catalan Tourist Board Blanca Cros and the Director of Staff at the Asia-Pacific Travel Association (PATA) Paul Pruangkarn in a discussion on the ways in which countries are adapting to climate change. Hujić said, “In light of climate change whose consequences are extremely negative for the economy and especially the tourism sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is of utmost importance that we all take adequate measures to adapt to the challenges posed by new climate challenges.”
AWFT provided Bosnia and Herzegovina with a platform to showcase unique attractions, exchange experiences with global players, and create partnerships that encourage innovation, investment, and sustainable practices. The presence of the delegation is crucial for building a niche in the competitive tourism sector, encouraging international cooperation, and transforming the country into a globally recognized tourism destination.
Announcement of the Resilience & Innovation event to be held in June 2024 in Sarajevo
Feđa Begović, USAID Turizam Chief of Party, participated in a panel dedicated to workforce development, a challenge that the tourism sector faces today. Begović discussed innovative approaches recently implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including curriculum reform, informal training, and on-the-job training.
In the final session, Ibrahim Osta, USAID Turizam Senior Destination Development Advisor, joined Moroccan Minister of Tourism, Air Transport, Handicrafts, and Social Economy Fatima-Zahra Ammor and Intrepid CEO James Thornton in a discussion on the theme of resilience in destination development. Mr. Osta announced the summit on resilience and innovation to be held in Sarajevo in June 2024, in collaboration with the Global Travel and Tourism Resilience Council.
