According to the latest data published yesterday by the State Statistical Office, the increase in the number of tourists continues rapidly, so instead of 2020, as we predicted, we are on the verge of achieving this goal ahead of time. This year, we could reach hosting one million tourists with three millions of overnight stays, said Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi.
According to Bekteshi, the share of tourism in the domestic gross product (GDP) is expected to be around three percent, taking into consideration that the projection is to be four percent by 2020. This continuous increase in the number of tourists will mean a larger foreign exchange influx.
“This is a sign that we are moving in the right direction, and that policies are well placed. Macedonia’s entry into NATO will also mean the removal of the last barrier that is often mentioned by foreign tourists who avoided our country, which is the issue of greater safety and security. However, this also means an increase in investments in the tourism infrastructure, which will certainly contribute to the development of the tourism sector,” emphasized Bekteshi.
