In the framework of the Sarajevo Business Forum (SBF) and Sarajevo Halal Fair (SHF) 2023, USAID Developing Sustainable Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Turizam) organized special panels dedicated exclusively to the tourism sector. This year, SBF, as the largest business-invesment event in the region, gath-ered more than 2,000 business leaders, renowned investors, top experts, state officials and speakers. USAID Turizam recognized this event as a great opportunity to exchange ideas, knowledge, and experience, as well as to expand business networks and connect with new markets.
USAID Turizam organized a panel titled Resilience and Innovation: Encouraging Investment & Growth in the Tourism Sector, consisting of two sessions: Reputation, reputation, reputation: The Power of a Brand as a Catalyst to Attract In-vestment and International Capital and Strategies for Investment Growth and Profitability in the Tourism Sector. The curator and moderator of this panel was USAID Turizam Senior Destination Development Advisor Ibrahim Osta. This panel featured prominent international speakers from the US, France, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates, who came together to share insightful stories about sustainable tourism development. The panelists discussed how to leverage BiH’s untapped tourism potential while embracing sustainability and inclusivity. They also stressed the necessity of connecting with local communities and encouraging the development of authentic tourism experiences.
On the same day, USAID Turizam hosted a panel on the Sarajevo Halal Fair entitled Halal-Friendly Tourism Destinations. The panel was moderated by Feđa Begović, USAID Turizam Chief of Party. The panel discussion was focused on the growing market niche – halal tourism, considering the fact that consumers and tourists are in search of destinations that meet their needs and thus are tailored to the specific profile of travelers. The panelists concluded that halal tourism embodies the idea of supporting cultural and social cohesion, which represents a substance for multicultural communities. Just like the ones you can find in Sarajevo – the Jerusalem of Europe!
By organizing these panels, USAID Turizam promotes the growth of the tourism industry and the positioning of Bosnia and Herzegovina as one of the most dynamic and attractive international tourism destinations, with the aim of raising standards, increasing the number of visits and reducing seasonality.
