Jaunted

Balkans

Bright Bosnian Future?

February 6, 2006 at 1:04 PM | 0 Comments

It's become a well established rule of travel writing these days that formerly war-torn countries are the new hotness. Forget Cambodia--for quality ethnic strife, choose the Balkans. With that in mind, Sarajevo gets the full treatment in the New York Times Travel section.

The article itself is remarkably restrained, and forgoes any mentions of fusion cuisine. It gives turbofolk (one of its biggest stars, Ceca, is pictured above) too much credit for a deeper meaning. Turbofolk is considered a musical scourge of the entire region, cobbling together two genres that are meant to be kept as far apart as possible.

Sarajevo is doubtless a fascinating place, but it may be too soon for the glossy treatment, even in an article evaluating the damage wrought by war in relation to the tourist industry. Croatia is so popular because all those islands and beaches are essentially history free. How many tourists are genuinely ready for the complete Balkan experience?

Related Stories:
·   Going Out in Sarajevo [Gridskipper]
·   Sarajevo Reclaims its Lost Innocence [NYT]