Study of Cultural and Natural Heritage in Cross-Border Region

This project is funded by the European Union CROSS‐BORDER COOPERATION PROGRAMME

Beyond Borders – Introducing Smart Tourism and Sharing Economy

'This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Institute for Research in Environment, Civil Engineering and Energy and Biologists of Albania and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union'

Contents 1. INTRODUCTION ...... 10 1.1 Study objectives ...... 12 1.2 Methodology ...... 12 1.2.1 Methodology of the assessment ...... 12 2. TOURIST-GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION ...... 13 2.1. Geographic position ...... 13 3. CURRENT STATE OF NATURAL HERITAGE OF THE REGION ...... 14 3.1 Protected designated areas ...... 14 3.2 Biodiversity of municipalities of Ohrid Region (Ohrid and Struga), Vevcani, Debar, Marovo and Rostuse and Centar Zupa ...... 19 3.2.1 Biodiversity of municipalities of Ohrid Region (Ohrid and Struga) ...... 19 3.2.2 Biodiversity of Vevcani ...... 24 3.1.3 Biodiversity of Mavrovo and Rostushe ...... 28 3.1.4 Biodiversity of Debar ...... 29 3.1.5 Biodiversity of Centar Zupa ...... 30 3.2. Biodiversity of municipalities Mat, Diber, Bulquize and Klos ...... 31 3.2.1 Biodiversity of Mat ...... 31 3.2.2 Biodiversity of Diber ...... 34 3.2.3 Biodiversity of Bulqize ...... 37 4. CURRENT STATE OF CULTURAL HERITAGE ...... 38 4.1. Cultural heritage of municipalities Ohrid, Struga, Vevcani, Debar, Centar Zupa and Mavrovo and Rostushe ...... 38 4.1.1 Cultural heritage of municipality Ohrid ...... 38 4.1.2Cultural heritage of municipalities Mavrovo- Rostushe and Centar Zupa ...... 45 4.1.3 Cultural heritage of municipality Debar ...... 48 4.1.4 Cultural heritage of municipality Vevcani ...... 52 4.1.5 Cultural heritage of municipality Struga ...... 54 4.2 Cultural heritage of municipalities Diber,Klos,Mat and Bulquize ...... 57 4.3 Social, cultural and economic differences ...... 68 4.4 Current problems with management of natural and cultural heritage ...... 72 4.4.1 Municipalities: Ohrid Lake Region, Mаvrovo and Rostuse,Vevcani, Debar and Centar Zupa ...... 72 4.4.2 Municipalities: Mat, Klos , Bulquize and Diber ...... 77 4.5 The impact of tourism ...... 7 8 4.6 Tourism infrastructure planning and management ...... 81 4.7 Marketing, branding and access to information ...... 83 4.7.1 Mobile App for tourism marketing ...... 84

4.7. 2 Instagram for Tourism Marketing ...... 85 5. FACTORS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM ...... 88 7. TOURISM NICHES ...... 9 4 7.1. Municipality of Ohrid ...... 9 7 7.1.1 Attraction ...... 97 7.1.2 Experience...... 98 7.2 MUNICIPALITY OF STRUGA...... 106 7.2.1 Attraction ...... 106 7.2.2 Expirience ...... 107 7.3 MUNICIPALITY OF VEVCANI...... 110 7.3.1 Attraction ...... 110 7.3.2 Expirience ...... 111 7.4 MUNICIPALITY OF DEBAR ...... 115 7.4.1 Attraction ...... 115 7.4.2 Expirinece ...... 116 7.5 Municipality of Mavrovo and Rostushe ...... 116 7.5.1 Attraction ...... 117 7.5.2 Expirience ...... 118 7.6 Municipality of Centar Zupa ...... 121 7.6.1 Attraction ...... 121 7.6.2 Expiriences ...... 122 8. BENEFITS OF TOURISM FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES: ...... 127 9. CONDUCTING RESEARCH IN CBC –NORTH MACEDONIA AND ALBANIA ...... 129 9.1. Results from the survey conducted in Municipalities of Ohrid, Struga,Vevcani,Centar Zupa,Debar and Mavrovo and Rostushe ...... 129 9.2. Results from the survey conducted in Municipalities Mat, Klos, Bulqize and Diber 146 10 . RECOMMENDATION ...... 159 10.1 Steps towards effective cross-border cooperation in natural and cultural heritage protection ...... 159 10.2 How to bring cultural and natural heritage and sustainable tourism together: challenges at regional level ...... 168 11.CONCLUSION ...... 169 12. REFERENCES : ...... 172 12. ANNEX...... 174 QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE IN THE CROSS BOARD REGION OF MK/AL ...... 175

Table of figures:

Figure 1. UNESCO world cultural and natural heritage (Ohrid Lake Region) ...... 10 Figure 2. Specific obejctives of sustaianble tourism ...... 12 Figure 3.Geographic position of the municipalities ...... 13 Figure 5.Protected areas in the right side of the border ...... 15 Figure 6. National park Galicica infographic ...... 18 Figure 7. Monument of nature Ohrid Lake infographic ...... 21 Figure 8. Diatom from Ohrid Lake ...... 22 Figure 9. Studenchishte Marsh biodiversity ...... 23 Figure 10. National Park Mavrovo ...... 27 Figure 11.Endangered Balkan Lynx Kitten (photo by MES) ...... 30 Figure 12. National park Zall Gocaj infographic ...... 32 Figure 13. National PArk Lura infographic ...... 36 Figure 14.Document of the UNESCO Convention for Ohrid Region ...... 38 Figure 15. Holy Mother of God Peribleptos ...... 40 Figure 16.Sacral architecture St.Sophia church info graphic ...... 41 Figure 17.Plaoshnik ...... 42 Figure 18.Samuil’s Fortress ...... 42 Figure 19. St John the Baptist Kaneo ...... 43 Figure 20.Holy Mother of Zaum ...... 43 Figure 21.Antique theatre ...... 44 Figure 22.Museum on water “Bay on the bones”, ...... 44 Figure 23. St.Jovan Bigorski ...... 45 Figure 24.village of Galichnik ...... 46 Figure 25.Galicnik wedding festival ...... 48 Figure 26,Bridge Elen skok ...... 51 Figure 27.St.nikola ...... 52 Figure 28. Old houses in Vevcani ...... 52 Figure 29.The house of Pesinovci ...... 53 Figure 30.The house of Korunovci ...... 53 Figure 31.The old house that belonged to the Pupin family ...... 53 Figure 33.Traditional costumes in Vevcani ...... 54 Figure 34.Ustie of Drim ...... 55 Figure 35.The road from Roman period ...... 56 Figure 36.Basilica in Oktisi ...... 56 Figure 37.Struga Poetry Evenings ...... 56 Figure 38. Dibra monument ...... 59 Figure 39. Famous bridges from Mar ...... 61 Figure 40.Promotion of cultural heritage ...... 62 Figure 41.Church of Saint Demeter ...... 64 Figure 42. Tower of Guri i Bardhe ...... 65 Figure 43. Diffrent type of cheese preparation on CBC (right sheep milk cheese in Mavrovo, right goat milk cheese from Diber) ...... 69 Figure 44. Cultural differences in cooking” jufka” in Diber (left) and Mavrovo (right) ...... 72 Figure 45. BBC article about Ohrid Lake endangerment ...... 73

