Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a major industry and an important sector of the country's economy. Since the end of the Bosnian War, tourism has become one of the fastest-growing sectors of the economy, contributing significantly to employment and regional development. Bosnia and Herzegovina is increasingly integrated into the European tourism market, attracting visitors with its cultural heritage, natural landscapes, religious sites, winter sports, and adventure tourism. Tourism is concentrated in Sarajevo and Mostar, as well as the Olympic mountain resorts of Jahorina, Bjelašnica, and Igman, with peak seasons during the summer and winter months.
The history of tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina dates to the Austro-Hungarian period and expanded during the Yugoslav era, particularly after Sarajevo hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics. Tourism declined during the Bosnian War before recovering steadily in the early 2000s through reconstruction and increasing international recognition. In 2019, Bosnia and Herzegovina recorded 1.99 million tourist arrivals and 4.1 million overnight stays, with foreign visitors accounting for nearly three-quarters of all tourists.
Bosnia and Herzegovina contains five World Heritage Sites and four national parks, alongside several nature parks and protected landscapes.
Economy and tourism Tourism contributes to the Bosnian economy. As a result, Bosnia-Herzegovina now has a wide tourist industry and a fast expanding service sector due to the increasing annual growth in tourists. The country also benefits from being both a summer and winter destination with continuity in its tourism throughout the year.
Being a predominantly mountainous country Bosnia-Herzegovina provides some of the best-value ski vacations in Europe. In March 2012, Sarajevo won travel blog Foxnomad's "Best City to Visit" competition, beating out more than one hundred cities around the entire world.
More recently, the town of Visoko has experienced a staggering increase in tourist arrivals due to the alleged discovery of the Bosnian pyramids, attracting in excess of 10,000 tourists in the first weekend of June 2006.
Međugorje has become one of the most popular pilgrimage sites for Catholics (and people of other faiths) in the world and has turned into Europe's third most important religious place, where each year more than 1 million people visit. It has been estimated that 30 million pilgrims have come to Međugorje since the reputed apparitions began in 1981.Vatican Probes Claims of Apparitions at Medugorje Reuters.com, Retrieved March 17, 2010.
Neum on the adriatic coast has steep hills, sandy beaches, and several large tourist hotels. Prices tend to be lower than in neighboring Croatia, making it popular with shoppers. Tourism and the commerce it brings, is the leading contributor to the economy of the area. Tourism in Neum is active mostly in the coastal region. The inland area behind Neum has a rich archeological history and untouched wilderness and is starting to develop agricultural tourism.
Vacationing in Bosnia has become popular among Gulf Arabs from Eastern Arabia.
Tourist attractions
The tourist department of Bosnia and Herzegovina indicated that the most attractive benefits experienced by visitors are - 1) the spirit of the people. 2) Cities across the country are well connected with intercity busses and 3) major cities with the surrounding natural sites are easily reachable within a day.
Some of the tourist attractions in Bosnia and Herzegovina include:
Sarajevo The "Olympic City". Economic, scientific, cultural, political and commercial center of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Called The European Jerusalem. Mostar, "City on Neretva", "City of Sunshine", the UNESCO site of Stari most and old town Mostar; Tuzla Birthplace of Mesa Selimovic and known for its Pannonian "Salt lakes". Banja Luka, the "Green City" with various cultural sights like Kastel fortress, the river Vrbas and Ferhadija mosque; Bihać and the river Una with its waterfalls and the Una National Park; Zenica the river Bosna and Vranduk – the medieval fortress with a mosque; Jajce with its waterfalls, city of The Bosnian Kings, and location of the foundation of Yugoslavia during AVNOJ; Višegrad, the UNESCO site of the Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge; Slatina, a famous spa resort with unpolluted nature, fresh air and a reputation since the 1870s. Medjugorje, Catholic pilgrimage site of a Marian apparition; known for Our Lady of Medjugorje. Prijedor, Old City Mosque (National heritage), Kozara National Park and Bosnia's largest WWII monument at Mrakovica; The Neretva river and the Rakitnica river canyons in Upper Neretva; The Trebižat river and its waterfalls Kravice and Kočuša; The Buna and its spring Vrelo Bune with the historical town of Blagaj; The Lower Tara river canyon; The Perućica ancient forest, one of the last two remaining primeval forests in Europe, and the Sutjeska river canyon, both within Sutjeska National Park; The Ribnik river fly fishing; The Pliva river fly fishing; The Una river and National Park rafting, fly fishing; Mount Bjelašnica and Jahorina, sites of the XIV Olympic Winter Games; Srebrenica nature, rafting on Drina, boat rides through canyon of river Drina to Višegrad (second deepest canyon in Europe), also a place where some of the worst war crimes committed in war happened; Mogorjelo, a Roman villa rustica that dates from the early fourth century. It is situated 5 km south of Čapljina. Neum, the only Bosnian-Herzegovinan coastal city on the Adriatic. Doboj and its 13th-century fortress; Stolac, the Begovina neighborhood and Radimlja tombstones; Visoko, City of Bosnian Kings and site of the alleged Bosnian pyramids; Tešanj, one of the oldest cities in Bosnia with its old town; Bijeljina, known for its agriculture and Etno village Stanišić. Lukavac - Modrac Lake (Jezero Modrac) the largest artificial lake in Bosnia and Herzegovina Travnik - The birthplace of Ivo Andrić and site of old town Travnik Ostrožac Castle - 16th-century castle built by the Ottomans and a second addition added by the Habsburg family. Konjic - known for its old town including the Stara Ćuprija bridge. Počitelj - a historic village near Čapljina.
