The challenge is the reward.

The Association of Adventure Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina offers its partners full and comprehensive information about the current adventure offer in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including whitewater rafting, hiking, climbing, mountain biking, underwater cave diving, speleological expeditions, skiing, track skiing, snowshoeing and other adventure activities. We can connect you to direct adventure service providers, making sure that you connect with those that provide safe, high-quality service. Our members provide carefully designed itineraries, experienced and internationally certified trip leaders and guides, quality equipment and superior customer service.

ATA BiH serves as the focal point for connecting international adventure market demand with adequate in-country supply. We organize professional trainings and certification in all segments of adventure tourism programs according to the curricula of relevant international organizations (International Rafting Association, European Federation of Mountain Guides,

SDI TDI Diving Association and others), thus making sure that visitors receive high safety and quality service from our members.

We also act as an intermediary between the adventure tourism industry and country-relevant government bodies in order to make sure that the adventure tourism legal framework is founded on sound business practices, thus bringing the Bosnia and Herzegovina framework into line with contemporary international markets.

The Adventure Tourism Association in Bosnia and Herzegovina takes great care to ensure that all international operators planning to bring visitors to our country receive accurate and timely information on the type and standard of services available in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

ATA BiH - HOW TO CONTACT USErna Kurtovic, Director, ATA BiH Dženetića Čikma 1/II, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina T +387 33 953 225, F +387 33 567 049 E-mail: erna.kurtovic@braveenough.ba www.braveenough.ba

ATA BiH - WHAT WE CAN OFFER

Located in the heart of Europe and owing to the richness of its natural beauty, Bosnia and Herzegovina has been drawing an increased number of visitors from year to year over the past decade. Initially a destination for mainly regional and European travelers, Bosnia and Herzegovina now attracts visitors from the US, China, Japan, Russia and other far away locations.Bosnia and Herzegovina is a small country. But in its smallness lies an enormous and unique cultural heritage. By being at the crossroads of cultures, traditions and civilizations through centuries, Bosnia and Herzegovina has developed its own prism through which all of these diverse elements are brought into everyday life. Over the past decade, Bosnia and Herzegovina has become increasingly noticed for its natural beauty too: Unique endemic plants, the last remnants of primeval forests in Europe (Perucica–NP Sutjeska), the second-deepest canyon in the world (Tara River), wild clean rivers abundant with fish, high mountain peaks, and wildlife that still resides in its forests (bears, wolves, chamois, deer and wild boar). Bosnia and Herzegovina offers an enormous diversity of geological forms

-- from the Mediterranean coastline, across the vast Karst areas with spectacular caves and underworld forms, up and over the range of the Central Dinaric Alps, down the gentle rolling hills of its northern foot lands and into the Pannonia plain. The location itself and the meeting points of climates over its lands have also given Bosnia and Herzegovina one of the largest reserves in the Mediterranean basin for migrating birds (Hutovo Blato).Bosnia and Herzegovina operators have been developing new services and offers in adventure tourism over the past 10 years, and are now able to welcome guests who enjoy whitewater rafting, hiking, mountain biking, climbing, underwater caves diving, caving, skiing and many others.

The Adventure Tourism Association in Bosnia and Herzegovina (ATA BiH) is a young association founded by the most experienced adventure operators in BiH. ATA BiH membership is open to all organizations working in adventure tourism development, improvement and promotion. The prime objective of the ATA BiH is to facilitate development of a sustainable adventure tourism market in Bosnia and Herzegovina and build its recognition in international markets. The ATA BiH’s main goals are: support development and promotion of BiH adventure tourism; maintain a network of BiH and international adventure tourism stakeholders; enhance the BiH adventure tourism offer and facilitate continuous improvement of the quality and variety of service; upgrade adventure tourism workforce skills and knowledge; develop and promote internationally recognized training curricula, certification programs and other activities aimed at raising the Bosnia and Herzegovina adventure tourism offer to the highest international standards and quality.

The founding members of the ATA BiH are:

1. Cylco Center (Sarajevo) – mountain biking programs and biking provider

2. Green Visions (Sarajevo) – adventure/outdoor packages, hiking, biking, rafting, cultural tours, special programs for youth;

3. Guideline (Banja Luka) – rafting, biking, hiking and other adventure programs;

4. Highlander (Foča) – rafting and hiking tours in east and southeast BiH.;

5. KES Limit (Bihać) – hiking, climbing and biking programs;

6. PAOK (Banja Luka) – hiking programs in northwest BiH;

7. Scorpio (Zenica) – hiking, skiing and climbing programs;

8. Una Aquarius (Bihać) – rafting and underwater cave diving; and

9. Zepter Passport (Banja Luka) – fly- fishing specialist, general travel services.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA ATA BiH - WHO WE ARE

This brochure is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and theSwedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The contents of this brochure are the sole responsibility of Adventure Tourism Association in Bosnia and Herzegovina and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, SIda or the United States and Swedish Governments.”

FOSTERING INTERVENTIONS FOR RAPIDMARKET ADVANCEMENT (FIRMA)