200,000 attend Dino Merlin’s Sarajevo concerts as city passes major organisational test

Security and emergency services were deployed on a large scale throughout the three concert nights. Around 200 police officers from the Sarajevo Canton Ministry of Interior were on duty each evening, while the Sarajevo Institute for Emergency Medical Care deployed 15 medical teams, comprising a total of 45 healthcare professionals.

Public companies Park, RAD, GRAS and the Professional Fire Brigade were also engaged to ensure the city continued to function normally despite the large influx of visitors.

"Behind every concert people see lies the enormous work of hundreds of individuals. Police officers, healthcare workers, firefighters, and employees of public utility companies and public transport worked for days to ensure Sarajevo remained safe, clean and functional for both residents and visitors," Sarajevo Canton Prime Minister Nihad Uk said.

The Sarajevo Canton Government said the concerts also had a significant impact on the local tourism sector. According to data from Booking.com, 99 percent of accommodation facilities in Sarajevo were unavailable for booking between July 30 and August 3. Of the nine remaining available properties, most belonged to the higher-priced luxury segment.

Authorities said the concerts generated direct economic benefits for accommodation providers, restaurants and public transport operators, while images and videos from the events were widely shared by regional media outlets and on social media, further promoting Sarajevo internationally.

"Our goal is for Sarajevo to become the cultural centre of the region – a city people visit for top-quality events and return to. This is the result of a clear policy of investing in culture, tourism and the creative industries. Investing in culture means investing in development, new jobs and the international reputation of Bosnia and Herzegovina," Uk said.

He congratulated Dino Merlin on what he described as an outstanding success and thanked all institutions, public companies and emergency services that helped ensure the three concerts were held safely and without disruption.

Sarajevo is set to host another major music event in ten days, when British electronic band The Prodigy is scheduled to perform in the Bosnian capital.