The European Union financed the Master Plan for the improvement of Bjelašnica and Igman to year-round tourist centres

A comprehensive Master Plan aimed at transforming Bjelašnica and Igman, beloved Olympic mountains of Canton Sarajevo, into vibrant year-round tourist destinations was presented today in Bjelasnica. The Master Plan design was financed by the European Union with 280,000 euros. The purpose of the Plan is to create sustainable, accessible hubs for year-round recreational activities, catering to enthusiasts of both winter and summer sports, as well as hikers and nature lovers.

Through infrastructure improvement and environmental preservation, the EU aims to assist the authorities of the Sarajevo Canton in enhancing the attractiveness of Bjelašnica and Igman, while ensuring numerous benefits for local communities, EU Ambassador to BiH Johann Sattler emphasized.

"Today, we are talking about the future of the Olympic beauties Bjelašnica and Igman and the Master Plan whose development was financially supported by the European Union. We support these activities because we believe in the future of this country, which is on its way to the European Union. At the same time, this initiative is a signal of development and progress in using this beautiful nature that you possess. The only constant thing in life is to change, and change implies adaptation. Today, we discussed how to ensure that Bjelašnica and Igman, in addition to existing winter tourism, provide summer offerings as well. Thank you to all levels of government for their teamwork and commitment, as only in this way can we ensure results", said Ambassador Sattler.

Local communities will actively participate in the planning and implementation of the Master Plan to ensure that the benefits of tourism development are inclusive and sustainable. The goal is to create an ecosystem where tourism thrives alongside environmental protection and community prosperity.

Canton Sarajevo Prime Minister Nihad Uk stated that the Master Plan has come at the right time and will crystallize the Government's vision for future directions.

"We want to restore the old Olympic glory to Bjelašnica and Igman and transform them into regional tourist centers with amenities for tourists and citizens year-round. Thanks to the management of ZOI '84, much has been achieved in the past period: the financial operations of the company have stabilized, existing infrastructure has been reconstructed, and documentation and plans for implementing the Master Plan have been prepared. I am grateful to the EU Delegation for their intention to provide significant support in this segment of the economy", emphasized the Prime Minister.

He reminded that thanks to multi-million euro grants from the European Union, numerous projects are being implemented in the Canton, such as the reconstruction of the Palace of Justice, the NetZeroCities projects, and the Ars Aevi Museum.

"What we are presenting today is truly remarkable. I am delighted that the Ministers in the Canton Government, the Prime Minister of the Canton, and my colleagues in the political scene are those who truly love and value Bjelašnica and Igman. Together, we will continue to work on the development of this area," promised Minister of Culture and Sports Kenan Magoda.

"I am truly delighted that today we can share this important moment for our community. After many years, the Master Plan for Bjelašnica - Igman will finally begin. These Olympic gems deserve to become modern ski centres and offer plenty of activities during the summer months, utilizing their natural and economic potential. The Sarajevo Canton Government has recognized the importance of Bjelašnica and Igman for our Canton and has invested significant funds in this project. We believe we can become a regional centre for tourism, development, and prosperity through economy, sports and culture. Today, we already see the results of millions in investments, and our goal is to continue improving the quality of life in this area and in Sarajevo. I especially want to congratulate the leadership of ZOI '84 for their courage and dedication in implementing this project. We are aware of the challenges posed by changing natural conditions and social changes, and we will carefully consider all aspects to ensure the best possible development of the Olympic center", said the Minister.

The event was hosted by KJP ZOI '84 d.o.o. Sarajevo, the legal successor of the Organizing Committee of the XIV Winter Olympics, managing the Bjelašnica - Igman ski center. Director Jasmin Mehić stated that Bjelašnica and Igman hold a special place in the hearts of the citizens of Sarajevo Canton and are well-known beyond the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina as Olympic mountains. With their rich history and exceptional natural beauty, these mountains have untapped potential to become leading tourist destinations in Europe.

"Although we have invested over 30 million KM in Bjelašnica over the past three years and renovated almost all facilities built for the 1984 Olympics, we recognize the need to build new amenities that will facilitate tourism development and transform the Bjelašnica-Igman ski centre into a year-round tourist destination. The Sarajevo Canton Government provides continuous support for destination development, with strong backing from the Municipality of Trnovo, as well as relevant ministries and institutes, to continue investment projects in this tourist destination. With the support of the EU Delegation, we have launched the creation of a Master Plan to direct investments in the right direction and create a development strategy for the next 10 years", emphasized Mehić.

Over decades of operation, KJP ZOI '84 d.o.o. Sarajevo has been continuously committed to improving and modernizing the skiing and tourist capacities of Bjelašnica and Igman. In recent years, it has faced challenges from climate change but also benefits from a global trend of increasing tourism, especially outdoor tourism. In line with global ski resorts, ZOI '84 aims to utilize the natural potential of our Olympic beauties.

The Plan was presented in the presence of the Head of the EU Delegation and Special Representative Ambassador Johann Sattler, Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton Nihad Uk, the Director of ZOI '84 Jasmin Mehić, Minister of Economy of Canton Sarajevo Zlatko Mijatović, Minister of Culture and Sports of Canton Sarajevo, Kenan Magoda, Minister of Finance, Afan Kalamujić, and Minister of Municipal Economy, Infrastructure, Spatial Planning, Construction, and Environmental Protection, Bojan Bošnjak, as well as Federal Minister of Tourism, Nasiha Pozder. Also present were the Director of Canton Sarajevo Construction Institute, Belma Barlov, the Mayor of Ilidža Municipality, Nermin Muzur, and the Mayor of the Trnovo Municipality, Ibro Berilo. Through infrastructure improvement and environmental preservation, the EU aims to assist the authorities of the Sarajevo Canton in enhancing the attractiveness of Bjelašnica and Igman while ensuring numerous benefits for local communities.

The Master Plan was prepared by the Austrian company Input Projektentwiklung GmbH Austria in consortium with Ernst & Young d.o.o. Belgrade and PPG d.o.o. Sarajevo. Support for the Master Plan development is part of the EU's ongoing engagement in developing the tourism sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the last 5 years, the European Union has allocated over 8 million euros to several projects in this sector.