World Heritage Sites The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has included the following 5 sites from Bosnia and Herzegovina on its World Heritage List: SiteImageLocation(s)DescriptionShared withRef(s)Old Bridge Area of the Old City of MostarMostarThe historic town of Mostar developed during the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian periods and is best known for the Stari Most (Old Bridge). Destroyed during the Bosnian War, the bridge was rebuilt under UNESCO supervision as a symbol of reconciliation.—Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge in Višegrad VišegradBuilt in the late 16th century by Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, the Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge spans the Drina river with 11 stone arches. It is regarded as one of the finest examples of classical Ottoman bridge architecture.—Stećci Medieval Tombstones GraveyardsRadimlja, Grčka Glavica, Krekovi, Borak, Novi Travnik, Blidinje, Kalinovik, Baljci, Bijača, Kladanj, Olovo, Goražde, Stolac, Trnovo, Sokolac, Berkovići, Šekovići, Foča, Kalinovik, KupresThis transnational UNESCO site includes 28 medieval cemeteries across Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia. Dating from the 12th to 16th centuries, the limestone stećci are decorated with distinctive carvings and inscriptions reflecting medieval Balkan culture.Croatia, Montenegro, SerbiaAncient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of EuropeJanj forest, ŠipovoThis transboundary extension of the World Heritage site of the Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and the Ancient Beech Forests of Germany (Germany, Slovakia, Ukraine) stretches over 18 countries.17 countriesVjetrenica CaveRavnoLocated in the Dinaric Alps, Vjetrenica Cave is renowned for its exceptional underground biodiversity and high number of endemic species. It is one of the world's most important habitats for cave-dwelling animals and contains numerous rare and ancient relict species.— The 9 monuments and areas seeking a nomination as World Heritage Sites, currently placed on the Tentative List include: Sarajevo - unique symbol of universal multiculture - continual open city (N.I.) (1997) The natural and architectural ensemble of Jajce (2006) The historic urban site of Počitelj (2007) The natural and architectural ensemble of Blagaj (2007) The natural and architectural ensemble of Stolac (2007) Jewish cemetery in Sarajevo (2018) Complex of travertine waterfalls in Martin Brod - Una National Park (2019)
Winter sports
During the 1984 Winter Olympics, the mountains of Bjelašnica, Jahorina and Igman hosted the skiing events. These are the most visited skiing mountains in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Jahorina ski resort was the site of the women's alpine skiing events. The men's alpine events were held at Bjelašnica. At Igman The Malo Polije area hosted the ski jumping and the ski jumping part of the Nordic combined events. Meanwhile, the Veliko Polje hosted the biathlon, cross-country skiing, and the cross-country skiing part of the Nordic combined event.1984 Winter Olympics official report. La84foundation.org, pp. 18-58, 106-7.
Sarajevo hosted the European Youth Olympic Winter Festival in 2019 and due to this, investments were made to build modern ski lifts and good standards of accommodation, especially at Bjelašnica and Jahorina.
The mountain Vlašić has also become a major center for winter tourism due to its excellent accommodation for skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports. It is also a destination for summer and eco tourism with many hiking trails and undisturbed wilderness areas.
The mountain and National Park Kozara has over the past years also become a tourist attraction for skiing and hiking.
Regions and cities Bosnia-Herzegovina is known for having various cultural sites of mixed architecture with Roman, medieval, Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian influences.
Sarajevo
The capital city Sarajevo is known for its traditional religious diversity, with adherents of Islam, Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Judaism coexisting there for centuries.Malcolm, Noel. Bosnia: A Short History . Due to this long and rich history of religious diversity, Sarajevo has often been called the "Jerusalem of Europe"Stilinovic, Josip (3 January 2002). "In Europe's Jerusalem", Catholic World News. The city’s principal mosques are the Gazi Husreff-Bey’s Mosque, or Begova Džamija (1530), and the Mosque of Ali Pasha (1560–61). Retrieved on 5 August 2006.
Sarajevo has a strong tourist industry and was named by Lonely Planet one of the top 50 "Best City in the World" in 2006.Lonely Planet (March 2006). The Cities Book: A Journey Through The Best Cities In The World, Lonely Planet Publications, . In December 2009 listed Sarajevo as one of the top ten cities to visit in 2010.
Sports-related tourism uses the legacy facilities of the 1984 Winter Olympics, especially the skiing facilities on the nearby mountains of Bjelašnica, Igman, Jahorina, Trebević, and Treskavica. Sarajevo's 600 years of history, influenced by both Western and Eastern empires, is also a strong tourist attraction. Sarajevo has hosted travellers for centuries, because it was an important trading centre during the Ottoman and Austria-Hungarian empires. Examples of popular destinations in Sarajevo include the Vrelo Bosne park with Roman thermal springs, the Sarajevo cathedral, the Gazi Husrev-beg's Mosque and old town of Sarajevo; Baščaršija. Tourism in Sarajevo is chiefly focused on historical, religious, and cultural aspects.