Republika Srpska Law on Tourism: what it means for a rural tourism provider

The new Republika Srpska Law on Tourism replaced the earlier law of 2017. This text explains what it means for a farm household, guesthouse, restaurant or other service provider in a rural area of East Herzegovina.

In short

• The law was published in Službeni glasnik RS (Official Gazette) no. 49/26 of 2 June 2026 and has applied since 10 June 2026. The earlier Law on Tourism (no. 45/17 and 16/23) no longer applies.
• Tourism activity may be carried out by companies, other legal entities, entrepreneurs and natural persons not registered as entrepreneurs (Article 15).
• Rural tourism is one of the listed tourism services: stays for rest and recreation with participation in village activities, in line with this law and the hospitality rules (Article 52).
• Tourism subjects must bring their business into line with the law within six months of its entry into force, that is by 10 December 2026 (Article 113).

Who it applies to

Anyone providing tourism services in Republika Srpska, including services in rural areas. The law treats as tourism subjects companies, other legal entities, entrepreneurs and natural persons who are not registered as entrepreneurs. Tourism services, including rural services, may be provided by legal entities, entrepreneurs and natural persons registered for the activity under the hospitality regulations (Article 50). A tourist is, by law, a natural person who stays at least 24 hours away from their place of residence for cultural, social, historical and other needs, relaxation and rest, and not for the purpose of making a profit (Article 3).

What to do

1. Check your legal form. A company is registered with the competent court. An entrepreneur receives a registration decision from the competent local government body. Only then can you start work or change the conditions of work (Article 16).
2. For accommodation and food and drink services in a village, the conditions of the Law on Hospitality also apply, and the Law on Tourism refers to it expressly. The Law on Hospitality currently in force is Službeni glasnik RS no. 45/17 and 1/24. After the public debate on the draft (Conclusion of the National Assembly, Službeni glasnik RS no. 27/26), the Government of Republika Srpska adopted the Proposal of a new Law on Hospitality on 24 September 2026. The new law has not yet been passed or published, so the current one applies until then. Check the current version with the city or municipal administration before applying.
3. Provide premises, equipment and an employee, unless the law says otherwise (Article 16, paragraph 1).
4. Display the business name and working hours at the entrance, publish the terms and price of each service, and issue a receipt for every service (Article 15, paragraph 2).
5. Decide whether you operate all year or seasonally, for each facility separately, and notify the competent municipal body (Article 18).
6. Check special duties for your service: rafting, vehicle rental and tourist animators must themselves apply for entry in the electronic tourism register (Article 89, paragraph 3). The law does not set such an application for rural tourism providers.

About the register and CISU

The law does not mention CISU. It introduces the electronic tourism register ("elektronska evidencija u turizmu"), a single central database of registered subjects kept by the Ministry of Trade and Tourism (Articles 3 and 89). It also records the number of rural tourism providers, and the Ministry obtains data on registered subjects ex officio from APIF (the Agency for Intermediary, IT and Financial Services). The form of applications and the way the register is kept will be set by rulebooks that the minister must adopt within nine months (Article 116). Until then, the bylaws of the previous law apply (Article 117).

Deadlines and amounts

• Bringing business into line: six months from 10 June 2026, so by 10 December 2026.
• Procedures started before the law entered into force are finished under the earlier rules (Article 114).
• Republika Srpska budget incentives may go to subjects registered in Republika Srpska or the Brčko District of BiH for tourism and hospitality activity: companies and entrepreneurs, natural persons who provide hospitality services in a rural tourism facility, apartment, holiday house or rented room, and associations and public institutions (Article 90 of the law, Article 4 of the decree).
• The conditions and procedure are set by the Decree on conditions and criteria for awarding earmarked funds for tourism development (Službeni glasnik RS no. 85/26 of 9 September 2026), in force since 17 September 2026. Funds are awarded through a public call of the Ministry, by a minister's decision for amounts up to BAM 10,000 (an application can be filed throughout the budget year, one project per year), or by a Government act. Check the exact conditions and deadlines in the specific public call on the Ministry's page.

Where to go

• City administration of Trebinje and the municipal administrations of Bileća, Gacko, Ljubinje, Nevesinje and Berkovići for entrepreneur registration and notice of seasonal operation.
• Ministry of Trade and Tourism of Republika Srpska (Ministarstvo trgovine i turizma) for questions on the tourism register and incentives.

Laws and sources

• Zakon o turizmu (Službeni glasnik Republike Srpske br. 49/26)
• Uredba o uslovima i kriterijumima za dodjelu namjenskih sredstava za razvoj turizma (Službeni glasnik RS br. 85/26)
• Ministry news: the new Law on Tourism has entered into force
• Legal acts in tourism and hospitality, including the Law on Hospitality (Službeni glasnik RS no. 45/17 and 1/24)
• Conclusion on the Draft Law on Hospitality (Službeni glasnik RS no. 27/26)
• Government of Republika Srpska, 28th session of 24 September 2026: Proposal of the Law on Hospitality