Skopje, 8 August 2023 (MIA) – Member of European Parliament (MEP) and representative of the Renew Europe liberal group, Valter Flego, met Tuesday with Agency for Promotion and Support of Tourism (APPT) director Ljupcho Janevski to discuss European support and the socio-economic value of tourism.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the Community of Croats in North Macedonia, and MEP Flego had the opportunity to learn more about the challenges facing Macedonian tourism, APPT's strategic plans for 2024, the need for reorganization into a National Tourism Organization and the next steps in tourism, which are to be directed towards the creation of destination management organizations - DMO, which will make it possible to detect real problems and match them with real needs, the APPT said in a press release.

Flego shared his extensive experience in tourism development of the Istria County and the importance of sustainability of destinations and responsible traveling, in order to maintain the authenticity of tourism locations, as well as the shortcomings of mass tourism.

The MEP visited Ohrid, its cultural and historical sights, and was delighted by the region's beauty and gastronomic specialties. APPT and the Community of Croats in North Macedonia, who mediated the operational programmes and implemented them within their framework for annual activities, in the near future will work on projects of strengthening tourism cooperation between North Macedonia and Croatia, reads the press release. ssh/ik/

Photo: MIA archive