Banja Luka continues to record positive tourism trends, with both tourist arrivals and overnight stays increasing during the first five months of the year, according to data from the city’s Tourist Organisation.
Between January and May, the city welcomed 3 percent more visitors than during the same period last year, while the number of overnight stays increased by 8.9 percent.
Growth accelerated in May, when Banja Luka recorded 13,985 tourist arrivals, a 4 percent increase compared to the same month in 2025. During the month, visitors generated 23,396 overnight stays, representing an increase of approximately 15 percent.
Project Manager Milada Šukalo said the city has long pursued the goal of positioning Banja Luka as one of the leading tourist destinations in the region.
She noted that significant efforts have been made in recent years to enrich the city’s tourism offering, with the latest figures demonstrating the success of that strategy.
“We are very pleased with the figures published by the Tourist Organisation because they confirm that we are doing an excellent job together in developing tourism in our city. Banja Luka’s record tourism results show that continuous investment in tourism products and the organisation of high-quality events has been recognised by both domestic and international visitors,” Šukalo said.
She added that the city works throughout the year to create events and attractions that make Banja Luka a vibrant, appealing, and recognisable destination.
Among the flagship events are Banja Luka Spring, which includes the international TrotoArt Street Performers Festival, the Summer in Banja Luka programme, featuring the city’s longest-running event, Summer on the Vrbas, as well as numerous concerts, sporting competitions, gastronomic festivals, and cultural events.
“Our goal is not only to increase the number of visitors but also to ensure that everyone who comes to Banja Luka leaves with positive experiences and chooses to return,” Šukalo said, adding that the city administration will continue investing in new attractions and supporting events that contribute to tourism development, the local economy, and the positive image of the largest city in Republika Srpska.
Source: RTRS
