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In a local interview recently, I was asked 'Since writing the second edition in 2006, what has changed, how has the tourism sector developed and what areas still require the greatest attention?' This is my reply:
The main difference between the second edition of the guide and the third edition due out in November 2009 is that Macedonia’s tourism infrastructure is on the verge of becoming a standard to be found in the rest of Europe. Wine tourism is beginning to take hold; boutique hotels are springing up; a Western standard spa (the interior of Katlanovska Banja) has become available; information about things to do and see in Macedonia has become more readily available in languages other than Macedonian; excellent taxi services are available. In this edition, I have included information on World War One battlefield sites, which is a fast developing tourism sector in the rest of Europe. I’ve added more on Macedonia’s cultural diversity, especially the Roma and the Mijak communities. And I’ve added information on Macedonia’s rock art, numerous castles, and developing ski areas.
Macedonia’s tourism industry, even around Lake Ohrid is, thankfully, so far avoiding the hollow lure of mass tourism, which is not in my opinion where Macedonia’s niche is. Instead, Macedonia is continuing to develop more personalized and indigenous offers. There is still some way to go to provide the family type business and service that gives attention to detail, comfort and value for money for the discerning traveler, which is what will be needed to move more towards eco-tourism and the hassle-free quiet get-away. Ohrid particularly needs to be better valued by the tourist industry. It is a UNESCO world heritage site: Ohrid needs to strictly regulate development along the shoreline in keeping with UNESCO guidelines – no speedboats or jet-skis, an enforced ban on fishing, serving and buying Ohrid trout until stocks are replenished, the promotion of traditional building skills in line with local architecture. Ohrid is not a renewable resource and once it is gone it will be a treasure lost forever.
After writing the first edition, I said that I was looking forward to writing the second edition because there was still so much more to say about the country. You know, after writing the second and the third, I am still looking forward to the fourth edition in a couple of years time – there is still so much more to Macedonia – it is a story untold waiting to be discovered. |
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