Sarajevo Canton breaks records on World Tourism Day

Tourism Board President Haris Fazlagic described 2025 as “the most successful year yet,” highlighting a 17% rise in arrivals and a 12% increase in overnight stays.

“In just the first nine months of this year, arrivals are up by 8% and overnight stays by more than 14%,” he said, noting that Sarajevo International Airport posted a 34% increase in traffic.

Sarajevo was named Best Destination 2025 by National Geographic Traveller and ranked among the top three destinations globally by SkyScanner. The promotional video Visit Sarajevo - Where Cultures Embrace also won awards at three European film festivals.

More than 95% of surveyed visitors cited direct flights as the key reason for choosing Sarajevo. Over the past year, more than 5 million Bosnian marks (approx. €2.55 million) were invested in subsidised routes and joint marketing with leading airlines.

Economy Minister Zlatko Mijatovic emphasised that the success was “the product of strategic planning,” pointing to the launch of 17 new direct flights and the adoption of a Tourism Development Strategy extending until 2030.

Future projects include city branding, major infrastructure investments, and the modernisation of Olympic facilities, with nearly 35 million marks (approx. €17.9 million) invested in ski slopes, lighting, and safety projects in recent years.