MUSEUM DEVELOPMENT IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA AS AN INDICATOR OF THE POSITIVE SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACT OF TOURISM

Abstract

Museum development is a side effect of tourism development since museums are significant components of cultural and tourist infrastructure, and tourism encourages infrastructure development in general. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, where tourism is a critical sector of the economy with a decades-long flow, the pattern of comparative development of tourism and museums has been recognized. The study provides a comparative review of the country's tourism and museum development, showcasing the multiple benefits of tourism and museums. Museums are one of the most important socio-cultural benefits of tourism because they preserve and present heritage, improve science, education, and cultural profiling, encourage employment and visitation, provide a better stay, generate income, and contribute to environmental urbanization and higher living standards. The identification of museums and museum resources revealed that, during the past three decades, approximately thirty museums of a predominantly thematic character have been established, particularly in the country's most visited destination (Sarajevo). Furthermore, an open-air museum (ethno-village) trend has begun. Museum visitation is increasing in tandem with tourist trips to the country, despite a lack of adequate monitoring (incomplete figures that are inconsistent with the situation in the field). Despite the fact that the global crisis disrupted tourism and museum development (COVID-19), both areas are key drivers of economic revitalization, as evidenced by new ideas and projects in this field. However, in addition to the benefits of increased museum activity, the study highlighted certain issues (e.g., lower engagement of professional staff and women etc.), which will encourage future research to provide more sustainable strategies for museum development.