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SARAJEVO, June 9 (FENA) - The results of the tourism sector in April this year confirm that coronavirus pandemic is having an impact on the economy worldwide, but especially on the tourism sector.
As in other countries and throughout BiH, almost all hotels and other tourist facilities have been closed, due to closure of borders, the movement and entry of foreigners has been restricted, which has stopped, and in some companies completely shut down, businesses.
In addition to hotels and travel agencies, the consequences of the pandemic also affected companies in the field of passenger transport.
According to data of the Agency for Statistics of BiH, 1.539 tourists visited BiH in April 2020, which is 94.3 percent less than in March 2020 and 98.9 percent less than in April 2019.
Tourists realized 7.851 overnight stays in BiH in April, which is 88.4 percent less than in March 2020 and 97.3 percent less than in April 2019.
The share of domestic tourists in the total number of overnight stays was 70.6 percent, while the share of foreign tourists was 29.4 percent. In the structure of overnight stays of foreign tourists in April 2020, most overnight stays were realized by tourists from Kuwait (17.3 percent), Serbia (16.5 percent), Saudi Arabia (12.6 percent), Croatia (7.4 percent), China (6.5 percent) and Russia (5.5 percent) for a total of 65.8 percent.
By improving and bringing the epidemiological situation under control, many countries have begun to gradually reopen their borders, especially the countries with the largest share of tourism in total GDP.
According to the announcements, June 15 is the European 'Day D' for tourism on the eve of the summer season, as it is the announced date for reopening of EU countries after three months of isolation due to the coronavirus pandemic.
BiH has also begun to gradually reopen its borders. By the decision of the Council of Ministers of BiH from June 1, citizens of neighboring countries, namely Montenegro, the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Serbia, are allowed to enter BiH, and citizens of these countries can enter BiH with a passport or ID card, while the ban on entry into BiH remains valid for citizens of other countries.
Foreigners entering Bosnia and Herzegovina due to business obligations must still have an invitation from a legal entity from Bosnia and Herzegovina and a certificate of a negative test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, not older than 48 hours from the moment of entry.
(FENA) A. B.
