An increasingly visible and competitive tourist destination in the region

This year, for the first time, the Republic of North Macedonia is a partner country of the Tourism Fair, and their stand in the "Master" Hall attracts many visitors who intend to visit it.

"For North Macedonia, the status of a partner country is a great recognition, but also a strategic opportunity to further strengthen our position in one of the most important tourism markets in the region," said Sofija Miladinoska, Head of the Sector for Promotion and Analysis of Tourism, International Cooperation, Use of EU and Other Funds and Categorization at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of North Macedonia. "This means that we are in the very focus of the Fair, with a special space to show everything that our country has to offer: natural beauty, cultural and spiritual heritage, gastronomy, tradition, as well as opportunities for investing in tourism. Also, this status allows us to intensify cooperation with the tourism sector of Serbia, establish new partnerships and get closer to both regional and international audiences. At the same time, it is a strong confirmation that North Macedonia is becoming an increasingly visible and competitive tourist destination in the region.

The rich promotional program of the partner country, as well as its most important and most attractive tourist gems, are the reason why visitors come to their stand.

"Visitors have the opportunity to get to know Ohrid and Lake Ohrid, Skopje, Mavrovo, Prespa, national parks, mountains, as well as our recognizable gastronomy and wine culture. We also participate through a rich promotional program that includes presentations, workshops, meetings with tourism professionals and presentations of tourism products. A special focus is on the promotion of our cultural heritage and authentic values that distinguish North Macedonia on the tourist map of the region," explained Sofija Miladinoska, adding that their goal is to bring visitors closer to everything that North Macedonia has to offer in an interactive and modern way: a unique combination of nature, culture, adventure and authentic experience.

More and more tourists from Serbia

Although Serbian tourists mostly only pass through North Macedonia on their way to Greece, there are still those who visit it on purpose.

Serbia is one of the most important markets for North Macedonia. Every year, we are visited by tens of thousands of tourists from Serbia, and the number of arrivals is constantly growing, which confirms that they recognize our country as a close, accessible and content-rich destination. North Macedonia is becoming more and more popular for weekend trips, family vacations, gastro-tours and thematic trips, and we believe that this positive trend will continue in the coming years – says Sofija Miladinoska.