Evaluation of the holiday climate index (HCI): Urban and its significance for planning in tourism sector – case study Sarajevo

Purpose Understanding the impacts of climate on tourism has evolved since the late 20th century, shifting from one-dimensional and partial approaches to more comprehensive and multifaceted ones. To more accurately assess the climatic suitability of destinations for recreational tourism, the Holiday Climate Index (HCI) has been developed in recent years. The HCI's variable rating scale and component weighting system are based on insights into tourists' climatic preferences. Since different types of destinations have distinct climatic requirements, the HCI is designed with specifications for two major tourism segments—urban and beach. Design/methodology/approach The HCI: Urban focuses on urban tourism, where the city and its attractions serve as the primary destination and point of interest. This study analyzes the HCI: Urban for Sarajevo, the most significant tourism destination in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The monthly probability is calculated by determining the frequency of daily index scores within ideal and unacceptable categories. Ideal climatic conditions for urban tourism are defined as days with scores between 90 and 100, while unacceptable conditions are those with scores below 40. Findings Of all tourists visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2023, 41% visited the Sarajevo Canton, which makes it a significant case study. This paper analyzes the HCI: Urban index for Sarajevo in relation to tourist visits throughout the year, and the obtained ratings reflect tourists' climatic preferences for urban destinations. Research limitations/implications Holiday Climate Index (HCI): Urban was analyzed for the Sarajevo area, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in order to more accurately assess the climatic suitability of this destination for tourism. The word “holiday” was chosen to better reflect what the index was designed for (i.e. recreational tourism), since tourism is much broader in definition. Practical implications This paper analyzes the HCI: Urban index for Sarajevo in relation to tourist visits during the year, and the obtained scores reflect tourists' climate preferences for the city destination. Social implications Considering that tourists in Sarajevo stay only for a short time (average length of stay 2.1 days), determinants that affect tourist satisfaction and elements of the destination that need to be improved in order to increase the length of stay have been identified. Analysis of average daily values of climatic parameters of a particular destination and monitoring their trend plays an important role in the organization of tourist trips. Originality/value This research is the first of its kind related to Sarajevo, and understanding local climatic conditions is crucial for developing tourism strategies, planning, and organizing tourism events in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is the most visited tourist city in the entire country.