Sports and tourism are the most powerful engines driving community development. We have the capacity to unite these two sectors into sports tourism. Let’s start with our local communities, which have so much to offer, and there are already people who recognize that. There is a real opportunity for sports and tourism to come together with a shared goal and be used for development and progress, says Danijel Šarić, the renowned handball player.
He also supports the organization of the SportTour 2025 Conference (https://sport-tour.com/), which is the first international professional gathering dedicated to the development and promotion of sports tourism in the region.
“Great promoters and ambassadors of cities and countries are sports and tourism. They are closely connected. Athletes, with the help of those in tourism, can showcase all the charm, beauty, and richness of their hometown or country. Sports and tourism truly make sense together, and I’m glad to be one of the participants in the conference,” emphasized Šarić, who is also the president of the Organizing Committee of the traditional handball TV Champions Tournament held in Doboj for over five decades, bringing together clubs from all over the world.
“Sports tournaments are major promoters, boosting local capacities and bringing various benefits to the host city. We have capable people who can present this segment through both sports and tourism to anyone interested,” Šarić explained.
He says that while he comes from handball, above all, he comes from sports.
“Any sport with a strong brand or name in our country must be revitalized and returned to where it belongs. Those of us who come from these sports must help give something back. My idea was to return to the tournament that has a name across Europe and beyond, and it wasn’t difficult for me to bring it back to its rightful place. When I began organizing the tournament in Doboj, my idea was to connect sports and tourism, and to show what the city of Doboj has to offer beyond sports. We included exhibitions, gastronomy, and even involved local villages to present their offerings. All of this gives added value to the local community and to Republika Srpska, where the tournament is held,” Šarić pointed out.
Jahorina to host the event
The SportTour 2025 Conference will take place on June 13 and 14, 2025, at Hotel “Vučko” on Jahorina. It will bring together leading experts, representatives of sports and tourism organizations, investors, and enthusiasts with the goal of enhancing and popularizing sports tourism.
Source: RTRS
