Bosnia’s Mountain Resorts Shift Focus to Summer Tourism
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina — Nestled just a short drive from the Mediterranean coast, the mountainous resorts near Sarajevo, which have historically relied on winter sports, are now making a concerted effort to attract summer tourists.
Despite challenges in tracking tourism data accurately, officials in the region see a promising trend. “In the past, our focus was solely on snow, but we’ve come to recognize that reliable snow isn’t guaranteed at lower altitudes,” said Haris Fazlagic, president of the Sarajevo tourism board. He pointed out that significant snowfall is now more probable at altitudes exceeding 2,500 meters, a height that many of Bosnia’s mountains do not reach.
Fazlagic believes that enhancing summer activities can divert visitors from the expensive and increasingly hot Adriatic coastlines of Croatia and Montenegro. He argued that cultivating a year-round appeal is essential for the future of tourism in Bosnia, although he admitted that this is a long-term goal.
In 2017, after facing several winters with inadequate snow, the Jahorina and Bjelasnica mountains began leveraging their summer potential. These mountains, known for hosting the 1984 Winter Olympics, have elevations of 1,906 meters and 2,067 meters, respectively.
To improve offerings, the resorts now operate ski lifts year-round for breathtaking views and are incrementally adding hiking, biking, and ATV trails. “The weather here is fantastic; it’s not hot at all,” said Dusko Kurtovic, a visitor enjoying the summer in Jahorina. The temperatures typically hover between 24 and 30 degrees Celsius (75-86 degrees Fahrenheit), providing a refreshing alternative to the scorching temperatures often experienced at coastal destinations.
Vasilije Knezevic, who leads quad tours at Jahorina, shared that while the ski season had been tough due to snow shortages, summer business has been thriving. Despite this growth, mountain resorts still struggle to compete with the lucrative seaside tourism in nearby Croatia, where tourism comprises up to 20% of the nation’s gross domestic product.
Just a five-hour drive from Sarajevo, the historic city of Dubrovnik is facing a different scenario, wrestling with a surge of visitors. Unlike Bosnian resorts that are looking to increase tourist numbers, Dubrovnik’s authorities are focusing on crowd management. They’ve limited the number of tourists from cruise ships to 4,000 at one time and imposed traffic restrictions in the city’s Old Town.
While Dubrovnik counted close to two million overnight stays in the first seven months of 2025—almost twice that of the Sarajevo region—the area continues to redefine its tourism strategy. Both Bosnia and Croatia aim to extend their tourism seasons and transition into year-round destinations, planning for the future amidst changing climatic conditions.
