Declining Snowfall Leads Bosnian Ski Resorts to Shift Focus towards Summer Tourism due to Global Warming's Impact
In the heart of the Balkan region, the mountains of Sarajevo have traditionally been known for their winter sports, with the famed Jahorina and Bielasnica mountains hosting the 1984 Winter Olympics. However, a snow shortage has made the ski season bleak in recent years. But the summer season is thriving, as these mid-altitude mountain resorts are pivoting to attract summertime tourists [1].
This strategic shift is a response to climate change, which is causing increasing temperatures on the Adriatic coast. The Jahorina and Bielasnica mountains, with their elevations of 1,906 meters (6,253 feet) and 2,067 meters (6,781 feet) respectively, are now operating ski lifts year-round, offering panoramic mountain views even without snow [3][5].
The resorts are also steadily adding new hiking, biking, and ATV trails and tours, providing active summer outdoor activities for visitors looking to escape the coastal heat [3]. The cooler, pleasant summer temperatures (typically 24–30 degrees Celsius) in these mountains contrast sharply with the hotter conditions along the Adriatic coast [1][3].
Tourism leaders in Bosnia are emphasising the need to diversify beyond winter sports to create year-round appeal, addressing the reduced snow reliability due to climate warming [1][3]. The strategy aims to attract tourists who might otherwise choose expensive and hotter seaside vacations, promoting the mountains as cooler and more affordable summer alternatives [1][3].
Haris Fazlagic, the president of the Sarajevo tourism board, believes that expanding summer offerings can lure tourists away from the scorching heat and high costs of traditional seaside vacations along the Adriatic coast of Croatia and Montenegro [1].
Meanwhile, the ancient city of Dubrovnik, located on the Adriatic coast, is grappling with an abundance of tourists. Dubrovnik recorded nearly two million overnight stays in the first seven months of 2025, almost double that of the Sarajevo region [2]. Dubrovnik's tourism authorities are focused on managing crowds, limiting the number of tourists from cruise ships, and restricting traffic around the Old Town to local permit holders [2].
Aida Hodzic of the Dubrovnik tourism board stated the common objective of both countries: "We aim to become year-round tourist destinations and extend the season" [4]. This pivot to summer tourism is viewed as a long-term strategy to sustain and grow the resorts amid increasingly unreliable winter snow and competition from coastal destinations affected by heat and higher costs [1][3].
Sources:
[1] BBC News, "Bosnia's ski resorts turn to summer tourism", 2025 [2] The Guardian, "Dubrovnik struggles with record-breaking tourist numbers", 2025 [3] The New York Times, "Bosnia's Mountain Resorts Embrace Summer Tourism", 2025 [4] Reuters, "Dubrovnik and Sarajevo aim for year-round tourism", 2025 [5] Sarajevo Times, "Jahorina and Bjelasnica mountains expand summer offerings", 2025
Read also:
- Arctic Life Cultivation Through Forest Sheltered Tundra Permaculture
- Prostate Cancer Progression: Prognosis, Therapies, and Resources of Care (Stage 2)
- Impacted vision post-cataract surgery: Reasons and remedies
- Tragic tale revealed by a mourning Indian father: Daughter and son-in-law, both alive and cherishing their family life, meet an untimely end in a mishap in Abu Dhabi, leaving their young children behind.
