MOSTAR, October 11 (FENA) – Director of the Mostar Tourism Board, Elvira Dilberović, has assessed the past summer tourist season as one of the most successful to date. The season, which began in April with the arrival of 45 leading tour operators from Serbia as part of a FAM Trip program, continued to see growth until October.

“Following that, the flight from Belgrade to Mostar has been established, marking a very successful start to the season. This positive trend continued through October. We can describe the entire season as extremely good— all registered accommodation capacities were fully booked, and they still are. Although tourists are not as noticeable on the streets as they were during the summer months, that doesn’t mean they aren’t there,” Dilberović told FENA.

She added that one of the key indicators of a successful season is data collected through vignettes that allow tracking of group arrivals. A camera system set up in collaboration with UNESCO and the City of Mostar has ensured that all tourists purchase a vignette upon arrival.

“It clearly shows how much the groups of tourists have increased. As for individual arrivals, while I cannot provide precise figures since many private renters are not included in official tracking systems, I can reliably say that over one million tourists have visited Mostar,” she noted.

Dilberović explains that Mostar continues to be the most attractive destination for visitors from Europe, particularly from Germany, Austria, and neighboring countries like Croatia and Serbia. However, an increase in arrivals has also been recorded from countries in the Middle and Far East, as well as Turkey.

In recent years, Mostar has established itself as one of the most dynamic tourist destinations in the region, and the past season confirms this. The city hosted numerous events such as the Mostar Summer Fest, the Street Art Festival, Moba Street Food, and Mostar Summer, which attracted visitors from all over Europe.

Yet, alongside its rich cultural and historical offerings, there is a need for further improvements to make Mostar even more attractive and sustainable as a tourist destination. One of the key steps in this direction is the finalization of the Mostar Pass card, a project that has been underway for some time.

Another challenge is the regulation of tourist guides. Many tourist groups are arriving by bus having their guides, which is not a common practice in global tourist destinations.

”Sustainable tourism has become one of the key goals of the Mostar Tourism Board,” emphasized Dilberović. Destination management and long-term planning are prerequisites for sustainability, but challenges remain regarding the regulation of private accommodation.

Many owners are renting out illegally, which leads to lost revenue from tourist taxes and memberships, as well as a lack of crucial data about tourists—who they are, where they come from, how long they stay, and what interests them. Therefore, the City of Mostar and the Tourism Board are trying to bring private renters out of the “shadow economy” and integrate them into the system.

Dilberović also emphasized the importance of promoting all parts of the city that offer various attractions, thus extending tourists’ stays. The Tourism Board is working to expand the tourism offer beyond the old town core, allowing visitors to discover Mostar’s rich history and culture through different epochs.

In just nine months of its existence, the Mostar Tourism Board has implemented several projects that have significantly enriched the city’s tourist offer. One key project was a summer cinema, held in collaboration with the embassies of France and Turkey, featuring seven outdoor movie nights in Zrinjevac Park and in front of the Hamam in the Old Town.

“We believe that this city needs an urban tourism story so that our citizens and tourists can experience Mostar even in the late hours when things calm down,” explained the director of the Mostar Tourist Board.

The Tourist Board is also actively participating in promoting the Wine Route of Herzegovina and, in collaboration with USAID, is working on improving Mostar’s tourism offer, which has been declared the European City of Wine Dionisio 2024.

Creating a quality workforce has been recognized as one of the key factors for the long-term development of tourism in Mostar. In collaboration with the cantonal Ministry of Education and USAID, changes have been proposed to the curriculum for chefs to ensure the qualified professionals needed for the tourism sector.

One of the key long-term goals is the transformation of Mostar into a “Green Destination,” which requires strict standards. In cooperation with the French Embassy and the French Institute, a conference is planned for November 22 on “Transferring Good Practices and Experiences with Avignon,” one of France’s leading tourist cities.

Through this collaboration, Mostar aims to learn from Avignon and develop strategies that will enable green and sustainable development. As a symbol of this goal, the first olive tree will be planted in Mostar, marking the symbolic launch of the city’s greening initiative.