Skopje, 22 September 2023 (MIA) - Tourism revenue experienced growth in the second quarter of 2023, or USD 136 million for the Macedonian economy, with 28 percent growth compared to 2022. The two quarters in 2023 have 24 percent growth, opposed to 2022.

The Agency for Promotion and Support of Tourism announced in a press release on Friday that in total, the two quarters for 2023 experienced a 24 percent growth compared to last year, or USD 229 million inflow from tourism in the GDP.

"Tourism creates jobs, strengthens the local economy, contributes to the development of local infrastructure and can help preserve the environment, cultural assets and traditions, reduce poverty and inequality," the press release reads.

Tourism in North Macedonia, they add, should receive necessary attention because it can play a significant role in attracting green investment.

If we compare the participation of tourism in the GDP, we can see that in 2011 the contribution was 0.4 percent, in 2018 was 2.4 percent, and 3.6 percent in 2022, reaching USD 481 million.

"Comparatively, in the first quarters (Q1), tourism revenue for 2018/2019/2020/2021/2022, that despite the 2020 pandemic, observed no decline which was made possible by planning, measuring and evaluating the strategic plans of the Agency for Promotion and Support of Tourism," reads the press release.

For the first time, in the first quarter of 2023 tourism revenue reached USD 93 million for the Macedonian economy, 19 percent more than in 2022, or 41 percent more than 2019.

"I want to send a strong and optimistic message for achieving the goal of USD 530 million in the Macedonian tourism sector in the domestic economy for 2023. Interinstitutional cooperation, inclusivity in the private sector and strengthening capacities, mobilize all stakeholders and make tourism a catalyst for positive changes. We must restructure the Macedonian tourism sector within the next five years, and reach the 2025 goals to achieve 3.7 million overnight stays, USD 600 million from tourism, or more than 4 percent from the GDP, more than 45,000 employees in the tourism and hospitality sector," said Tourism Agency director, Ljupcho Janevski. ssh/sk/

Photo: MIA archive