Abstract
Despite the extremely unfavorable demographic development of Bosnia and Herzegovina over the last thirty years, the tourism sector has exhibited notable positive trends. This study aims at exploring whether tourism, particularly at the local level, positively influences the demographic development of the country and serves as a tool for more successful demographic, economic, and overall spatial development. Neum, the only coastal tourist resort in the country, and Jahorina, one of the leading ski tourist resorts, have been selected as representative case studies. The objective of the study is to analyse the impact of tourism on the demographic development of Neum and Jahorina from the beginnings of mass tourism until today, with a specific focus on the most recent period. Data on tourist flow, employment in tourism and the number and age structure of the population have been analysed in relation to key socio-economic processes that have influenced both tourism and demographic development.
Keywords: tourism, demographic development, Neum, Jahorina, Bosnia and Herzegovina