The Law on Tourism of the Sarajevo Canton adopted

The Law on Tourism of the Sarajevo Canton was adopted at the 14th working session with eight amendments, three of which are by the Government representatives and five by the representatives of Naša stranka (Political Party).

Muharem Šabić, Minister of Economy of the Sarajevo Canton said that development of tourist sector is one of the joint jurisdiction of the Federation and the cantons. Since the Federal Law on Tourism does not deal with the jurisdiction of cantons, there was a need for the Canton to regulate tourism activity with specific legislate characteristics.

"The absence of a legal framework for the operation of tourist offices following the verdict of the Constitutional Court, which found that the former arrangement of this matter is not in accordance with the FBiH Constitution, and since it has not yet been legally framed is another argument for tourism in the Sarajevo Canton to be legally regulated", explained minister Šabić.

 The Ministry of Economy, which prepared this Law, points out that its adoption will contribute to faster development of tourism by improving the quality of tourist offer, ensure a better inspection of the area and efficient use of resources in this sector. The law will suppress and reduce the gray economy in this field, give better protection to users of tourist services, increase budgetary and extra-budgetary revenue, protect market competition and contribute to greater activities professionalization.

The Law also defines the scope of tourist services, its operators, travel agencies, their services and the minimum technical requirements, funds for arrangement and assurance of their provision. The Law prescribes procedures for issuance of licenses for carrying out activities, role and conditions for performing tourist guide activities, regulating the area of rural tourism.

The Law regulates the framework of tourist activity in the Sarajevo Canton, as well as the establishment and work of tourist offices and outlines the goals of establishing, activities and tasks, legal status, transparency, governance bodies, funding and revenues from tourist tax and the payment method, the method of registration and checking out of tourists, method of use and disposing of tourist tax, obligations of tourist community to act according to the laws in the field of public procurement. The Law provides control over the work, as well as the penalty provisions in cases of its violation.