Following the adoption of COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines and Protocols developed by USAID Turizam, WTTC has awarded B&H the Safe Travel Stamps. Through the recently launched Turizam Academy, B&H tourism stakeholders will have the opportunity to directly benefit from the stamp.
Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) has received the internationally recognized Safe Travels Stamp issued by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). Through the adoption of COVID protocols prepared by USAID’s Developing Sustainable Tour-ism in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Turizam) project in cooperation with local partners, B&H has fulfilled the conditions to obtain the WTTC Safe Travel Stamp, developed to optimize the efforts of the global tourism sector to restore trust among travelers and ensure coordination of public and private sector actors in this sector.
USAID Turizam project began immediately after its launch to formulate COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines and Protocols by building on health and safety guidelines set by BiH institutions and adapting them to meet international best practice from global industry leaders. The document was developed in cooperation with the B&H Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations and entity ministries (Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism and Ministry of Trade and Tourism of Republika Srpska). Following a detailed analysis of documents prepared and adopted by B&H institutions related to COVID-19, USAID Turizam project held private sector consultations, that included stakeholders from accommodation facilities, restaurants, adventure services and many other in order to explore their needs and capacities to introduce new measures, or point out shortcomings.
Following WTTC’s issuance of the Safe Travels stamp for B&H, USAID Turizam is launching the Turizam Academy, an online platform for advancing human capital in the tourism sector in B&H (https://academy.turizambih.ba/). The first set of free, custom-made courses within the Turizam Academy will enable the implementation of the Covid-19 Guidelines and Protocols in various branches of the tourism sector, such as hotels, restaurants, and tourism service providers. Through the Turizam Academy, tourism stakeholders and the wider workforce will have the opportunity to directly benefit from the WTTC Safe Travels Stamp for B&H.
