THE POSITION OF TOURIST INFRASTRUCTURE IN FLOODED URBAN AREAS – CASE STUDY: BIHAĆ, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
The severity and frequency of short-term but highly damaging urban floods have increased in recent years worldwide and have been caused by climate change. The casualties of urban floods are usually not high, but the material damage and economic losses can be quite significant due to the population density of these areas and the various economic activities concentrated in urban regions. For this reason, this type of flooding is always catastrophic. This paper explores the impact of urban flooding on the tourism infrastructure in Bihać using the multi-criteria ArcGIS analysis. The results show that 55.8% of the studied area is at a low elevation and has gentle slopes, making it particularly susceptible to flooding. Annual precipitation reaches up to 1,305 mm, with 35–38% of the total rainfall recorded in the urban centre of Bihać, where the key tourism infrastructure is located. The buffer zone analysis revealed that most hospitality and accommodation facilities are situated within 20 to 100 meters of the Una River’s shoreline, making them directly vulnerable during seasonal floods. Despite this, the number of tourist arrivals has been steadily increasing – from 33,433 arrivals in 2021 to 48,330 in 2023, with foreign tourists accounting for 60% of all visitors. The research findings highlight the need for the implementation of precise spatial plans and protective measures to reduce the negative impact of floods on tourism trends in this city.