Figure 46.Treils (left interpretative; right normal) ...... 82 Figure 47. Mobile app for tourist promotion in CBC region ...... 85 Figure 48. the most used hashtag on instagram for the municipalities in CBC region ...... 87 Figure 49. Geophysical attraction - Persid meteor observation in Ohrid (Credit: Stojan Stojanovski, Kristijan Gjoreski, Igor Nastoski / Ohrid Astronomy Association) (municipality of Ohrid)...... 89 Figure 50. Natural attraction- Ohrid trout, the living fossil (municipality of Ohrid) ...... 90 Figure 51.Cultural attraction- Kemal Ataturk family’s house (municipality of Centar Zupa) 90 Figure 52. Recreational attraction- Ski centar Zare Lazarevski (municipality of Mavrovo and Rostushe)...... 91 Figure 53. All attractions as factors for tourism development in region ...... 93 Figure 54. progression of economic value ...... 94 Figure 58.Natural tourist attractiveness ...... 96 Figure 59.Rafting at Black Drim ...... 125 Figure 60. Saponika waterfall ...... 126 Figure 61. Respondent’s knowledge of natural/cultural heritage ...... 131 Figure 62.Respondent’s rates of natural tourist values ...... 131 Figure 63.Respondent’s rates of cultural tourist values ...... 132 Figure 64.Respondent’s rates of natural tourist attractions ...... 132 Figure 65.Respondent’s rates of cultural tourist attractions ...... 133 Figure 66.Respondent’s preference of type of tourism ...... 133 Figure 67.Respondent’s thinking of level of protection of archeological sites ...... 134 Figure 68. Respondent’s thinking of level protection of natural resources ...... 134 Figure 69. Respondent’s thinking of availability of information on Internet about natural and cultural heritage ...... 135 Figure 70.Respondent’s thinking of accessibility of natural heritage ...... 136 Figure 71. Respondent’s thinking of accessibility of cultural heritage ...... 136 Figure 72.Respondent’s thinking of management status of natural/cultural heritage ...... 136 Figure 73.Respondent’s thinking of cultural differences between local citizens and tourist 137 Figure 74.Respondent’s knowledge of natural heritage of Albania ...... 138 Figure 75.Respondent’s experience of cross border tour ...... 139 Figure 76.Respondent’s assessment of current condition of natural heritage ...... 140 Figure 77.Respondent’s assessment of current condition of cultural heritage ...... 140 Figure 78. Respondent's thinking of priorities ...... 141 Figure 79.Respondent's age ...... 141 Figure 80. Respondent's gender ...... 142 Figure 81.Respondent's level of education ...... 142 Figure 82.Respondent's employment status ...... 143 Figure 83.Respondent's religion affiliation ...... 143 Figure 84.Respondent's place where they live ...... 144 Figure 85: Result of question: Which is your position in the Municipality/Organization ..... 148 Figure 86.Result of question: Do you think that the protection of natural resources, cultural heritage and development of tourism in the border region can be compatible? ...... 148 Figue 87: Results of question: Do you think that well-managed tourist attractions attract more tourists? ...... 149 Figure 88.Result of question: Do you think that the community will benefit from the development of sustainable tourism? ...... 149 Figure 89: Results of question: Activities to be organized to realize sustainable development ...... 155

Figure 90: Results of question: What measures should be taken so that the local population is motivated to develop sustainable ...... 155 Figure 91: Results of question: What marketing tools should be used for greater access to tourism markets and increasing market share? ...... 156 Figure 92: Results of question: Do you think that in addition to improving the overall physical condition of the environment should be improved interpretation (with the inclusion of some modern technological solutions, mobile applications and more) to improve the overall experience of visitors...... 156 Figure 93: Results of question: How should cooperation be encouraged in creating a joint Program for the development of sustainable tourism in the cross-border region? (multiple answers allowed) ...... 157 Figure 94. Croos-border cooperation ...... 160 Figure 95. Tea tasting tour in Bali ...... 164 Figure 96. Instagramablle places in Bali,Qatar and Poland ...... 166 Figure 97. Touristic attraction -Swing ...... 167

List of Abbreviations

APA Administration of Protected Area CFM Community Forest management CPUE Catch per Unit Effort DCM Decision Council of Ministers DFB Directorate of Forest and Biodiversity DFS Directory of Forestry Services FCRP Fire Control and Rescue Police FMO Fishery Management Organisation FYROM Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia HBIO Hydro biological Institute Ohrid HM Hunting Manager IoM Inspectorate of Mining IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature KRWM Korça Regional Waste Management Association LA Lake Administration LOCP Lake Ohrid Conservation Project LOMB Lake Ohrid Management Board LOWC Lake Ohrid Watershed Committee MAFWE Ministry of agriculture, forestry and water economy MARDWA Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Water Administration MC Management Committee MH Ministry of Health M&E Monitoring and Evaluation METS Management Effectiveness Tracking Sheet MoE Ministry of Environment MoESP Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning MP Management Plan MTI Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure MTC Ministry of Transport and Communication MUDT Ministry of Urban Development and Tourism NEA National Environmental Agency NP National Park NPS Non point sources NUCI National Urban and Construction Inspectorate PA Protected Areas PL Protected Landscape PME Participatory monitoring and evaluation PS Point sources PTATPLA Pogradec Terrestrial/Aquatic Territory Protected Landscape Area REA Regional Environmental Agency RM Republic of Macedonia SAC Special Areas of Conservation SI State Inspectoriat SIEFWF S State Inspectorate of Environment, Forest, Water and Fishery WB World Bank WFD Water Framework Directive (of the European Union) WRM Water Resources Management

Activities

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It is about uniting conservation, communities, and sustainable travel. This means that those who implement and participate in ecotourism activities should follow the following ecotourism principles: Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect. Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts!

1. INTRODUCTION

The cross-border region (CB Region) located in the southern part of Europe, has a good Geo-Strategic position. The extraordinary cultural and natural heritage of the CB region recognized all over the world for its uniqueness and diversity (part of it is recognised as UNESCO world heritage as shown on fig.1), can offer a powerful contribution to sustainable development and tourism growth. The amplitude of its landscapes, mountains and Ohrid Lake is reflected in the myriad of local traditions, land uses, languages, local arts, crafts and customs.1

Figure 1. UNESCO world cultural and natural heritage (Ohrid Lake Region) Differences in climate, topography and geology have played an important role in shaping unique biodiversity. Variety of plants, animals and landscapes for its small size found only here, extraordinary history that shaped the nations culture is specific for this part of the Europe. From Galichica and Bistra mountains to Dinaric Alps, local people have worked their land for centuries in accordance with local conditions. This has created an intricately woven pattern of semi-natural habitats that are exceptionally rich in wildlife yet entirely dependent on continued management for their survival. This rich natural and cultural heritage is a defining element of our European identity. It brings communities together and builds shared understandings of the places we live in. It is also a very useful resource that can enhance social cohesion, employment and economic growth.2 When it’s combined with innovative governance models, this rich heritage has the potential to make a significant contribution to the long-term competitiveness of economies, incrementing tourism inflows and exports of manufactured goods and services like it’s stressed in IPA Cross-

1 linking natura 2000 and cultural heritage 2 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/management/pdf/nature-and-culture-leaflet-web.pdf

border Programme 2013. In order to secure preconditions for local development, favouring tourism in the region strategy is one of the most economic potentials of this cross border region. Cross border cooperation (CBC) and partnership have been specified as the basis for sustainable tourism development in the EU.3 The tourism CBC is an integrated model of cooperation, as it is at a common point of several cross border fields of activity determined by social and economic phenomena, environmental processes and Nature and culture tourism often go hand in hand as territorial planning strategies as well as by cultural tourists who value one often manifestations. value the other and also because they are often Respect for the natural resources is finally starting to leave closely situated. For instance, of the 365 World their mark on the hearts of travellers. If, until a few years Heritage Sites in the EU, almost 20% are located in, ago, users were still not very sensitive to these issues, a or directly on the border of a Natura 2000 site. A recent survey conducted by IECE tells us that today the trend further 142 sites (or 42%) is changing. are within walking distance (2 km or less away) Cross-border partnership is increasingly important because the natural assets around which tourism will be developed are shared between the bordering states. The awareness of the great importance of tourism for economic development of the cross border region and the creation of new employment require the elaboration of new tourist strategies, aiming mostly at the quality of supply and offering a new way of enjoying tourism, together with the need to enhance cultural and natural heritages.

In order to fulfil the needs of the tourist market that has ever more complex requirements, greater attention must be given to what a territory can offer, as well as an innovative way to study and interpret it so that more effective proposals in terms of communication can be made. The region shares more than the same strategic goal – EU membership- it shares a gateway entrance for tourism discovery for those on either side of the border. How to enhance the

3 prokkola, eeva-kaisa (2008). resources and barriers in tourism development: cross-border cooperation, regionalization and destination building at the finnish- swedish border. fennia 186: 1, pp. 31–46. helsinki. issn 0015-0010.

gateway and showcase the multitude of natural resources and cultural offerings on both sides is the focus of this project.

1.1 Study objectives The Study of cultural and natural heritage in both countries is important document which indicates the potentials and possibilities for tourist development of this area and has several goals. The main goal is to analyse the current state of cultural heritage, its accessibility, analysis of natural heritage and tourism opportunities, cultural differences and take inventory and valorise tourist resources in region from the aspect of tourism. This implies which of the numerous resources in the region could be in the function of tourism as they are not all suitable for tourist purposes. Thus, only resources which have a suitable attractive potential, which are connected to traffic and which enable performance of certain activities have been distinguished. The following important goal is sustainable development of tourism through sustainable use of distinguished tourist resources, in order to prevent their destruction, degradation, deterioration or loss. Specific Objectives are (fig.2):

Figure 2. Specific obejctives of sustaianble tourism 1.2 Methodology 1.2.1 Methodology of the assessment The methodology of the research and development component will be a form of surveys, questionnaires, analyses and quantification, design thinking and benchmarking standard and reports.  Surveys and questionnaires are done within the cross-border region in order to getter more information about the natural/cultural tourist values of the Municipality where the respondents live; what type of tourism corresponds to the natural potentials of the Municipality were they live /visit, do they prefer alternative tourism (tourism taking place in rural areas, showing the tradition of local cultural communities and not endangering the environment), or mass tourism (tourism organized for many people who go on holiday in the same place, which contributes to the economy but at the same time may destroy the environment); etc.Variation of questions (open ended questions,

selection from given options, etc.)provided enough data on sustainability of tourism, cultural and natural heritage, etc.  Analysis and quantification of the gathered information was the next step towards summarizing the survey material into valid data that can be used to learn more about the target touristic region. Conducting research resulted in activities in the field survey, when actual interviews happened. 344 questionnaires were fulfilled and 10 volunteers were engaged.All attractive destinations which ae abundant with natural and cultural heritage were visited. Results from survey will help us mapping the skills and training needs and provide tailor made trainings to improve accessibility and performance of tourism services and digital tourism in CBC region  Benchmarking standard and reports will be used to acquire relevant information from the field of tourist services and potential, sustainability of tourism and cultural and natural. Heirage.

