REPUBLIKA SRPSKA HAS CAPACITY TO KEEP PACE WITH DEVELOPED COUNTRIES IN TOURISM

BELGRADE, FEBRUARY 19 /SRNA/ – The Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations in the Council of Ministers of BiH Staša Košarac has said today in Belgrade that Republika Srpska has the capacity to keep pace with developed countries in the field of tourism.

Košarac, who attended the opening of the International Tourism Fair and visited the tourism stands of Republika Srpska, told SRNA that Republika Srpska is represented on the tourism map of Europe, the region, and beyond. He stated that this is the result of the credible official policy of the Republika Srpska institutions, the efforts of its financial and other institutions, as well as local efforts in order to develop tourist destinations. As he pointed out, one of the most visible examples proving that investing in tourism is worthwhile is the Jahorina Olympic Centre of which all Republika Srpska citizens are proud. "I believe that on the skiing map it may be at the very top of destinations," Košarac emphasized. On the other hand, he says, it is important to highlight the efforts of all tourist destinations in Republika Srpska and all types of tourism, from religious and spa tourism to congress tourism. "We want to invest additional efforts in infrastructure so we can compete with other countries in the region," Košarac stressed. He emphasized that Jahorina, Trebinje, Andrićgrad, Banja Luka, and all other areas have something to show and that Republika Srpska has the capacity to keep pace with developed countries in that segment. Košarac noted that one of the opportunities to present Republika Srpska will certainly be the international exhibition “Expo 2027” in Belgrade, where Republika Srpska will have a very credible and substantial presentation. He thanked the Republika Srpska Representative Office in Belgrade, which provides strong support for the development of such fair capacities, as well as the Republika Srpska Tourism Organisation and the line ministries in the Government of Republika Srpska. Košarac stated that the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations in the Council of Ministers has a coordinating role when it comes to tourism. "We ensure the tourism sovereignty of Republika Srpska by not allowing certain decisions to be made at the level of BiH institutions in the field of tourism without the prior consent of the Srpska institutions," Košarac emphasized. According to him, this confirms the fact that in the field of tourism, Srpska has a say in Sarajevo. "We are intensively working on memorandums of cooperation in the field of tourism with many countries in the region. I believe this is a good model for advancing our tourism workers and the overall tourism offer of Republika Srpska," Košarac said. He assessed that tourism is a seriously potent economic sector of Republika Srpska, alongside energy, adding that the institutions of Republika Srpska will keep developing in that direction. "Just as we are recording impressive results in the energy sector, we will likewise record serious results in tourism in terms of the number of guests and overnight stays," Košarac said.