RAVNO, July 14 (FENA) – Around 11,000 visitors toured Vjetrenica Cave in the first six months of 2026. Director of the Vjetrenica Public Institution Davor Baković told FENA that they are satisfied with the results so far and expect the peak tourist season to further increase the number of visitors.

Foreign tourists continue to make up the majority of visitors, outnumbering domestic guests. Most visitors come from countries in the region, Central European countries, and the United States, Baković said.

He added that the inclusion of Vjetrenica Cave on the UNESCO World Heritage List has contributed to increased interest among international visitors.

In addition to greater tourism recognition, he said there has also been significant progress on the international scientific scene through intensified cooperation, research, and networking with scientific institutions from around the world.

“We are currently implementing activities aimed at the digital transformation of the visitor experience and the development of new content tailored to children and families. One of the results of these activities is an educational picture book about Vjetrenica,” Baković said, adding that this year is particularly dedicated to biodiversity research and protection projects, which represent the foundation for the cave’s future sustainable development.

He emphasized that the development of new content and improvement of the tourism offer is a continuous process carried out in accordance with the Management Plan for the UNESCO site.

The goal, he said, is to develop sustainable content that will enrich the visitor experience in the long term, with this year’s focus primarily on research and project activities.

The Tourism Board of the Municipality of Ravno said that the number of overnight stays in the first six months of this year increased by 10 percent compared to the same period last year, with the highest number of overnight stays recorded by visitors from the United States, Germany, Austria, and the United Kingdom.

Director of the Ravno Tourism Board, Darijan Pehar, said that, in addition to Vjetrenica Cave, visitors are recommended to visit the Zavala Monastery and the Biospeleological Museum in Zavala.

“The former route of the Ćiro narrow-gauge railway runs right next to the cave and is now one of the most beautiful hiking and cycling trails in Herzegovina, offering unique views of Popovo Polje and connecting Zavala and Ravno,” Pehar said.

He added that Popovo Polje is crisscrossed by dozens of kilometers of cycling and hiking trails that pass through vineyards, over bridges on the Trebišnjica River, alongside authentic villages of Popovo, all the way to Hutovo.

“Ravno is located only five kilometers from Zavala and can be reached via the Ćiro railway route or a regional road. Visitors there can enjoy excellent gastronomy, stećak medieval tombstone necropolises, national monuments, and distinctive stone architecture,” Pehar said.

He also noted that Zavala is only about a 15-minute drive from Slano on the Croatian Adriatic coast, allowing visitors to combine a tour of UNESCO natural heritage, cultural and historical landmarks, active recreation, and swimming in the Adriatic Sea in a single day.