2. TOURIST-GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION 2.1. Geographic position The territory of the eligible area for the cross-border program covers total 6,377 km2 (1,811 km2 from the right side and 4,566 km2 from the left side of the border line), with a total population of 396 404 inhabitants (156 515 from the right side and 239 789 from the left side of the border line). The border line predominantly parallels the Adriatic coast and is 192km long (total), while for this project it is cca 50 km.

Figure 3.Geographic position of the municipalities

The eligible cross-border area (figure 1) is determined in accordance with article 88 of the IPA implementing regulations where it is stated that NUTS level 3 or equivalent areas along land borders between beneficiary countries are eligible for cross-border programs. On the eastern part of the side of CB region, the eligible areas consist of three NUTS level 2 equivalent statistical regions (Southwest and Polog). The country is divided into eight statistical regions, established in 2001 by a decision of the government (National Nomenclature of Statistical Territorial Units). The border area of eastern part of the eligible area includes the Southwest and Polog NUTS level 2 equivalent statistical regions covering 1,811 km2, with a total population of 156 515 inhabitants. It consists of 6 municipalities including 105 settlements (3 towns and 102 villages). • Southwest region includes 13 municipalities, but only 5 are part of this project: Debar, Centar Zupa, Ohrid, Struga and Vevcani; • Polog region includes 9 municipalities, but only Mavrovo and Rostuse is part of this project. Western part of the eligible area consists of one administrative region (the country is divided into 12 regions) corresponding to NUTS level 1 equivalent. The border area of the western part of the eligible area cover 4,566 sq. km, with a total population of 239 789 inhabitants. They are divided into districts (Diber County) and 4 smaller territorial units: • Diber Region includes the districts of Diber, Mat, Klos and Bulqiza.

3. CURRENT STATE OF NATURAL HERITAGE OF THE REGION

3.1 Protected designated areas

The Convention concerning the protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage defines two different types of world heritage: natural and cultural heritage. This cross-border region is unique because part of it combines, which is the mixed sites, and which contain elements of the two types of heritage. The cross-border region is extremely rich in environmental resources and biodiversity. Protecting and valorising this asset is certainly one of the key points for sustainable development of the region. The local stakeholders are increasingly concerned by the future of these resources. In both countries, the protected areas are classified into six categories according to the criteria of the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The protected

areas network in the right side of the border line includes 81 sites covering an area of about 7,4 % of the total territory and most of the protected areas (153 523 ha) are concentrated in the cross-border region. The natural heritage of right part of cross-border region boasts a large biodiversity, an array of protected sites and diverse natural landscape. The level of protection of these areas varies from national parks to proposed Natura 2000, from biosphere reserves to UNESCO sites. In cross-border area in North Macedonia eleven (fig.5) protected areas are established:  national parks (category II): Mavrovo National Park (established in 1949) covering an area of 73 100 ha, Galichica National park (established in 1958) covering an area of 22 750 ha between the Ohrid and Prespa lakes and recently Jablanica National Park (the government decided to support the initiative to declare Jablanica as a National Rark (NP) at the 116th session in January 2019- its establishment is in process).  10 protected sites (category III) with most important one tectonic lake Ohrid Lake protected as Natural Monuments in 1977 (Ohrid Lake covers an area of 23.000 ha).

Figure 4.Protected areas in the right side of the border

The Ohrid Lake region is included on the UNESCO List of world heritage in 1979. The hydrological site Vevchanski Izvori (Vevcani Springs) was proclaimed Natural Monument in 1999. The cross-border region is also included in several ongoing initiatives for developing ecological networks. The National Emerald Network at the moment includes 16 Areas of special conservation interest among which: NP Mavrovo and NP Galichica. The Balkan Green Belt (IUCN initiative) includes all the protected areas mentioned above. From 20 potential Natura 2000 areas, eleven areas are in this CB region (table 2-5).

Table 1. Representative natural sites

No. Name Category Territorial affiliation to the Affiliation to Municipality a planned region

1 Mavrovo National Park Mavrovo, Rostshe Polog 2 Ohrid Lake Monument of nature Ohrid South- western 3 Cave Mlecnik Monument of nature Struga South- western 4 Suvi Dol ORZV Mavrovo, Rostshe Polog

Table 2.New representative sites that should be established

No. Name Category Territorial affiliation to Affiliation to a planned the Municipality development region

1 Vevcani spring Monument of nature Vevcani South-western 2 South Stogovo Monument of nature Debar South-western

Table 3.Areas to be declared as new protected areas

No. Name Category Territorial affiliation to Affiliation to a planned the Municipality development region

1 Jablanica Proposed National Park Vevcani South-western 2 Kosovrasti Monument of nature Debar South-western

Table 4. Proposed Natura 2000 areas

No. Name Category Territorial affiliation to Affiliation to a planned the Municipality development region

1 Galichica National Park Ohrid South-western 2 Mavrovo National Park Mavrovo, Rostshe Polog 3 Ohrid Lake Monument of nature Ohrid South-western

In the the cross-border area in Albania, 91 358 hectares are protected under one of the IUCN categories. The area comprises of:  2 national parks (category II): Lura and Zall Gjoçaj in the Diber region,  Other sites are protected under IUCN categories III to VI, The Indicative map of Pan-European Ecological Network (PEEN) in South-Eastern Europe represents the cross-border area as a main corridor for some migratory species that should be protected

Figure 5. National park Galicica infographic

3.2 Biodiversity of municipalities of Ohrid Region (Ohrid and Struga), Vevcani, Debar, Marovo and Rostuse and Centar Zupa

3.2.1 Biodiversity of municipalities of Ohrid Region (Ohrid and Struga)

3.2.1.1 National Park Galichica The National Park Galichica is situated on Mount Galichica that is a part of the mountain range of Sara-Pind (fig.6). Due to its exceptional natural beauty and extremely opulent and endemic flora and fauna, in 1958 the Macedonian section of the mountain was proclaimed a National Park. The Park covers an area of 227 km2 between the Lakes of Ohrid and Prespa, and it stretches in a meridian direction. The main geological surface on the major part of Mount Galichica are Paleozoic metamorphic silicates covered with 500-550 m horizons of massive limestone that have spongy structure and are highly porous. The massif has developed relief with large and deep valleys and a vast mountain crest that in the southern part of Galichica reaches the altitude of more than 2,000 m. Such relief, as well as the vicinity of the two Lakes (Ohrid and Prespa Lake) enable continuous, extremely long and beautiful scenic views for visitors. Galichica enjoys moderate continental climate influenced by a large quantity of water from both Lakes and the hot Sub-Mediterranean influences that break through the relatively low mountain saddles. In addition to the extraordinary natural beauty and aesthetic values, Galichica is also a unique environment with well-preserved natural flora in several ecosystems. The flora in the National Park Galichica covers more than 800 species, among which there are numerous relict and endemic forms whose farthest limit of distribution is Mount Galichica itself. The plants and animals (e.g. mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and insects) that live in the Park are rich and diverse and there are a significant number of species that are protected by national and international law. Another research has shown that there are 5,330 different types of plants and animals in the Park, of which 114 are endemic (that they can only be found in the local area and do not exist anywhere else). A collection of plants and animals can be grouped into different habitats, which are the types of area or environment in which particular types of plants and animals live in. These habitats can be influenced by the type of rock, soils, climate and by human influences, such as how the land is used and managed. Each different habitat is determined by the type of plants that are most common in them (and these plants support a number of different animals). Key habitats and plant communities in the Park, and their current condition, include:  Alpine and Subalpine Calcareous Grasslands, much of which is endangered and rare in North Macedonia. Some of this habitat in the Park is in good condition and some is

in moderate condition. Common Juniper Scrub, which is endangered but widespread throughout North Macedonia. The habitat in the south of the Park is in good condition. In the north it is in moderate condition due to grazing pressures and a fire in 2008 which damaged it;  Oak Forests, which are generally in good condition;  Hop/Black Hornbeam Forests, which is rated as in good and moderate condition;  Beech Forests, which has been reduced in size because of pressure from people for foresting and livestock production. The habitat that remains is in good condition;  Oriental Hornbeam Woods, which is in moderate or poor condition;  Juniper Woods, which is a priority habitat for protection. The habitat is in good or moderate condition;  Reed beds and marsh, which is in good condition. There are two important areas in the Park which animals are thought to use to travel from the forest areas to the shores of Lake Ohrid. These are located at Crno Brdo (Black Mountain) and ZliDol (Evil Canyon).

