Mostar Pass Presented – A New Chapter in Tourism with a Smart Tourist Card

On Friday, April 25, the “Mostar Pass” card was officially presented at the Mostar City Hall – a unique project that unites the entire tourist offer of this city. This innovative card aims to improve the experience of visitors to Mostar, offering them numerous benefits, technological functionalities and easier access to cultural and natural attractions.

The official presentation was attended by numerous guests and project partners.

The attendees were greeted by Mario Kordić, Mayor of Mostar, Đani Rahimić, President of the City Council, Elvira Ćemalović, Director of the Tourist Board of the City of Mostar, Nasiha Pozder, Federal Minister of Environment and Tourism, Emil Balavac, Minister of Trade, Tourism and Environmental Protection of HNK, and Head of the UNESCO Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“A few years ago, together with my team and experts and people who live and breathe tourism, we asked ourselves the question – how to move from a state in which tourism ‘happens’ on its own, to a system in which we actively manage tourism development. That path led us to the creation of a Tourism Management Strategy. We were grateful that such documents even exist, and with the support of UNESCO, we have reached this stage. Many people were involved in the project, and thanks to their efforts and dedication, today we are proud to present this card. For the city of Mostar, this is the beginning – a turning point in which the city takes over the management of its own tourist destination,” said Mayor Kordić, welcoming all those present.

Elvira Ćemalović, Director of the Mostar City Tourist Board, emphasized that the introduction of the Mostar Pass is the result of the vision of a large number of people involved in this process, and that it also brings great responsibility.

“I feel great pride, although I am aware that this carries an enormous responsibility. This is a beginning that shows the seriousness of everyone involved in the process. This is a small but crucial step that proves that there is a systematic approach to tourism management. It is the foundation for further steps that will show how sustainable a tourist destination we are and how ready we are to create new tourist content. The Pass Card represents an important step towards competitiveness – although it currently includes five participants, I am sure that many more will soon want to join.”

Miss Pozder added: “You are pioneers in this process. UNESCO is developing similar projects in Sarajevo, and we hope that we will soon have the opportunity to present something similar there. This gives Mostar a concrete product and a tool for monitoring all tourist activities in the city – which is extremely important, because we often lack quality statistical data. This system will enable monitoring of tourism development and its direction in a sustainable direction”.

The technical details and technological aspect of the card were presented by Marko Laco from the ITO company, which participated in the development of the project, and the symbolic first purchase of the “Mostar Pass” card was held as part of the event.

The planned program on the plateau in front of the Old Bridge, where a ceremonial jump from the Old Bridge was to be performed – a gesture that would further emphasize the importance of connecting tradition and a modern tourist approach, was canceled due to rain.

As a reminder, the “Mostar Pass” represents an important step forward in the city’s tourism development, and the organizers believe that the card will become an indispensable tool for all tourists who want to get to know Mostar and its rich cultural heritage better.