USAID-ov projekt razvoja održivog turizma u Bosni i Hercegovini

What USAID-ov projekt razvoja održivog turizma u Bosni i Hercegovini does

USAID Turizam is a five-year, $20 million U.S. Government development project (started August 2020, implemented by Chemonics International) that works to position Bosnia and Herzegovina as a competitive global tourism destination. The project operates across three regional offices (Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Mostar) and serves a broad stakeholder base including tourism businesses, destination management companies, government ministries, protected area managers, agricultural producers, women in tourism, and youth aged 15-29. Core functional areas are human capital development, access to finance, innovative product development, policy harmonization across BiH's complex governance entities, and destination branding and promotion.

The project delivers its mandate through a portfolio of digital platforms and programs. Digital assets include Turizam Academy (an e-learning platform built with French partner Tutoreca), the Online Finance Directory (the first tourism funding portal in BiH), the Accessibility Directory for persons with disabilities, the DiscoverBiH aggregator, and the Herzegovina Wine Route website. Adjacent programs include Profi (workplace training for hospitality), grants and subcontracts, the Profi Program, and the Iter Vitis-certified Herzegovina Wine Route. Cumulative outputs reported through the project period include 8,406 trained professionals, 1,365 firms receiving technical assistance, 89 new tourism products, 414 training sessions, and 708 B2B meetings with U.S. travel operators.

The business model is grant-funded donor development rather than commercial. The project secures international reach through partnerships with TripAdvisor, Expedia Group Media Solutions, Lieb Management (DACH markets), Routes (air route development), Women in Travel CIC (gender equality), Turkish Airlines, and La Cité du Vin. It has secured external validation including Golden City Gate Awards at ITB Berlin (2023), Green Destinations Story Awards (2021, 2022), and United Nations Global Tourism Resilience Day recognition (2023). Key leadership comprises Feđa Begović (Chief of Party) and Karl Wurster (USAID/BiH Head of Economic Development Office).

Name

USAID-ov projekt razvoja održivog turizma u Bosni i Hercegovini

Legal name

USAID's Developing Sustainable Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Turizam) project

Website

https://turizambih.ba

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

USAID Turizam is a five-year, $20 million U.S. Government development project implemented by Chemonics International that works to position Bosnia and Herzegovina as a competitive global tourism destination by training tourism professionals, supporting tourism firms, and partnering with global platforms such as TripAdvisor and Expedia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tourism Development Services

NAICS

Convention and Visitors Bureaus (561591)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability Training, Consulting & ESG Advisory (Operational Playbooks, Staff Training) (THAAANAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tourism Trade & Services Exports Development (BPADAMAO), Community-Based & Indigenous Tourism Enablement (Local Ownership, Benefit-Sharing) (THAAANAI), Permitting, Reservations & Visitor Information Services (Passes, Booking, Visitor Centers) (THAAAGAD)

Keywords

• Sustainable tourism development
• Workforce training programs
• Destination marketing services
• Technical assistance grants
• Hospitality capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Sarajevo

HQ country

Bosnia & Herzegovina

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

USAID-funded five-year, $20 million development project implemented by Chemonics International that provides training programs, technical assistance, grants, and digital platforms (Turizam Academy e-learning, Online Finance Directory, DiscoverBiH destination portal) to position Bosnia and Herzegovina as a competitive sustainable tourism destination. Services target tourism businesses, destination management companies, government tourism boards, protected area managers, and agricultural producers across the country.

Product overview

USAID Turizam is a five-year $20 million development project implemented by Chemonics International, working to position Bosnia and Herzegovina as a competitive destination on the global tourism market. The project offers a portfolio of digital platforms and services including Turizam Academy (online learning platform developed with France's Tutoreca), the Online Finance Directory (funding opportunities portal), and DiscoverBiH (comprehensive tourism offering platform). Additional offerings include the Herzegovina Wine Route tourism product, the Profi workplace training program, an Accessibility Directory for disabled travelers, grant programs, and training workshops. The project also supports protected areas management, adventure tourism development, inclusive tourism initiatives, and gender equality programs in the tourism sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Turizam Academy: Online learning platform for tourism and hospitality career development, partnered with France's Tutoreca for training programs
• Online Finansijski Direktorij (Online Finance Directory)
• Profi Program
• Herzegovina Wine Route (Vinska cesta Hercegovine)

Quantifiable outcome

• 8,406 tourism professionals trained in technical, quality, safety, supervisory and management disciplines
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered regional, minor and core.