Figure 6. Monument of nature Ohrid Lake infographic

3.2.1.2 Ohrid lake

4Lake Ohrid and its surroundings have been listed by UNESCO since 1979/1980 as “Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid region”. Due to lack of political relationship of that time the UNESCO nomination was not considering entire Lake .

Being the largest and most beautiful out of three tectonic lakes in country, Lake Ohrid is about 30 kilometres (18 miles) long and round 288 meters (945 feet) deep. Its astonishingly clean and clear waters, together with the serene stillness of its mountain settings have captivated Figure 7. Diatom from visitors since prehistoric times. With its unique flora and fauna Ohrid Lake characteristic of the tertiary period, Ohrid is one of Europe’s great biological reserves, also called Balkan Galapagos (fig.7). Most of the lake’s plant and animal species are endemic and unique to Ohrid. Lake Ohrid, straddles the mountainous border between two countries. It is one of Europe's deepest and oldest lakes, preserving a unique aquatic ecosystem that is of worldwide importance, with more than 200 endemic species. The importance of the lake was further emphasized when in 2010, NASA decided to name one of Titan's lakes after Lake Ohrid. The Ohrid Lake belongs to a group of Dessaret basins that originated from a geo tectonic depression during the Pliocene epoch up to five million years ago on the western side of the Dinaric Alps. Worldwide, there are only a few lakes with similarly remote origins with Lake Baikal and Lake Tanganyika being the most famous. Most other, short-lived lakes have a life span of less than 100,000 years before they are eventually filled up with sediments. It is believed that in the case of Lake Ohrid this process was delayed by its great depth and small sediment input from its filtered spring inflows. 5 Lake Ohrid is one of the few lakes in the world that is characterized by outstanding degree of endemic biodiversity. With its unique wildlife, Ohrid is one of Europe’s great biological reserves. The most famous among the endemic species are Ohrid fishes, two types of the Ohrid trout, named letnica (Salmo letnica) and belvica (Acantholingua ohridana). Other unique Ohrid fishes include two types of eel (Anguilla anguilla and Anguillicola crassus), and the bleak (Alburnus alburnus alborella) whose scales are used for making the well-known Ohrid pearl.

4 http://lakeohrid.blogspot.com/2017/06/diatoms-from-lake-ohrid.html

11www.exploringmacedonia.com/ohrid-lake.nspx

Most of the bottom-dwelling animals (macrozoobenthos) in Lake Ohrid are also endemic. Lake Ohrid is the only place where the rounded sponge Ochridospongia rotunda is found (closest relatives are in Lake Baikal-Siberia).Relict and endemic species can be found among: mussels, leeches, crustacean, dragonflies and many others. Geological and environmental events the happened in the Lake Ohrid shape an extraordinary diversity of diatoms (silicate algae) part of which are endemic(fig.8). So far in Lake Ohrid can be found total of 789 species of diatoms, of which 117 (or 14%) are endemic (according to the research of algologists S.Krstic and Z.Levkov.

3.2.1.3 Studenchiste Marsh One of the most important refuge and nesting site for water birds along the shoreline of the Lake Ohrid is Studenchishta Marsh which is the only one remained on the Lake’s shore area (after the total destruction of the large Struga Marsh). Over the years, the Studenchishte Marsh (fig.96) was continuously under anthropogenic pressure. Today, there are remains of the former Marsh but it is still here and birds are using it for nesting and breeding. About 50 species of birds are present and 15 of them are included in Annex 1 of the EU Bird Directive. Maybe Little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) whose population is declining in Europe is

Figure 8. Studenchishte Marsh most important bird species because it is nesting there. biodiversity From natural and semi-natural habitats here encountered alkaline mud, wetlands and fake meadows, and from anthropogenic: orchards, fields, gardens, houses and infrastructure objects. The flora is largely comprised of extensive prevalent mud species. It should be borne in mind that such plants in the Macedonia are under strong anthropogenic pressure due to the drying of the mall and marshes. Carex elata attracts considerable attention, but its importance is greater from the aspect of the relic plant community Caricetum atae. According to Micevski (1985), the rare species of Ceratophylum submersum develops in Studenčchishte Marsh. 89 species of diatoms could be found of which 14 are endemic, 7 aquatic invertebrate etc. The significance of the remains of the marsh, such as the Cyprinus carpio and other cyprinid species today, is very small, and insignificantly. Because of the lack of a significant amount of water, it cannot be

6 Figure 9 is taken from “Vision for the protection, revitalisation and tourism integration of Studenchishte marsh, lake Ohrid’s vital coastline wetland: prepared b OHRID SOS (2018)

Nowadays, in separate periods of the year, 14 (out of 17) autochthonous fish species are present from the Ohrid Lake, as well as three allochthones (introduced) species. From mammals the most significant is the presence of the otter (Lutra lutra). Water filters, carbon lock-ups, flood defences, biodiversity havens, winter shelters, launch pads for baby birds, tourist attractions, and safe harbours for fish, wetlands provide more services to humankind and the natural world than we can possibly imagine.

The Marsh Studenchishta has been valorised as natural phenomenon preserved for millennia and for that reason is important for Lake Ohrid. Marsh Studenchishta used to be an integral part of Lake Ohrid Lake not so long ago. The most important role of the Marsh is maintaining lake’s water quality. The Studenchishta Marsh has role as a natural filter of the water of Lake Ohrid. Because it’s situated between the lake and the mountain Galichica, it presents one kind of buffer zone, which prevents the entry of sediment, organic and inorganic substances into the lake. It maintains the oligotrophic status of the lake (low concentration of nutrients) which is essential for survivor of the unique wildlife. Even there are barriers; it is still a hatchery or shelter for some fish from the Lake, a space in which live different bird species of interest to ornithologist. Beside the Marsh has important ecological role it’s distinguished by high harmonic or landscape value. Together the Lake Ohrid, the Galichica Mountain and the Marsh present naturally beautiful landscape, with authentically look and high aesthetic values.

Therefore, the Marsh is an inseparable part of the Lake; part of which depends the Ohrid Lake’s future.

3.2.2 Biodiversity of Vevcani

Located about 14 kilometers North-west from Struga, the village of Vevcani is home to one of the biggest natural attractions in Macedonia and the Balkans- the Vevcani springs. Right at the foot of Jablanica Mountain, it rests at an altitude that isolates this picturesque village, making it a one place stop for many outdoor activities.

The Springs of Vevcani were declared as the monument of nature (fig.10)

Figure 10. Informative are in 1997 and in 2012 they were re-declared as protected area - Nature’s table for protection Vevcani’s springs monument with a total surface of 1370 ha. Vevcani’s springs are featured with rich biological diversity and they are one of the most visited places in Southwest Region from domestic and foreign tourists.

7The monument of nature "Vevcani’s Springs" is located on the eastern slopes of the mountain Jablanica, west of the settlement Vevcani. It mainly affects the upper (mountain) catchment area of river Vevchanska above it settlement Vevcani, to the locality Vevchanska Golina, in the higher part of mountain Jablanica. According to the vegetative valorisation of Monument of nature (MN) Vevchani Springs these characteristic plant species (flora) could be seen: IUCN Red list of endangered species (1998): • Minuartia baldaccii (Halácsy) Mattf. • Soldanella pindicola Hausskn. • Pinus peuce Griseb. • Viola eximia Form • Solenanthus scardicus Bornm. - CORINE species • Lilium albanicum Griseb. E • Botrychium lunaria (L.) Swartz. AL Important Plant Areas IPA species : • Minuartia baldaccii (Halácsy) Mattf. A(iv) • Soldanella pindicola Hausskn. A(iv) • Pinus peuce Griseb. A(iv)  Viola eximia Form A(iv) • Solenanthus scardicus Bornm. A(iv) • Trifolium pilczii Adam. A(iv) • Lilium albanicum Griseb. A(iv) - Locus classicus: • Fritillaria macedonica Bornm. • Hieracium heteromixtum O. & E. Behr • Dianthus jablanicensis Micev. • Soldanella dimoniei Vierh. Local endemics: • Dianthus jablanicensis Micev.

