Record season expected in Neum, tourists from all over the world arriving, capacities booked until the end of October

(Patria) - Tropical heat in Bosnia and Herzegovina has driven many residents of our country to seek refreshment by the sea coast. This year, Neum will once again be one of the most sought-after holiday destinations, and the only Bosnian town on the Adriatic is ready to welcome guests and the season, which, according to estimates, should surpass even the most successful ones.

- We expect a record season and the bookings are very good. The pre-season was excellent, the best in the last twenty years. The occupancy rate of accommodation capacities is above expectations. This year we should increase the number of overnight stays. We have year-on-year growth in overnight stays and the number of tourists. We strive to ensure that people coming to Neum are satisfied and leave the Bosnian-Herzegovinian pearl on the Adriatic with the best impressions, and return to us again. In terms of infrastructure, we try to do as much as possible every year, with a special focus on the coastal development.

We have also built a promenade in one part, and all this would not be possible without help from higher levels of government. In recent years, we have had continuity in infrastructure works, and one of our priorities is solving the waste disposal issue. We want Neum to be cleaner and more beautiful in every way," says the Mayor of Neum, Dragan Jurković.

Đemila Talić Gabriel, a successful businesswoman and humanitarian who owns several properties in Neum, is happy about the fact that tourism in the Bosnian pearl on the Adriatic is growing year after year.

- Neum is progressing in every aspect, and my friends from all over the world have already booked accommodation in our town. I am especially glad that more and more friends and business partners from Australia are coming for summer holidays to the only Bosnian town on the Adriatic. Of course, great credit for this goes to all the residents of Neum, led by Mayor Dragan Jurković. All Bosnians and Herzegovinians can be proud of Neum and what we offer to tourists from all over the world – says Đemila Talić Gabriel.

Although the season has just begun, Neum is already hosting tourists from various parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as from around the world. The exceptionally high demand for accommodation, the growing interest of tourists in holidays in Neum, and the numerous guests who have already arrived at the beginning of June, point to a record number of visitors this year.

Hoteliers are optimistically announcing a record season, both in terms of the number of guests and revenue.

- We hoteliers already have a formed season. We start preparing for the season and selling accommodation capacities a year in advance. We already know what the season will look like. The pre-season was excellent, and we are recording an increase in both arrivals and overnight stays compared to last year. The peak of the season itself should be good. Bookings for September and October are excellent, and hotels are mostly full, as for the New Year period. We can already say that the season will be extremely successful. We hope that we will manage to do the physical work well – says Davor Krešić, Vice President of the Neum Hoteliers Association.

As he adds, a new Tourist Board of Neum has been established, and it is up to them to establish a realistic register of private renters and the number of beds.

- We hoteliers have everything precisely defined, both the number of beds and guest registrations. Last year, Neum had 310,000 registered overnight stays, Mostar and Čitluk 150,000 each, and Konjic 16,000. So Neum alone registered as much as Mostar, Čitluk and Konjic combined. It can always be better, but the figures show that Neum is leading. In Neum, there are about 2,000 beds in hotels, mostly new and renovated accommodation capacities. The workforce has been a problem and a new challenge for years. This year we somehow managed, but the question is what the next one will bring. Unfortunately, there is no workforce. I think that for the next season we will have to resort to importing labor from distant markets, and I appeal to the state to increase quotas and facilitate the entire process, which takes six to nine months. The problem is big and all industries have it. The state should make it easier for employers to sort out the paperwork for foreign labor – emphasizes Krešić.

That Neum hoteliers are following global trends and striving to attract guests with a higher quality and better offer is confirmed by the first "adults only" boutique hotel in this town, which is characterized by a unique location, but also a different, individual approach to guests.

The hotel "MaViE" is a true oasis of peace, nestled in pleasant greenery and pine forest, with its own charming garden where guests enjoy quiet mornings and the most beautiful sunsets. What sets it apart from others is the personalized approach to guests, which allows them to feel at home. Modern and carefully furnished in minimalist elegance with many interesting details that you cannot miss, with comfortable and spacious rooms, a rooftop pool, sauna and fitness center, this hotel offers everything needed for an unforgettable holiday and escape from everyday life.