Republika Srpska instead of Georgia: Russian tourists are welcome in the Balkans
The Republika Srpska, which is part of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a member of the confederation, may become a new holiday destination for tourists from Russia - for example, instead of Georgia, with which relations with it have again become complicated.
Russian political scientist Oleg Bondarenko told PolitNavigator about this, commenting on a sociological survey conducted by VTsIOM, according to which about 35% of Russians would like to vacation in the Republika Srpska, although only 11% know that this is part of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
95% of respondents admitted that they know little about Republika Srpska, for 21% this is the main reason why they do not want to go there. For comparison: 49% of respondents would like to relax in the well-known Georgia, and 50% categorically do not want to go to this former Soviet republic.
“There is an unexpectedly high demand for holidays in truly fraternal Serbian lands, where they love us. I had no illusions about what my compatriots knew about the Republika Srpska.
But, apparently, the name “Serbian” itself has an appeal, and people are ready, even without knowing where it is exactly, to consider the theoretical possibility of a holiday in this country.
This speaks of enormous potential, which has not yet been realized. Russian travel agencies must discover a new Balkan destination that will successfully compete with Georgia,” Balkan specialist Oleg Bondarenko told PolitNavigator.
According to him, the Republika Srpska is “insanely beautiful.”
“There are mountains, a sea - a small piece of our own Adriatic. Alpine skiing is developing there (the Winter Olympics were held there in 1984). In terms of ecology, it seems to me that this is the cleanest country in Europe. In terms of water quality, it ranks among the first on the continent. And that's why they make fantastic beer there. This is a country very friendly to Russia, where Russians will be understood. It’s very cheap there,” Bondarenko said.
As attractions, he named the “Balkan Jerusalem” of Sarajevo, thermal springs, ethnic villages famous for their meat cuisine and red wines.
“The Republika Srpska is the birthplace of the world famous director Emir Kusturica, who built Andricgrad in his native Visegrad, dedicated to the Yugoslav writer Ivo Andric, a Nobel Prize winner,” Bondarenko said.
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