7 Management plan for vevcani spring monument of nature 2016-2026

A total of 178 fungal species have been registered.As far as ease is concerned, poisoning can be ascertained the following: 86 species can be used in the diet, while 22 are poisonous. Part from the edible ones, are Armillaria mellea, Boletus edulis, Cantharellus cibarius, Craterellus cornucopioides, Hydnum repandum, Marasmius oreades and Lactarius deliciosus which have excellent culinary qualities. Worrying is the fact that species such as Boletus edulis, Cantharellus cibarius, Craterellus cornucopioides, Hydnum repandum and Lactarius deliciosus are collected in large quantities from local people are sold at local purchasing points. As a consequence of excessive exploitation and improper collection of mushrooms, the vitality of these species is reduced. According to Melovski (2010) The Jablanica Mountain is rich with daily butterflies. According to the same author five families with 107 detected species were detected. Detected families are the following: Papilionide with 5 species; Pieridae with 15, Lycaenidae with 33, Nymphalidae with 45 and Hesperiidae with 9 species. 8 species are listed in The European red list of butterflies, of which 7 are listed as almost affected (NT), one species (Phengaris arion) is listed as endangered (EN). The fauna of the Coleoptera of Mount Jablanica counts 121 species (Hristovski et al. 2010; Hristovski 2014). From them on the territory of the SP Vevchanski Springs a total of 71 species are encounter. This number shows the high diversity in the area, but also the high variety of habitats and their preservation, the diversity of microclimate conditions and the interesting geological history of Mount Jablanica (especially concerning glaciation). Several species can be considered glacial relicts. Such are some hygrophylus species found along rivers and streams or besides snowy remains during the spring and summer periods. Such are Nebria jockischi and probably Bembidion rhodopense, Pterostichus ottomanus, Bembidion balcanicum, Nebria macedonica rambouseki etc. According to the available literary data (Shterjovski et al. (2010) on the Jablanica Mountains were registered 11 types of amphibians and 20 species of reptiles. Study of valorisation of the Mountain Jablanica prepared by the Macedonian Ecological Society including the Vevcani’s springs, a total of 86 species of birds registered, and 40 mammalian species which is 49% of the total fauna of the mammals in the country. The most interesting are large mammals. Canis lupus ,Vulpes vulpes , Ursus arctos ,Mustela nivalis , Mustela putorius , Martes martes ,.Martes foina , Meles meles , Felis silvestris ,Lynx lynx ,. Sus scrofa , Capreolus capreolus and Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica.

Figure 9. National Park Mavrovo

3.1.3 Biodiversity of Mavrovo and Rostushe

3.1.3.1 National Park Mavrovo

The Mavrovo National Park is one of Europe’s oldest national parks. It is famous for its extensive beech forests, alpine meadows, pristine rivers and streams. A huge variety of species, such as rare trout species, wolves, bears, and otters, live in the park. One species is outstanding though: the Balkan Lynx (Lynx lynx balcanicus). The Mavrovo National Park is the centre of the remaining population of this critically endangered subspecies of the Eurasian Lynx

The total number of hitherto ascertained species of vascular plants for the territory of National Park Mavrovo is encircled to 1,435 species, 404 of which are included in the category of medical plants (fig.11). From biogeographical point of view, the territory of the National Park Mavrovo, within the frames of the North Macedonia, represents a core area for development of numerous arctic- mountain and boreal plant species. The most striking feature of biodiversity in the National Park Mavrovo is its high degree of species diversity. Floral and faunal elements with Ponto-Mediterranean (Eastern- Mediterranean) biogeographic origin are dominant, followed by the Complex of species with Boreal (Siberian) and Oreo-Tundral (Arctic-Mountain) origin, of which the Palaeo-Mountain (relict-mountain) sub-complex is more frequent and abundant in comparison with species of the sub-complex with of Arctic (tundra) origin. The assessment and evaluation of Biodiversity are made on the basis of numerous representative taxonomic groups of flora and fauna that include in total 3,757 taxa (species and subspecies) represented by: 78 algae, 661 fungi, 151 lichens, 1,473 vascular plants, 1,172 invertebrates, 8 fishes, 11 amphibians, 24 reptiles, 129 birds and 50 mammal species. Habitats Directive (Directive 92/43/EEC) provides Legal Protection under Annex II for 20 species (eight species of invertebrates, two species of amphibians, three species of reptiles and seven species of mammals), which means that the species are of community interest whose conservation requires designation of special areas of conservation. Habitats Directive (Directive 92/43/EEC) also provides Strict Legal Protection under Annex IV for additional 45 species (one vascular plant, seven invertebrates, six amphibians, 18 reptiles, and 13 species of mammals). The Wild Birds Directive-WBD (Directive 2009/147/EC) of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union provides Legal Protection for 19 species of birds (listed in Annex I), through the establishment of a coherent network of Special Protection Areas (SPAs)

comprising all the most suitable territories for these species. Seven species listed in Annex I and one species listed in Annex II of the WBD are included in Category VU (Vulnerable) concerning the European Threat Status of birds (ETS). Two species of birds are included in the Category SPEC1 and seven species in the Category SPEC2 in accordance with the European Conservation Status of Birds (SPECs). Within the boundaries of the Park, presence of 115 endemic taxa (species and subspecies) has been ascertained, of which: 13 vascular plants, 86 invertebrates, three fishes, three amphibians, five reptiles and 5 mammals. Of the total number of 115 endemic taxa, 58 taxa are local/national endemics, while the remainder 57 taxa are Balkan endemics.

3.1.4 Biodiversity of Debar 8The mountain range Deshat is placed on the border between two countries and is part of the range Shar – Korab – Deshat – Krchin – Stogovo – Karaorman. The highest peak of this range is Velivar (Veli Vrv) with 2,373 meters. Other high peaks are Deli Senica and Suva Bara. On this mountain range, several smaller glacial lakes are located, also. Most popular of them is the Lokuv Lake, located on the northeast part of the mountain, at 1560 m a s l and it is considered to be the lowest glacial lake in North Macedonia. On the other hand, on the east side of the mountain there is the Radika River Valley, which divides Deshat Mountain from Bistra and Stogovo. It is very important to mention that bigger part of this mountain belongs to the National Park Mavrovo. Based on the available data and methodology applied to the mapping of wildlife in the mountain Deshat, there are total of 50 mammal species registered. In terms of their systematic affiliation, they belong to 7 orders, 18 families and 40 genera, including: 7 bat species, 1 hedgehog, 8 soriciomorfi, 16 rankles, 1 lagomorph, 11 carnivores’ types’ and others. Out of the total, three are Balkan endemics (Apodemus epimelas, Dinaromys bogdanovi, Talpa stankovici) and 1 non-indigenous species - fallow deer (Dama dama) and mouflons (Ovis aries).

8 https://civicamobilitas.mk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Mapping-of-the-natural-resources-and-cultural- heritage-in-the-Debar-region.pdf 29

3.1.4.1 South Stogovo Stogovo is located in the western part. The highest peaks are the Big Reid at 2278 meters above sea level and Babin Stern at 2242 meters above sea level. Here nature is almost intact because there are no populations nearby, and it is not often visited by mountaineers. Stogovo is a young chain of mountains that occurred during the Alpine orogenesis. In the geological composition, they encounter phylitoids, green shales, carbonates, clays, and cornea. During the Pleistocene Figure 10.Endangered Balkan the Mount Stogovo was occupied by glaciation and today it has a glacial (glacial) Lynx Kitten (photo by MES) relief like cirques, shafts and morines. There are three glacial lakes in the circus: Upper and Lower Lake and Lake Marusha. The presence of the flora is in the lower floors, at the foot of the deciduous beech and oak forests, while higher they are replaced with pine forests, and the stone peaks themselves are surrounded by high-mountain pastures known as "Alpine pastures". This region is the last stronghold of one of the most endangered Eurasian lynx populations in Europe. This picture of a kitten taken on Stogovo Mountain (fig.12) is the first hard fact of reproduction in this population for many years, providing a slight glimmer of hope for its survival. This Balkan population is special in that it represents one of the four lynx populations (along with the Scandinavian, the Baltic and the Carpathian) that have persisted in Europe. The distinction is such that many authorities regard the southwest Balkan lynx as an own subspecies.9

3.1.5 Biodiversity of Centar Zupa

The area which the people called Zupa is located on the right bank of the Black Drin River, on the east is rising to the crest of the mountain Stogovo, from the south is surrounded by landscapes of Malesia and Debar’s Drimkol, the area of Golo Brdo is on the west, and on the north is Debar field and partly the area of Lower Radika. The land in Zupa lays against the coast of the Black Drin River on the west. The highest point is Babin Ridge located on the mountain Stogovo at an altitude of 2242 meters and the lowest is 580 m above the sea where

9 http://www.lcie.org/ 30

the river Radika flows into Debar Lake .The average altitude of the area Zupa is 1411 m. Ground in Zupa is mainly limestone. Bare soils, rocks and scabs often can be seen in the area. The sides of the mountain Stogovo are found sandstone and of other types of old stones (photo 5). Overall Zupa area can be classified as poorly forested area. According to the relief, it can be concluded that in the past centuries in Zupa more territory was covered with forests. The forests today are mainly composed of beech and oak treesIn some villages there are chestnuts, walnuts, pears, apples, plums, cherries, quinces. Besides the river flows there are willows. Places called “Pine Hill” land testify that once in the past there were pine and fir trees also. In Stogovo and its slopes towards Zupa there are number of wild animals: bear, wolf, fox, wild boar, badger, hare, wild goat.

