Today, September 10, 2020, the Jahorina Olympic Center was visited by the director of the office of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Mrs. Manuela Naessl together with the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Staša Košarc. They were welcomed on the Olympic mountain by the director and president of the Supervisory Board of OC Jahorina, Mr. Dejan Ljevnaić and Mr. Nedeljko Elek, who tried their best to acquaint the delegation of the EBRD and the Ministry with the charms of Jahorina as well as its potential and opportunities for growth and development of tourism.
The director of OC Jahorina, Mr. Dejan Ljevnaić, said: “I am happy that Mrs. Manuela Naessl, director of the office of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as well as the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Mr. Staša Košarac. The support of Minister Košarc in our previous work has meant a lot to us, and now I am sure that with the arrival of Mrs. That support will only get stronger, for which we are very grateful. Today we held a constructive meeting regarding the plans and further development of OC Jahorina, and I believe that such meetings will become practice and contribute to the best possible positioning of Jahorina on the European market.
The good results we achieved this summer season, despite all the difficulties with the Covid-19 pandemic, tell us that we have planned properly so far and that we have made a good choice of investments, which we promise in the future as well. Jahorina is in the focus of investors’ interest, but construction is proceeding according to plan, preparations are underway, and concretely, the plan is to build a cable car, a ski slope with a snowmaking system, conveyor belts, as well as the construction of a Rajska dolina cable car with a sales point and two ski slopes. along the route of the cable car, the Centar hall and the Igrišta ski center. The most demanding project will be the construction of the Jahorina – Pale Gondola, 7,500 m long, with a capacity of 3,000 skiers per hour, with the aim of connecting the city center of Pale with the mountain, which represents a new form of transportation.
As you can hear, a lot of infrastructural works await us, and our expert team will work dedicatedly on the realization of historic projects, after which Jahorina will be the leader of the entire Southeastern Europe, which is our vision and mission. We have informed our guests today about all our plans and we hope that their help in the implementation will not be lacking because, in addition to major infrastructure works, we pay special attention to nature and its preservation as well as to people from local areas and regions who will be provided with new jobs. and a secure future, which is also one of Europe’s leading values.”
“As far as the EBRD is concerned, we are open to negotiations when it comes to private and joint capital in the future. I am enchanted by Jahora, it really has great potential that needs to be used and smart investments to make it an ideal tourist destination. I would also like to point out that we can provide the ministry with support in the implementation of the tourism strategy,” said Naessl.
Minister Staša Košarac expressed his satisfaction with today’s meeting and the results achieved when it comes to the summer season on Jahorina and added: “I am determined, as before, to work together with the supervisory board and management on the affirmation of this mountain, which can become a regional leader in the field of tourism and the visit of Mrs. Manuele Naessl is just another proof that Jahorina is going in that direction. The management of OC Jahorina has a long-term development plan for this mountain, which we have been able to hear on several occasions today, and this is something that makes me especially happy, because tourism in BIH can be an important branch of the economy, if not occupy its primacy. In the coming days, we will define our strategic movement from the aspect of promoting the plans and results of OC Jahorin, which are really an example of good business practice in the region.”
The president of the supervisory board of OC Jahorina, Mr. Nedeljko Elek, pointed out to the media that great efforts were made to make this summer season successful: “Today’s visit and the support of all the institutions we have is extremely important, but the great success lies in good organization and work on the ground.” . The Olympic Center of Jahorina has shown with its results so far that it is going in the right direction. We are counting on the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development as well as the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that together with new projects and plans, we will improve Jahorina as a destination when it comes to both winter and summer tourism.”
During the visit to the Olympic Center Jahorina, the host of the visit together with Mrs. Naessl and Minister Košarc visited the members of the “Down syndrome” center from Banja Luka, who arrived today in Jahorina, where they will prepare for the opening of a camp for people with Down syndrome until September 14. As part of a joint project with OC Jahorina, reflexology, phytotherapy and music workshops will be organized. After visiting the members of the Down syndrome center, the so-called “Banjaluka six” who, among other things, will work as waiters in the restaurant of the hotel “Vučko” Mrs. Naessl and Mr. Košarac had the opportunity to enjoy the most attractive content on the mountain, mountain bob, which leaves no one indifferent, which was also the case with our guests today.This summer on Jahorina is by all accounts historic, according to the last section, we achieved almost 50,000 rides, which is an increase of more than 4 times compared to the previous year, which was the most successful by all parameters. Also for the end of the summer, we have prepared an interesting event together with our partner Molson Coors “Crazy promo weekend”, where all visitors, in addition to socializing with premium Nikšić beer and excellent food from the excellent chefs of the Olympic bar, will be able to enjoy summer content that will be available from 30 % discount.
