Exchange between Technical University of Kosice and College for Tourism and Management Konjic

STIM Konjic and Partners on the Path to Establishing the First Geopark in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The College of Tourism and Management Konjic (VSTIM Konjic) has, over the past three days, hosted professors and students from the Technical University of Košice (Slovakia) within the framework of the Interreg project Danube GeoTour Plus, under the activity “Student exchange VSTIM Konjic – Transnational exchange of interested organisations/NGOs of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.”

The first and most important thing in a world that is not always going in the right direction is that young people are not bothered by cultural differences. On the contrary, they see diversity as an advantage. A handshake and a glance were enough to forget about the long distances, the fatigue, and the unfamiliar faces.

The arrival of our colleagues from the Technical University of Košice was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the natural and cultural richness of Konjic, Jablanica, and Kreševo as a potential first geopark in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Since the future Geopark in Bosnia and Herzegovina must meet a number of requirements, we introduced our Slovak colleagues to the mineralogical characteristics of the Kreševo area, its mining history, and the geological and geomorphological features of Kreševo and Jablanica. Considering that a geopark, in addition to geology, encompasses cultural heritage, sustainable tourism, and people, these days were a true festival for the eyes, soul, and heart.

The richness of Kreševo, Jablanica, and Konjic obliges us to make this region even more attractive to tourists by establishing the first geopark.

We are confident that, together with our partners from the Interreg Danube GeoTour Plus project, we will succeed in coloring these municipalities in the most beautiful shades. We can already envision the most charming Advent in Kreševo, attracting thousands of visitors, Jablanica proudly preserving its history in a new light, and Konjic — no longer a town people merely pass through, but one they visit with intention.

I extend my sincere gratitude to my team, led by academician Refik Šećibović, MSc. Alaudina Boškailo, MSc. Ivan Dodig, MSc. Vanja Šunjić, Aldina Ćišo, and Enisa Mujović from the student service office.

Special thanks go to student Amina Karić, who was an excellent translator, as well as to students Šejla Ibrahimović, Asja Bašić, Lamija Sokolović, Elma Karavdić, and Almedina Zametica, who represented their faculty in an outstanding manner.