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|  | BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA COUNTRY SNAPSHOT AND INTERESTING FACTS | Bosnia and Herzegovina shares borders with Serbia and Montenegro in the east and southeast, and Croatia to the north and west. It has a short Adriatic coastline of 20km (12 miles) in the southeast, but no ports. Travel by road is the usual means of transport in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Many of the roads are still in poor condition but the rail service is gradually being restored. There are a few city centre hotels in Sarajevo. In the recent past it was only foreign journalists who stayed there, but that is slowly changing as the situation stabilises. The cuisine of the region includes Turkish influences. Specialities are bosanski lonac (Bosnian meat and vegetable stew) and lokum (Turkish delight). In past years, the health spas Jahorina, Bjelasnica and Igman were renowned for good skiing. The Adriatic Coast offers unrestricted fishing, although a special permit may be needed for fishing in rivers and lakes with nets or traps. Bosnia and Herzegovina's declaration of sovereignty in October 1991, was followed by a declaration of independence from the former Yugoslavia on 3 March 1992 after a referendum boycotted by ethnic Serbs. The Bosnian Serbs - supported by neighboring Serbia and Montenegro - responded with armed resistance aimed at partitioning the republic along ethnic lines and joining Serb-held areas to form a "Greater Serbia." In March 1994, Bosniaks and Croats reduced the number of warring factions from three to two by signing an agreement creating a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On 21 November 1995, in Dayton, Ohio, the warring parties initialed a peace agreement that brought to a halt three years of interethnic civil strife (the final agreement was signed in Paris on 14 December 1995). The Dayton Agreement retained Bosnia and Herzegovina's international boundaries and created a joint multi-ethnic and democratic government. This national government was charged with conducting foreign, diplomatic, and fiscal policy. Also recognized was a second tier of government comprised of two entities roughly equal in size: the Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska (RS). The Federation and RS governments were charged with overseeing most government functions. The Office of the High Representative (OHR) was established to oversee the implementation of the civilian aspects of the agreement. In 1995-96, a NATO-led international peacekeeping force (IFOR) of 60,000 troops served in Bosnia to implement and monitor the military aspects of the agreement. IFOR was succeeded by a smaller, NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) whose mission was to deter renewed hostilities. European Union peacekeeping troops (EUFOR) replaced SFOR in December 2004; their mission was to maintain peace and stability throughout the country. Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked next to Macedonia as the poorest republic in the old Yugoslav federation. Although agriculture is almost all in private hands, farms are small and inefficient, and the republic traditionally is a net importer of food. Industry has been greatly overstaffed, one reflection of the socialist economic structure of Yugoslavia. TITO had pushed the development of military industries in the republic with the result that Bosnia hosted a number of Yugoslavia's defense plants. The interethnic warfare in Bosnia caused production to plummet by 80% from 1992 to 1995 and unemployment to soar. With an uneasy peace in place, output recovered in 1996-99 at high percentage rates from a low base; but output growth slowed in 2000-02. Part of the lag in output was made up in 2003-2004. National-level statistics are limited and do not capture the large share of black market activity. The konvertibilna marka (convertible mark or BAM)- the national currency introduced in 1998 - is now pegged to the euro, and the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina has dramatically increased its reserve holdings. Implementation of privatization, however, has been slow, and local entities only reluctantly support national-level institutions. Banking reform accelerated in 2001 as all the Communist-era payments bureaus were shut down. A sizeable current account deficit and high unemployment rate remain the two most serious economic problems. The country receives substantial amounts of reconstruction assistance and humanitarian aid from the international community but will have to prepare for an era of declining assistance. | Open here a detailed map in a new window. Map Server Travel-Island.com. | 
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| RESORTS AND EXCURSIONS | Note: The civil war not only caused numerous deaths and casualties but led to the devastation of the country's historic towns. However, the rebuilding process is underway and travellers are again visiting the country.
Historically, Bosnia and Herzegovina was a melting pot of different cultures, with Christians, Muslims and Jews co-existing peaceably in this area for many centuries. The country's architecture was diverse and fascinating - beautiful churches and mosques existed in equal measure. The 500 years of Turkish rule left their trace mainly in the capital, Sarajevo. The Turkish quarter and the town centre have been largely rebuilt, and the city, although scarred by war, is coming back to life. The colourful bazaars are also part of the Ottoman heritage. Travnik in Bosnia was known as the town of the wazirs at the time of the Ottoman Empire. Much of the town was spared in the war, and it is still possible to visit the medieval castle. The many-coloured mosque near the base of ul Hendek is alleged to contain hairs from Muhammad's beard.
The reconstruction of Mostar, once a prime tourist destination, has begun, but most of the town's monuments were destroyed in the war. A few medieval buildings and cobbled streets remain. Banja Luka, the capital of the Republika Srpska, still contains a 16th century fort and an amphitheatre. There are several spas in the Republika Srpska area, most of which are operating again. Visegrad, Telic, Bijeljina, Dubica, Laktasi and Srebrenica all have natural mineral springs and medical facilities. | PASSPORT AND VISA APPLICATION Furthermore, in order to get into many countries on the stay abroad you will require a visa of some type, even if you are just visiting. This is usually an insert, stamp or sticker which is placed in your passport and the duration of its validity varies from place to place. If you do intend to work or study in the country to which you are traveling, however, you should organize your visa even further in advance as this can take longer to process.
As well as your passport you should ensure that you have at least one other form of identification with you. This may be a driver’s license, birth certificate or any other form of ID which is acceptable worldwide. As with passports, bring at least two copies of all forms of identification in case of loss or theft.
Help to Passport and Visa Application Forms. How to find the right one(s)?
A passport is issued to you by your home country as proof of citizenship. Visas are stamped into your passport to allow you entry into other countries. Although there are exceptions, you are usually required to display your passport when entering or leaving a country. Once you arrive at your destination, carry a photocopy of your passport and keep the original in a safe place.
A visa is an endorsement or stamp entered into your passport by a foreign government. It allows you to enter that country for a specific reason and period of time. Start applying for visas as soon as your passport is available so that all your documentation is completed well before your departure date. To receive a visa you need to send your passport to an embassy or consulate of the country you want to visit. Most countries have embassies and consulates worldwide, and travel agents can usually tell you where the nearest ones are located. Keep in mind that your passport may be tied up for days or weeks until the paperwork is done, so plan accordingly. In addition, some countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination before they will issue you a visa. The amount of time spent mailing your passport to the various agencies involved can really add up if you are visiting several countries. Plan ahead if possible. If you only have a few weeks to prepare, a commercial visa service can often speed up the process. |
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