Republika Srpska sees tourism rise; domestic voucher program to start in September

In the January‑June period, Republika Srpska welcomed 245,744 tourists, a 2.9% increase over the same period last year, and recorded 611,951 overnight stays, up 5%. June alone saw 49,944 arrivals, 4.3% lower than June 2023, and 108,180 stays, down 6.9%. The growth was driven mainly by foreign visitors, whose arrivals rose 4.4% to 149,642 and overnight stays grew 6.6% to 370,330. Domestic tourist numbers edged up by 0.5% in arrivals and 2.7% in stays.

Mountain destinations experienced the strongest gains, with arrivals up 17.8% and stays up 23%, while spa areas remained largely stable. Hotels continued to dominate the market with 236,263 arrivals and 561,034 stays, reflecting rises of 3.5% and 5.8% respectively. Camps recorded declines, whereas resorts saw notable growth despite still low overall numbers.

The Ministry of Trade and Tourism of Republika Srpska has allocated two million convertible marks for a domestic tourism voucher scheme. Implementation will not begin during the peak summer season; officials are considering a September start after consultations with the tourism and hospitality sectors.