• Thursday, 04 July 2024

Macedonian tourism sector participating in ITB Berlin, focus on sustainability of destinations

Macedonian tourism sector participating in ITB Berlin, focus on sustainability of destinations

Skopje, 8 March 2023 (MIA) – The Agency for Support and Promotion of Tourism (APPT), alongside nine other co-exhibitors, are participating in ITB Berlin, held March 7-9, to promote Macedonian destinations and tourism products.

APPT director Ljupcho Janevski and Albert Salman, the president of Green destinations – a certified and recognized program for sustainable tourism practices based in the Netherlands - signed a Memorandum of Cooperation at the event, the Agency said in a press release.

In cooperation with SIPPO - Swiss Import Promotion Programme - APPT signed three additional Memorandums of Cooperation: with the German organization Alliance of Independent Travel Companies (ASR), the German leading network of tour operators dedicated to destination sustainability – FAR, as well as Dutch non-profit organization TraveLife.

The first day of ITB Berlin began with negotiations over a Bucharest-Ohrid charter flight and meetings with tour operator TUI, which expressed its readiness to establish a third charter flight destination in 2024. Meetings were held with Polish tour operators, as well as negotiations with the BBC which offered great conditions for cooperation and the promotion of  North Macedonia's tourism potential through their broadcasting channels. Negotiations were also held with Czech tour operators over visits to Ohrid and ski resorts in the country during the 2023/2024 season.

The Macedonian stand was also visited by the Macedonian Ambassador to Berlin, Vasko Grkov.

With its unique variety and the participation of 180 countries and regions, ITB Berlin covers the entire chain of tourism. The focus of ITB Berlin in 2023 is social and ecological sustainability. Participants and visitors will have a chance to hear how destinations throughout the world are trying to make tourism more resilient and sustainable, thereby contributing to the local community and environment, said APPT.

Photo: APPT