Banja Luka welcomed 76,839 tourists in the first eight months of this year, which is a three percent increase compared to 2023, a record year.
According to the Tourist Organization of Banja Luka, guests accounted for 119,447 overnight stays, which is five percent more than in 2023.
There were 25,050 domestic guests who made 33,671 overnight stays, and 451,789 foreign guests with a total of 85,776 overnight stays.
The Tourist Organization of Banja Luka stated that Slovenes continue to be at the top in terms of arrivals and overnight stays.
In August, Banja Luka was visited by 2,464 domestic tourists who achieved 3,481 overnight stays and 8,995 foreign tourists with 18,394 overnight stays.
Branka Branković from the city’s Tourist Organization stated that they expect an even larger number of tourists to visit Banja Luka this autumn and winter. “There are many short-term apartment rentals in the gray zone, and it is a fact that registered hotels, motels, and accommodations do not report all guests. We cannot complain in this regard, and the tourism picture will improve and stabilize by the end of the year. If it doesn’t increase, it will at least remain the same,” Branković said, as reported by SRNA.
She emphasized that Banja Luka is no longer a seasonal destination; over the past decade, it has become a year-round tourist destination.
She added that an increasing number of tourists from countries connected by air travel to the largest city in the Republika Srpska are visiting Banja Luka.
“Due to the connection with the Belgrade airport, there has also been a noticeable increase in tourists from Asian countries,” Branković said.
She noted that Banja Luka remains the number one city in the Republika Srpska by the number of tourist arrivals, while it ranks fourth in terms of overnight stays.
Source: RTRS