3.2. Biodiversity of municipalities Mat, Diber, Bulquize and Klos

3.2.1 Biodiversity of Mat

Mat region is distinguished as an area of a rich plant variety. Such variety is related to the appropriate Mediterranean climate, fertile lands and suitable landscape (fig.12). Flora in the region is typical Mediterranean, overwhelmed by strawberry tree, heath, oak, fir tree, black pine, etc. There are some 150 endemic and medicinal aromatic plants in Mati area such as: Primrose (Primula officinalis), Althea (Althea sp.), Common and Stinging Nettle (Urtico adioica), Sage (Salvia officinale), Cratageus (Orataegus monogyna), Black juniperus (Juniperus communis), Red juniperus (Juniperus oxycedrus). All medicinal and aromatic plants of Mati area belong to the spontaneous type of flora and are pure natural products. In Mat region, there are also some monuments and historical plants which have obtained the status of natural monuments, the most well-known among them are: Rrapin e Celës (Patin), Lisat e Bërshinit, VidhiiQafëShënkollit, Gështenja e Kalit (GurëiBardhë), Tisat e Mbasdejës etc. Yet, the same area is renowned for a large variety of fruit tree species, such as: Quincy (Cydoniaoblonga); Pear (Pyruscommunis sativa), Apple (Malus domestica, Almiond-leaved pear, (Pyrus amygdaliformis) Wild pear, (Pyrus communispiraster), Plums Prumus sp., Apricot, (Armenica sp). Fauna of wild animals and rapacious birds are duly represented by: Wolves (Canis lupus) Foxes (Canis vulpes), Grey bear (Ursus aretos), lynx (Felis lumxe) wild cat (Felis silvestris) Marten (Martes martes) andbadger (Melesmeles), squirrel (Sciurus

Figure 11. National park Zall Gocaj infographic

Lisi i Qafë Shënkollit. Located in the vicinity of Dukagjin village, 650 meters above sea level, with a pyramid-shape crown, 21 meters high, 1 m of trunk diameter and more than 250 years of age. The tree bears scientific, biological, ecological, didactical and touristic values. Could be visited from the rural road Burrel-Dukagjin. Qarri i Bardhë në Shoshaj. Located in Shoshaj village, with an height of 14 meters, 60 cm of trunk diameter and 200 cm of perimeter. 7 branches would shape the tree crown with an overall perimeter of 34 meters; this tree may reach 200 years of age. The tree bears scientific, biological, didactical and touristic values. Could be visited from the pedestrian road Ura e Shoshanit (Bridge)- Shoshaj village. Lisi i Bërshinit. This tree is located in Bershin village, Klos commune, 440 meters above sea level. It is a Bunge’s ash, 18 meters high, trunk diameter of 100 cm and its perimeter 290 meters, more than 270 years of age. 12 branches set up a crown of 23 meters of perimeter. Has been used as meeting point for discussions, debates, etc. Its importance regards scientific, biological, didactical, spiritual and touristic. Could be visited from the rural road -Klos- Bërshin. Lisi i Varrit të Mirë. Situated some 2.5km from MacAskill village center, in a shrine. This is a tree, with an umbrella-like crown, 20 meters of height, 80 cm of trunk diameter, and 220 cm of trunk perimeter; the crown perimeter may reach 22 meters whereas the age may reach 280 years. The tree bears scientific, biological, didactical, religious and touristic values. Could be visited from the rural road Burrel-Macukull. Lisi i Varrit të Turkut. Located in Vig village of Macukull communeclose to an ancient tomb. This is an oak tree, separated from 7 other smaller ones, with an umbrella-shape crown, 22 meters of height, 70-130 cm of trunk diameter and 120-140 years of age. It has biological, didactical and religious importance. Could be visited via rural road Burrel-Vig-Fushë Bunar. Lisat e Shkollës.Located at the very center of Macukull village, around 1000 meters above sea level. This is a cluster of oak trees, of more than 1 ha surface. Maximum tree height reaches 24 meters, trunk diameter 40-50 cm, and 120-140 years of age. Commonly used by locals as meeting place for discussions, debates, etc. This ensemble of trees has biological, aesthetic, historical and touristic values. Could be visited from rural road Burrel-Macukull. Lisi tek varret e Shqypit. This tree is located close to Barbullej village of Derjan commune, some 600 meters above sea level. This is an oak tree 230 years old. It has 8 branches, starting from 3 meters from earth, shaped as an umbrella crown 21 meters high, perimeter of 21 meters,

trunk diameter of 90 cm and trunk perimeter of 280 cm. It bears biological, didactical and aesthetic importance. Could be visited from rural road Shoshaj-Burgajet-Barbullej. Lisi i Kodrës së Varreve. This tree is situated at Tomb Hill of Urxuall village, Derjan commune, some 600 meters above sea level. Tree has been damaged with time by natural elements. It features a height of 18 meters, 90 cm of diameter, 280 cm perimeter and 280 years of age. 7 branches form an umbrella-shape crown 18 meters of perimeter. It boasts biological, didactical and religious values. Could be visited from rural road Shoshaj-Urxuall. Lisi në Varret e Kurmetës. Located close to Kurmeta’s houses, at Shqefen village of Macukull commune, 530 meters above sea level. This is an oak 260 years old, 20 meters high, trunk diameter 90 cm and trunk perimeter of 270 cm. Its 12 branches create an umbrella-like crown with perimeter 25 meters. Known for its biological and didactical importance. Could be visited from the rural road Shoshaj-Shqefën. Lisi i Teqesë së Domit. Situated close to Teqe of Bater village, Komsi commune, 333 meters above sea level. This is an oak tree 220 years old, 8 meters high, with a trunk diameter of 50 cm and perimeter around 130 cm. 4 branches create a crown with a perimeter of 16 meters. Bears biological, didactical and religious values. Could be visited from rural road Burrel- Komsi-Batër e Madhe. Rrapi i Çelës. Located at the center of Patin village of Klos commune, 480 meters above sea level. This is a lone tree, 220 years old, 18 meters high, with trunk characteristics like 70 cm of diameter and 250 cm of perimeter. Its 6 branches form a pyramid-shape crown with a perimeter of 14 meters. These trees have scientific, biological, didactical and touristic importance. Could be visited from the rural road Klos-Patin. Rrapi i Marqethit. Located close to Lis village of the commune with the same name, 800 meters above sea level. Again this is a lone tree of 180 years of age, with an umbrella-like crown, 20 meters high and trunk diameter 120-130 cm.This tree has scientific, biological, didactical and touristic importance. Could be visited from the rural road Burrel-Lis. Rrapi i Zabelit. Situated in Gurre e Madhe village of the commune with the same name, 750 meters above sea level. This is a 160 years old tree, 22-25 meters high, with trunk diameter of 160 cm and 370 cm of perimeter. It features 18 branches and bears biological, aesthetic and didactical values. Could be visited via rural road Klos-Gurre.

3.2.2 Biodiversity of Diber

The beauty and greatness of the area is highlighted more from the biological monuments situated in it! There are in total 11 Bio monuments classified as such in Dibra region, which are there to be visited and share their stunning presence with visitors and all those who are able to appreciate and enjoy beauty. These monuments are often accessible through rural roads. The information below, indicates a short description of them along with the most convenient road to access them. Boroviku i Begiunecit, located in the vicinity of Rabdishta village, 800-1350 m above sea level. It represents a gypsum and karstic habitat, rich with plants dominated by pine, oak, hazelnut, ash tree, maple tree, etc. This territory hosts also deer, wild goats, etc. Habitat with biological importance. Could be visited from rural road Peshkopi-Rabdishtë. Hartinat e Lurës, are located in national Park of Lura (fig.13), close to Fushe-Lura village, 1600 meters above sea level. This habitat includes a group of trees, some 30 meters high, with trunk diameter of 70 cm and more than 100 years of age. Habitat bears scientific, biological, ecological and cultural value. Could be visited from rural road Peshkopi-Fushë Lurë. Rrapi i Kërçishtit, located close to Kercisht village, Maqellara commune, some 700 meters above sea level. This is a lone plane tree, more than 180 years old, 25 meters high, with a trunk diameter of 200 cm and 550 cm of perimeter, whereas the crown perimeter reaches up to 60 meters. This wood has biological, aesthetic and historical importance. Could be visited along the rural road Maqellarë with Kërçisht. Pisha e Bllicës. Biomonument close to Bllice village pranë, Fushe Ali commune. This is a black pine tree, with trunk diameter of more than 2.2 meters, perimeter of 5 meters and 120 years of age. Bllica Pine has scientific, biological, aesthetic and touristic value. Could be visited via rural road Peshkopi-Bllicë- Shepë neighborhood. Rrobulli i Lurës, is situated in national Park of Lura, some 1800 meters above sea level, close to Gur Lure village. This is a lone wood, featuring 30 branches and an umbrella-like crown- 30 meters of perimeter. It is also 25 meters high, trunk diameter 180 cm and trunk perimeter 580 cm; its current age is 400 years. It has both historical and biological value. Could be visited from rural road Peshkopi-Liqeni i Luleve-Fusha e Thatë. Plepi i Zi i Çidhnës, is located in Çidhnë village, Arras commune, some 600 meters above sea level. These are three poplar trees, 28 meter high, with trunk diameter of more than 130 cm and trunk perimeter of more than 360 meters. Their crown perimeter is more than 39 meters. These trees have biological and didactical value. This monument could be visited from the rural road Peshkopi-Çidhnë.