• Iter Vitis (European Cultural Route)regionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 October 2024Herzegovina Wine Route membership in European Cultural Route Iter Vitis, strengthening position on European wine map and enabling international cooperation opportunities.
• Turkish AirlinesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 October 2024Key partner for U.S. market roadshow. Provided gift packages for participants and free flight tickets to Sarajevo for lucky travel advisors to spark interest in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Sarajevo Canton Tourism Board (Visit Sarajevo)regionalGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 October 2024Co-organizer of U.S. market tourism roadshow, showcasing Bosnia and Herzegovina tourism potential to American market.
• Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and HerzegovinaregionalGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 October 2024Co-organizer of U.S. market tourism roadshow, supporting international business connections for Bosnian tourism companies.
• La Cité du Vin (Wine Museum Bordeaux)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 September 2024Herzegovina Wine Route partnership with renowned wine museum in Bordeaux for international networking and wine tourism promotion.
• Lieb ManagementcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 March 2023Marketing and PR company specializing in tourism and MICE industries. Partnership aims to improve Bosnia and Herzegovina brand profile in DACH markets (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) through targeted marketing activities.
• TripAdvisorcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 March 2023Partnership for destination branding and promotion. Includes marketing research, trade capacity enhancement, and exploration of Bosnia and Herzegovina's potential as a year-round travel destination. Extension of previous successful advertising campaign in Austria, Germany, Turkey, Serbia, and Croatia.
• Expedia Group Media SolutionscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 March 2023Global travel advertising platform partnership to increase inventory and visibility of Bosnia and Herzegovina products on expedia.com platform, reaching hundreds of millions of travelers.
• RoutescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 March 2023Air route development company partnership to unlock air travel potential in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Includes market research, route development forums, and destination branding through increased air route capacity.
• Women in Travel CICcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 March 2023UK-based social enterprise dedicated to supporting women in travel. Partnership includes capacity building programs, enterprising development programs (tour guiding), mentorship programs, and knowledge sharing for gender equality in Bosnia and Herzegovina tourism sector.
• Western Balkans Countries (Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia)regionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 March 2023Mystical Balkans joint marketing collaboration signed between Western Balkans countries. Framework for cooperation in joint marketing activities on broadcast markets of mutual interest, fostering regional tourism sector sustainable growth.
• Chemonics InternationalcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 August 2020Primary implementing partner for the USAID Turizam project. Chemonics International is responsible for overall project execution and management of the five-year $20 million sustainable tourism development initiative in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Tutoreca (France)coreTechnology or IntegrationFrench e-learning platform partnership for Turizam Academy, revolutionizing hospitality training in Bosnia and Herzegovina with flexible online courses led by industry experts.
• Tourism Organizations of Bosnia and HerzegovinaregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork including Visit Sarajevo, Tourism Organization of Republika Srpska, Herzegovina Tourism Cluster, and cantonal tourism boards for destination promotion and tourism development.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Chemonics International: Parent implementing partner for USAID Turizam and one of the largest implementers of USAID economic development projects globally. Comparable as the prime contractor executing similar donor-funded tourism and economic development programs across multiple countries.
• UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO): United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. Comparable as a multilateral body promoting sustainable tourism development, policy harmonization, and destination competitiveness globally.

Others

• International Trade Centre (ITC): Joint agency of the UN and WTO supporting SME internationalization and trade development. Comparable as a multilateral agency working with developing economies to improve competitiveness of service sectors including tourism exports.
• World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC): Global forum for the travel and tourism industry, working with governments to develop the sector. Comparable as an ecosystem organization promoting tourism sector development, policy engagement, and resilience initiatives that complement national tourism development programs.

Peers

• Swisscontact: Swiss foundation for development cooperation running sustainable tourism and economic development projects across emerging markets. Comparable as a donor-funded organization delivering workforce training, SME support, and destination development in tourism-dependent economies.

Regional players

• Visit Sarajevo: Sarajevo Canton Tourism Board and direct partner of USAID Turizam. Comparable as a sub-national destination management organization working to promote tourism to BiH and collaborating with USAID on international marketing roadshows and capacity building.
• European Travel Commission (ETC): European tourism promotion organization representing 33 national tourism organizations. Comparable as a regional body promoting destination marketing and policy development for European tourism, including countries in the Western Balkans seeking EU integration.

Direct peers

• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): German federal development agency running sustainable tourism development programs in emerging markets, including Western Balkans. Comparable as a donor-funded agency building tourism capacity, training workforces, and developing destination branding in developing economies.
• USAID ASPIRE: USAID-funded economic growth and tourism development project active in the Western Balkans region. Both are USAID/Chemonics-implemented development initiatives focused on private sector competitiveness and tourism sector development in emerging markets.
• Green Destinations: International sustainability certification organization for tourism destinations. Directly comparable as USAID Turizam has won multiple Green Destinations Story Awards and actively partners with Green Destinations for sustainable tourism positioning in BiH.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/turizambih
• YouTubeyoutube.com/usaidturizam
• Facebookfacebook.com/turizambih.ba
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tourism-in-bosnia-and-herzegovina
• Instagraminstagram.com/usaidturizam

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about USAID-ov projekt razvoja održivog turizma u Bosni i Hercegovini