An increasingly large number of tourists from Turkey are visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina, a small, heart-shaped land in Eastern Europe located on the western Balkan Peninsula, which has long-been an attraction for international tourists with its natural beauties and treasures and glorious history as a country that has been home to many civilizations and cultures throughout history.
Bearing the scars of a war that lasted four years and ended in 1995, Bosnia started a process of rebuilding its cities and awakening its citizens from the tragic chapter in the county’s history. After conflict and numerous rulers, Bosnia emerged as a country marked by different cultures and religions, which remains evident even today.
The Ottoman traces in Bosnian history can be seen all over, which is an attraction for the rising number of Turkish tourists, who represent 6.6 percent of the total number of international arrivals coming into Bosnia and Herzegovina annually.
Last year the Institute for Tourism in Zagreb conducted a study concerning the spending behavior of tourists in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It showed that 41 percent of tourists from Turkey came to Sarajevo for cultural and heritage tourism. Sarajevo is a city rich in historically significant traits. Walking down the old street of Ferhadija and towards the newly renovated BBI center, a shopping mall in the city, there are evident remains of many different civilizations.
Starting from Bascarsija, the Sebilj and the famous Gazi Husrev Beg Mosque, the Ottoman spirit remains within the walls of these ancient structures, which are still preserved today. Passing the cathedral and the eternal flame, Austro-Hungarian architecture and scenic beauty adorn the streets. Finally, a contemporary monument dedicated to the children who lost their lives in the Bosnian war is located in the park that hosts a fountain.
Elsewhere across Bosnia and Herzegovina, ruins of castles and towers are spread out throughout numerous cities such as Zenica, Travnik and Maglaj. Another major attraction is the country’s many rivers. Its abundance of fast flowing, clear, cool waters make for an ideal vacation spot for adrenalin-infused activities. Rivers such as the Neretva and the Buna are hosts to some of Europe’s most challenging white water rafting. Currently, the top destinations for tourists pouring in from Turkey are Mostar, Travnik, Visegrad, Bihac, Stolac, Banja Luka, Sarajevo and Pocitelj. Last year Fidan Tours Travel Agency bought and restored the tekke, a dervish lodge, located on the Buna River spring near Blagaj. The natural and architectural ensemble has been preserved and is now open to tourists and visitors to put on their list of activities and things to see when in Bosnia.
According to Fidan Tours, rafting is one of the main activity attractions for Turks. Other outdoor activities include mountain climbing and hiking.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s numerous mountains and ski resorts offer Olympic quality slopes for winter sports. After all, Sarajevo is remembered as the host of the 1984 Winter Olympic Games. The region has a good consistent amount of snowfall during the winter months, and Sarajevo’s Mount Bjelasnica and Jahorina have a long history of tourists visiting from around the world.
Turkish people also prefer Bosnia and Herzegovina because of its familiar culture and friendly people. Described as warm, hospitable and lively, they act much like family towards guests and visitors. Data from the Turkish Statistics Institute (TurkStat) show that the number of Turkish tourists visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina rose by 30 percent in 2010 over the previous year. The recent boom in Turkey’s economy has also contributed to tourism outside the country. Even through the global financial crisis, not a single Turkish bank sunk. The country is undergoing large economic development as one of the world’s fastest-growing emerging markets, and many citizens are taking capitalizing on it by traveling.
This is a major boost to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s feeble economy, and while many media outlets have written of the small country’s attraction, its government has not shown any significant support to the field of tourism. Instead, much of the country’s future in tourism lies in the hands of travel agencies and tourism organizations eager to present Bosnia and Herzegovina’s charm to the rest of the world.