1. Annex I -- Key Accomplishments.pdf

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Tourism Activity in BiH

ANNEX I

Brief Overview of Key Accomplishments Achieved by USAID/BiH Turizam Activity

The United States Agency for International Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina (USAID/BiH) launched the Turizam Activity in August 2020. The Activity is scheduled to close in August 2025. The purpose of the USAID/BiH Turizam is to accelerate economic growth in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). USAID/BiH Turizam focuses on strengthening the tourism sector by improving the regulatory environment; strengthening tourism quality, services, and branding; facilitating access to finance for tourism service providers; and securing increased access to regional and global markets to tourism and indigenous agriculture products. Over the past four years, USAID has achieved significant milestones, highlighted below. Offerors are encouraged to recognize these accomplishments and explore ways to build on them, ensuring that continued United States Government support delivers maximum value for the tourism sector.

● Strategic framework: USAID provided strategic and technical assistance that resulted in new tourism development strategies and implementation plans in both Republika Srpska (RS) and the Federation of BiH (FBiH)—and a reworked strategy for Brčko District.

● Brand recognition: Over the past four years, and particularly since 2022, BiH has achieved remarkable growth in brand recognition as a tourism destination, largely due to the strategic efforts of USAID. Through initiatives such as meticulously organized roadshows, destination presentations, and participation in major global tourism fairs, USAID supported the country in effectively showcasing its unique attractions to an international audience. These efforts have facilitated direct connections with key tourism stakeholders, including tour operators, travel agents, and media representatives, fostering valuable partnerships and expanding market exposure. Complementing these in-person engagements, USAID implemented a smart digital promotion strategy that leveraged cutting-edge marketing techniques. Engaging content, targeted campaigns, and vibrant storytelling highlighted BiH's breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and authentic experiences, reaching millions of potential travelers worldwide. This multi-faceted approach enhanced the visibility and strengthened the country's reputation as an emerging travel hotspot.

○ USAID successfully lobbied for BiH to receive the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Safe Travels stamp.

○ USAID partnered with major international travel platforms, such as TripAdvisor, to design and implement a dedicated campaign in collaboration with the FBiH Ministry of Environment and Tourism. This campaign generated record-breaking traffic for BiH-related content.

○ USAID’s efforts led to significant international recognition, such as Mostar being awarded the prestigious title of European Wine City Dionisio 2024.

○ USAID launched a series of groundbreaking initiatives. These included organizing the first-ever roadshow in the United States, partnering with Red Bull to promote BiH’s rivers and natural beauty, and showcasing Herzegovina Wine Route (HWR) wines at the renowned Bordeaux Wine Museum, the most visited wine museum in the world. As a result of these efforts, international tour https://turizambih.ba/en/bosnia-and-herzegovina-receives-safe-travels-stamp/ https://turizambih.ba/en/bosnia-and-herzegovina-receives-safe-travels-stamp/ https://recevineurope.eu/mostar-consecrated-european-wine-city-dioniso-2024/ https://hwr.ba/ https://hwr.ba/

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Tourism Activity in BiH operators have introduced multi-day travel packages to BiH (e.g., Intrepid Travel offers a 8-day trip to BiH), while the average stay per visitor has risen to slightly above two nights.

● Development of tourism products and experiences:

○ USAID introduced and helped establish the Most Beautiful Villages (MBV) model to promote rural development, which now includes 17 official members.

USAID played a key role by developing a sustainability plan to ensure the model’s long-term viability and program’s visibility and reach.

○ Supported the certification of 36 different service providers (tourist organizations, wineries, restaurants, authorized stores, hotels, and tourism service providers) as members of the HWR.

○ USAID also played a key role in assisting major airports in the country in opening new air routes in the past several years. USAID not only brought them to the most relevant industry networking events but also built their capacities, together with other relevant institutions, to make business proposals to air carriers more sustainable and more attractive.

● Facilitating investments: To facilitate effective matchmaking between investors and investment-ready tourism initiatives, fostering growth and innovation within the industry, USAID developed the Investment Directory, a one-stop resource offering potential investors a comprehensive overview of key information, including insights on tourism in BiH, reasons to invest in the sector, available investment projects, and public-private partnership (PPP) opportunities.

● Human capital development:

○ USAID catalyzed the digital transformation of BiH’s tourism sector through the development and implementation of the online Turizam Academy. USAID also provided online courses through Flow Hospitality and Tipsy platforms and, in partnership with Holdina, provided tailored capacity building to company employees. In total, 3,416 users completed 9,610 courses.

○ Supported the establishment of the Advisory Committee for Pathways to Professionalism (PtP) Program for RS.

For more information about USAID/BiH Turizam's efforts and achievements, USAID encourages Offerors to visit the Activity's website and review the reports and deliverables available on the USAID Development Experience Clearinghouse.

https://www.intrepidtravel.com/us/bosnia-and-herzegovina/bosnia-herzegovina-expedition-144139 https://www.intrepidtravel.com/us/bosnia-and-herzegovina/bosnia-herzegovina-expedition-144139 https://mbv.ba/en/home/ https://turizambih.ba/en/online-finance-directory-for-entrepreneurs-in-tourism-industry/ https://academy.turizambih.ba/ https://turizambih.ba/en/usaid-turizam-launches-pathaways-to-professionalism/#:%7E:text=Through%20the%20Pathways%20to%20Professionalism,and%20attractive%20tourism%20destinations%20internationally.%E2%80%9D https://turizambih.ba/en/usaid-turizam-launches-pathaways-to-professionalism/#:%7E:text=Through%20the%20Pathways%20to%20Professionalism,and%20attractive%20tourism%20destinations%20internationally.%E2%80%9D https://turizambih.ba/en/ https://dec.usaid.gov/dec/home/Default.aspx