Figure 12. National PArk Lura infographic

3.2.3 Biodiversity of Bulqize

Biodiversity of Bulqiza area is very rich with a large number of plant and animal species. In Bulqiza and Krasta towns, along with centers of administrative units, plants are cultivated. Local flora is basically dominated by decoration plants such as: fir, pine, linden, acacia, etc. The plant coverage of this area is pretty rich both in terms of species and quantities, and is organized in different levels. Oak and bush level, which is extended from 800 – 1100 m, is ranked second regarding surface after ash tree dominated by oaks, etc. It is organized as wood massifs, especially in the areas of Zerqan, Sopot, Klenjë, etc. The oak level, extended in the height interval 1200–1800 m, has the largest surface, the most frequent type of trees there are black pine and fir trees. Largest plant extension of this level is in the areas of Bajgjaj, Mali I Bardhë (White Mountain), Dhoks, Tërnovë etc. The last plant level, also typical in the area is the level of alpine pastures. Extension of this level starts at 1800 meters above sea level whereas flora of the level is dominated by herbal plants, which are typical at the highest boundary of forests and serve as pastures for small ruminants. As a direct consequence of landscape variety and dense plant presence, Bulqiza area features also a rich fauna. The surrounding mountains have been and still are, beside many and continuous damages (especially by illegal hunting), rich with big carnivores animals, such as: wolves, foxes, wild cat, bats, etc. Among the most present herbivores animals there are: rabbit, hedgehogs, turtle, moles, etc. Yet, the local fauna includes also other vertebrate and invertebrate species. There is also a large diversity of birds both migratory and not migratory species such as: sparrows, robins, swallow, etc. Bulqiza Municipality area has rich natural resources, boasting great landscapes, mainly mountainous, with massifs of forests and pastures, with underground and surface waters; these rich resources induce optimism for great potentials of “sustainable development’ of the area.

4. CURRENT STATE OF CULTURAL HERITAGE 4.1. Cultural heritage of municipalities Ohrid, Struga, Vevcani, Debar, Centar Zupa and Mavrovo and Rostushe

4.1.1 Cultural heritage of municipality Ohrid

Cultural heritage is the legacy of physical artefacts and intangible attributes which being expression or testimony of the human creation in the past and present or being shared acts created by both humans and nature, due to their archaeological, ethnological, historical, artistic, architectonic, urban, ambiance, technical, sociological and other scientific and cultural values, features, contents or functions, have cultural and historical significance. 10 Part of the cultural heritage in the region of Ohrid is registered in Figure 13.Document of the UNESCO Convention UNESCO Registry as World Cultural Heritage with an Act of 1980 for Ohrid Region whereas in Vilnius (fig.14), Lithuania the 30th Assembly of the Committee on World Heritage accepted the nomination for “natural and cultural heritage of the region of Ohrid” (2006). In 2009 in Seville, Spain, the borders of the region of natural and cultural heritage have been marked for the region of Ohrid. According to the data of the institutions responsible for protection of the cultural heritage (NI and Museum of Ohrid and NI and Museum of Bitola) respectively pursuant to the National Registry for cultural heritage and the Protective Registry for the goods that are presumed to be cultural heritage, on the territory of Ohrid and Prespa region there are about 1,120 immovable cultural artefacts (protected and unprotected) out of which 507 are archaeological localities, 281 objects of urban and old-urban architecture, 173 churches and monasteries, 86 historical monuments, 31 objects of Islamic architecture, 5 monumental units, 34 rural monumental units, economic and other types. (Spatial Plan for Ohrid-Prespa region (2005-2020. According to the data of the Spatial Plan for Ohrid- Prespa region (2005-2020) there are 271 cultural artefacts in Ohrid region. The Ohrid- Prespa region has significant concentration of registered cultural heritage that belongs to the highest category of “cultural heritage of significant importance” sub-category “exceptional

10 (Official Gazette of the R.M no. 20/04) 38

importance”. This category is shared by two monumental units: Ohrid natural and cultural- historical area (protected by UNESCO) and the Old Part of the city of Ohrid (table 6).

Table 5.The highest category includes several individual monuments as follows:

No. Name Category Territorial affiliation to Affiliation to a planned the Municipality development region

1 St.Sophia Churches/monasteries Ohrid South-western 2 Holy Mother of God Churches/monasteries Ohrid South-western Perivlepros Churches/monasteries 3 Monastery St.Naum Ohrid 4 Holy Mother of God of Zaum Churches/monasteries Ohrid South-western

5 House of Robev Old urban architecture Ohrid South-western 6 House of Uranija Old urban architecture Ohrid South-western 7 House of Hristo Uzunov Old urban architecture Ohrid South-western

8 Plaoshnik Reserved archaeological Ohrid South-western zones 9 Samuil`s Fortress Reserved archaeological Ohrid South-western zones 10 Antique theatre Archaeological localities Ohrid South-western 11 Studenchishte Archaeological localities Ohrid South-western 12 St.Erasmus Archaeological localities Ohrid South-western 13 Holy Mother of God Bolnicka Cultural heritage of significate Ohrid South-western importance 14 St.Constaine and Elena Cultural heritage of significate Ohrid South-western importance 15 St.Nicholas Bolnicki Cultural heritage of significate Ohrid South-western importance 16 St.Clment the Lesser Cultural heritage of significate Ohrid South-western importance 17 St.Nicholas Wonderworker Cultural heritage of significate Ohrid South-western importance 18 St.John Kaneo Cultural heritage of significate Ohrid South-western importance 19 St.Pantelejmon Cultural heritage of significate Ohrid South-western importance 20 Galery of icons Cultural heritage of significate Ohrid South-western importance 21 Khaniqah Zejnel Abedin- Endangered cultural heritage Ohrid South-western Pasha 22 Museum of Slavic Literacy Endangered cultural heritage Ohrid South-western

Sacral architecture The complex of St. Clement presents church from earlychristian period. It is located on the Eastern hill in the old part of Ohrid. It includes the area of the Church of Holy Mother of God Peribleptos (today’s St. Clement) and its immediate surroundings Holy Mother of God Peribleptos Figure 14. Holy Mother of God Peribleptos Church was built in 1295 by the Byzantium military commander Progonos Sgouros, relative of Andronic II Paleologue. The form of the church is a cross; the frescoes in the church were made by Michael and Eutychios. The frescoes were completed in 1365. The master work of the frescoes in the image of Lamentation of Christ and is well known for its dramatics. When the Turks turned Clement’s Church St. Pantelejmon into a mosque, the remaining of the Clement of Ohrid were moved to Holy Mother of God Peribleptos, and the people called it St. Clement’s Church. Upon turning St. Sophia into a mosque, Holy Mother of God Peribleptos Church became a cathedral of the Archbishopric of Ohrid. In 2002 after the construction of the new Monastery of St. Clement and Pantelejmon on Plaoshnik the church regained its first name, Holy Mother of God Peribleptos. (fig.15). St. Sophia was built between 1035 and 1056 in the time of Archbishop Leo (fig.16). The most represented images are placed on the most visible place, in the central part of the altar are the frescoes of the Heads of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople: Basil of Caesarea, John Chrysostom and Gregory of Nazianzus. The figures of six Roman popes are painted in the side area of the deaconry thus reflecting the relations between the Constantinople and Roman Church before the fall in 1054. Only four of these six popes are identified: Clement, Gregorius, Sylvester and Leo. According to the scientific insight, only in St. Sophia, in the biggest gallery of prelates, the six Roman popes are presented together.

