Summertime vacation spots in Bosnia shift focus towards tourism due to climate changes
Sarajevo Shifts Focus to Mountain-Based Summer Tourism
Sarajevo, Bosnia, is making a strategic move towards developing mountain-based summer tourism as a response to climate change and competition from traditional seaside vacations.
Unlike Dubrovnik, which is grappling with an abundance of tourists, the mountains of Sarajevo are trying to increase visitors to offset the decline in snow sports tourism. In response to the lack of snow, Jahorina and Bjelasnica mountains have started to operate ski lifts year-round for scenic views. These mountains are steadily adding new hiking, biking, and ATV trails and tours to attract summer tourists.
The region is expanding summer recreational offerings such as hiking, biking, and scenic mountain experiences in resorts like Jahorina and Bjelasnica, previously known for winter sports, to attract visitors seeking cooler climates and nature-focused activities away from the Adriatic coast's heat and crowds.
Sarajevo’s mountain resorts are capitalizing on their natural landscapes and the legacy of their 1984 Winter Olympics facilities, transforming into year-round destinations to extend the tourist season beyond winter. Officials intend to lure tourists who would otherwise choose coastal Adriatic destinations by promoting the mild mountain summer climate against the intense heat and high costs of seaside vacations.
This pivot includes newer activities targeting summer visitors, emphasizing outdoor adventure and healthy tourism. In addition to these regional efforts, Sarajevo is positioning itself as a hub for tourism innovation and cooperation through events like the upcoming Tourism Expo Sarajevo 2025.
Unlike traditional seaside vacations that rely heavily on beach and sun-centric activities, Sarajevo’s tourism trend uniquely promotes mountain ecology and climate advantages, offering a complementary experience to mainstream coastal tourism in the Balkans. This approach aligns with regional sustainability goals and the effort to develop a more resilient, year-round tourism economy.
While climate change is driving Bosnia and Croatia toward different tourism strategies, both countries share a common objective: to "extend the season" and become a "year-round tourist destination." However, business in the mountains of Sarajevo remains far less profitable than seaside destinations in neighboring Croatia, where tourism accounts for up to 20 percent of the country's gross domestic product.
Despite this, tourists like Dusko Kurtovic, a visitor from Doboj, are praising the cool weather in Jahorina during their short vacations. Aida Hodzic of the Dubrovnik tourism board mentions Dubrovnik's goal to become a year-round tourist destination as well. Haris Fazlagic, the Sarajevo tourism board president, believes that expanding summer offerings can lure tourists away from coastal vacations.
Jahorina and Bjelasnica mountains near Sarajevo, which hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics, have elevations of 1,906 meters and 2,067 meters respectively. Snow is now likely to fall and accumulate at altitudes above 2,500 meters in Sarajevo's mountains, making snow sports less reliable. Vasilije Knezevic, who leads quad tours of Jahorina's highest peaks, notes that their summer business is "fabulous" while the ski season was "bleak" due to the snow shortage.
As Sarajevo continues to develop its mountain-based summer tourism, it aims to boost the overall tourism appeal and international visibility of Bosnia and Herzegovina, reinforcing the mountain summer tourism shift in a broader strategy to attract diverse visitors.
