During June 6 and June 7, Sarajevo was a hub for global experts in the travel and tourism industry, as the city hosted the highly anticipated Travel and Tourism Resilience and Innovation Summit, with a special focus on Southeast Europe and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The event, co-organized by the US Government through the USAID Developing Sustainable Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Turizam) project, the Global Travel & Tourism Resilience Council and Travoluton, attracted distinguished speakers and participants from around the world, all dedicated to discussing and developing strategies for the future of tourism.
The conference featured a series of insightful presentations and dynamic discussions that explored various aspects of resilience and innovation within the travel and tourism sector. Keynote speeches and panel sessions addressed critical topics such as sustainable tourism, innovative marketing strategies, the importance of data collection, and environmental protection measures.
“We organized this Summit to connect international experts, entrepreneurs, and investors with local partners, with the aim of exploring innovative and sustainable ways to grow and enhance all parts of the tourism sector that collaborate to provide a positive experience for visitors. Our program today aims to promote resilience, innovation, and inclusivity in the tourism sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina and beyond. I look forward to the creative ideas that will help create prosperity, new jobs, and opportunities in the tourism sector, while preserving and respecting local culture and communities.”
See the photo gallery.
Photo Credit: USAID Developing Sustainable Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Turizam)
We share with you just a glimpse of the great atmosphere and program of the Summit, and we have also prepared recordings of all plenary sessions featuring local, regional, and global experts. Below you can also watch complete program of Summit.
An expected annual growth of 11% opens up great opportunities for major markets
The speakers shared an optimistic outlook on the future of tourism in the region. „There are many growth opportunities that need to be utilized, both in terms of short-haul travel from Europe and long-haul destinations with the development of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a destination. In the overview of regional tourism opportunities, Bosnia and Herzegovina is at the top, with an expected annual growth of 11%, which opens up great opportunities for major markets,“ stated David Goodger, EMEA managing director of Oxford Economics.
Nejc Jus, director of research at the World Travel and Tourism Council, noted: „Around 80% of the total value of tourism relies on nature. Considering Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country in the early stages of tourism development, it is a perfect place to develop nature-positive tourism. It has beautiful nature, and this is truly an opportunity to use it as an advantage for further development. Additionally, it can make sustainability a part of its destination DNA.“
The Federal Minister of Environment and Tourism, Nasiha Pozder, also attended the Summit, emphasizing that “In September, the FBiH Government adopted a tourism development strategy for the first time, allowing us to not just have tourism happen to us, but to plan it much better and more effectively. Last year broke all records, and now we have set the bar quite high, and I hope we will meet expectations this year as well.”
Final Find has earned the prestigious title of the best start-up in the region!
The second day of the conference also featured a regional start-up competition, aiming to catalyze digital innovation and practical business solutions in the field of tourism. The USD 10,000 prize was awarded to company Final Find from Montenegro, for an app enabling the creation of interactive instructions for reaching a tourist location. “We would like to thank everyone for recognizing the importance of our idea; this is validation for all the hard work we have put in,” said Dražen Stojović, one of the company’s founders. “The award will help us continue to develop the app’s functionality, including the possibility of offline usage.”
The idea for this startup was born in response to a specific problem faced by the local community in Montenegro, the fact that numerous accommodation providers spend a significant amount of their time providing directions to their accommodations. The Final Find app will enable the creation of instructions with integrated audio recordings, additional photos, and videos, making it easier for visitors to reach their desired destinations.
The winners of the start-up competition with President and CEO of Chemonics International, Jamey Butcher, and Senior Vice President for the Europe and Eurasia region, Tetyana Dudka.
One of the major conclusions of the Summit is that regional countries need to cooperate in order to be more attractive in long haul markets. Marija Labović, CEO at the National Tourism Organization of Serbia, stated: „For us, presence in distant markets is important because tourists who come from faraway destinations do not come to visit just one country; they want to visit as many countries as possible in one trip and stay longer during that trip. Therefore, it is important to provide them with a joint tourism product that essentially combines the diversity of our countries, so their journey is rich in experiences, they leave with positive impressions, and they share those impressions back in their home countries, attracting even more tourists. Tourists from long haul markets are also important because they tend to spend more on average, stay longer, and utilize all available amenities, making them truly valuable tourists for all of us.“
Through the USAID Turizam project, the US Government supports the private sector in leading growth, including positioning BiH as one of the most vibrant and attractive tourism destinations internationally with the objective of increasing visitor numbers, reducing seasonality and increasing value. For more information, visit turizambih.ba or USAID Turizam’s social media profiles.
“We believe it is very important that we organized this event here, in the Western Balkans region, and this is proven by the strong support and interest we received from the entire region. We believe that Bosnia and Herzegovina has enormous potential for tourism development, and we have also seen that the USAID Turizam project is implementing very successful initiatives. We are pleased to support their activities,” concluded Daniela Wagner, Global Director of Business Development at Jacobs Media Group, which includes the co-organizer of the Summit, the Global Travel and Tourism Resilience Council.
Photo Credit: USAID Developing Sustainable Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Turizam)