Figure 15.Sacral architecture St.Sophia church info graphic

St. Pantejlemon complex dates from the early Christian and Middle Age period. (fig.17). It is located on the western hill of the city. This area includes Clement’s monastery St. Pantelejmon, founded by St. Clement in 893 and immediately afterwards, an area known as the First Slavic University and centre of Ohrid Literacy School. Figure 16.Plaoshnik Remnants of two churches built by St. Clement have been found here. The first St. Clement’s church was devoted to St. Pantelejmon and it was triconch church, whereas the second one had irregular rectangular shape. On the north side of the St. Clement’s Church remaining of monumental polyconch earlychristian church with mosaic floors were found. St. Clement’s Church was upgraded in XIII and XIV centuries. In XV century it was turned into a mosque and in XVI it was renovated again; in the first half of XVII century it was ruined again, and its foundations hosted the Mosque of Sultan Mehmet. The interior of St. Clement’s church contains the tomb of St. Clement, and in the surroundings of the church tombs of priests were discovered. Samuil’s Fortress dates back to Hellenic and Late- Ancient era and Middle Ages (fig.18). It protects the south-western positions of both hills. On the highest plateau of the hill there is a citadel that has intersection of the oval shape and is divided in two parts with a wall in the middle in direction East-

Figure 17.Samuil’s Fortress West. The walls of the central part are protected and reach 10 to 16 meters in height. The fortress has a total of 18 defensive towers and four gates. The polyconch church is the most monumental object dating from V century in Lichnidos. Located in the most dominant part of the city, it belongs to the double tetra churches – rare objects dating from V and VI century. The church has a spatial atrium, narthex, catechumenate, baptistery, annexes and tetra naos. One of the most important iconographic themes is the presentation of the Heaven’s Rivers and the Fountain of Life in the baptistery. The basilica in Studenchisthe is positioned on the Petrin’s slopes, 3 km on East of antique Lichnidos. The basilica has three naves, with a narthex, double atrium, side annexes,

catechumenate and baptistery. The naos, narthex and catechumenate have mosaics. The basilica dates back from the end of V or beginning of VI century. St. Erasmus’ Basilica is located on 7 km from Ohrid on the way to Struga, in the vicinity of the church devoted to St. Erasmus. The basilica has three naves, spatial atrium, narthex, side annexes and baptistery. The narthex and naos are covered in mosaics. It dates back to the middle of V century. St.John the Baptist in Kaneo is located in the Old Town above Lake Ohrid. The church was built at the end of the XIII century. The church was built on a rectangular stone base. Its exterior is decorated with ceramic decorative sculptures and stone carvings. The church is combination of Byzantine and Armenian architectural style. The fresco painters are unknown, the fragments that have been preserved are of exceptional quality; the Communion of the Apostles and the portraits of St. Clement, St. Erasmus and Constantine Kavasilas especially stand out(fig.19). The frescoes of the church are significant for byzantine fresco painting. . Figure 18. St John the Baptist Kaneo The cave church St. Stephen in the area Pancir is located in a cave above the Ohrid Lake, at about 5 km of the road of Ohrid to St. Naum. The decorations in the interior are dating back to the XV century, whereas the church is presumed to be much older (fig.20). Visible are Holy Mother of God and Jesus, some of the church priests such as Basil of Caesarea, John Chrystostom and St. Athanasius of Figure 19.Holy Mother of Zaum Alexandria, the composition of Deices and the image of St. Parascheva of the Balkans, as well as the patron of the church, the archdeacon Stephen. The Church Holy Mother of Zaum is found on the south-western foot of the hill Osoj, on the eastern part of Ohrid Lake in the area of Zaum and between the villages Trpejca and Ljubanishta. According to the preserved inscription, the church was constructed and painted in 1361 by Grgur during the reign of the Devol Episcope Gregorius who was part of the most influential dignitaries of the Archbishopric of Ohrid in XIV century. The church was constructed in the shape of a cross with a cube supported on four columns. The porch on the western side is destroyed. Zaum has an accentuated vertical that gives the church a very elegant

look. The frescoes in the church are exquisite piece in iconographic aspect. The frescoes are made by unknown painters. The Monastery St. Naum was built on a high rock above Ohrid Lake on its most southern point in an area that has a rare natural beauty on 29 km of Ohrid near the Macedonian-Albanian border (Image 42). Between X and XIII century St. Naum’s Church was completely ruined. In XVI century the current church was built on the foundations of the old one. It was constructed in two phases. During the first phase of the renewal, the naos and narthex were built, whereas during the second phase, both dome, above the naos and narthex. This church has a form of a cross in a square area with a dome placed on four pillars. The tomb of St. Naum is in a separate building with a wide and low dome. The main monastery church is devoted to the Saint Archangels Michal and Gabriel. The overall wall decorations, except for some fragments of frescoes of XVI-XVII century, was made by the painter Trpo of Korcha (Albania) between 1800 and 1806. On the pillars of the church of Naum there are two Cyrillic inscriptions and one Glagolitic-Cyrillic inscription, graffiti dating back to the end of X and XII centuries. Archaeological sites The antique theatre is dating from Hellenic period or shortly after the Roman conquest (fig.21). It is located in the old part of Ohrid, Varosh in the Eastern foot of the higher western hill of the city (Gorni Saraj, Visoko Kale), on 4,000 m2 area. The excavations have discovered the middle part of the theatre with 9 lines of seats. Figure 20.Antique theatre The bay of the bones Plocha Mikjov city is a prehistoric pile-dwelling settlement. Within the project Museum on water “Bay on the bones”, was reconstructed prehistoric pile-dwelling settlement. (fig.22).

Figure 21.Museum on water “Bay on the bones”,

The pile-dwelling settlements in Macedonia were mentioned for the first time by Herodotus (Book V, chapter 16) who describes a lake settlement on the Prasiad Lake. The most impressive remnants of the underwater cultural heritage are the remnants of the pile-dwelling (palafitas) settlements that belonged to the prehistoric era. In the Albanian part of the lake were found remnants of a pile-dwelling settlement near Pogradec.

There are three types of archaeological values that are witnessed in this lake: 1) Pile-dwelling (Palafitas) populated places of the prehistoric era; 2) Architectural and other buildings constructed in the Antique and the Middle Age near the lake coast, and then flooded with the increase of the level of the lake waters and 3) Flooded moveable items and sailing objects for the sake of lake traffic in the Prehistoric, Antique period, the Middle Age and more recently. The protected area is a category of cultural scenery that brings together the history, continuity of cultural tradition and social values. Here we can include the cultural scenery with its most expressed elements of cultural view: Monastery complex St. Archangel Michael – St. Naum, located in the most southern point of the Ohrid Lake; Monastery complex Holy Mother of God of Zaum, located on the coast of Ohrid Lake, surrounded by rocky terrain rising in the background of the church and endemic greenery; Roman Castrum rising behind the rocky coast next to the reconstructed Neolithic settlement Bay of Bones; Fishery settlements Trpejca and Peshtani featuring original location on the coast of the lake and witnessing the way of living and the culture of living in the coastal area .

4.1.2Cultural heritage of municipalities Mavrovo‐ Rostushe and Centar Zupa

The significant number of locations, registered on the territory of municipality Mavrovo- Rostushe contributes to the continuous development of an organized way of living. The chronological limits of recorded archaeological locations encompass a period from late classical period until the late medieval period. Sacral architecture The cultural heritage of the municipality Mavrovo- Rostushe, which is represented by sacral monuments, reflects the most important dimensions of the local population’s creative contribution in shaping the cultural identity of the area. The parallel existence of the Christian and Islamic sacral buildings, which suitably contribute to the architectural and artistic traditions cherished throughout the centuries, witnesses about the creative cohabitation of different cultures, united in their creative existence today. Saint Jovan Bigorski is the most representative monument of the architectural and artistic heritage of the region. The monastery church was built on the foundations of an older church. It was mentioned in old Zograf’s papers (1527-1728). The location where Figure 22. St.Jovan Bigorski the monastery is built is full with healing springs and

water, warm in winter and cool in summer, because of this, it is considered as blessed. The founder of the monastery was the monk Jovan of Debar in 1020, who at that time was Archbishop of Ohrid. The monastery was dedicated to St. John the Baptist, and because of the stone which was used for building the monastery (bigor is a type of stone similar to travertine and lime stone) was called Bigorski (fig.23). The reason for building this monastery right here was the icon of St. John the Baptist, who was found as hovering over water springs. This icon is miraculous and, despite the beautiful and unique iconostasis made of carved wood, it represents one of the greatest treasures of the monastery. The church Saint Apostles Peter and Paul in the village of Tresonche represents site of exceptional importance for realizing the traditional values of the regional cultural environment. The basilica with three-nave disposition dated from the mid XIX century, with an additionally built open porch, is extraordinarily related to the morphology of the ground, creating exciting and impressive unity with the picturesque area. Compared to the relatively large concentration of Christian sacral objects, the cultural heritage related to the Islamic monuments shows drastically more reduced range.

Old Traditional Architecture The structure of the rural settlements which are on the territory of Mavrovo –Rostushe municipality shows various characteristics, originating from the field

Figure 23.village of Galichnik configuration, the climate features of the region, and the manner or organization of life. In addition, the region mainly has compact and semi-compact rural settlements, while the villages of dispersed type can be rarely seen. It mostly refers to the villages in the area of Dolna Reka and in the region of Mala Reka, whose architectural features are achievements of the craftsmen from the local builders’ guilds. Located in the picturesque area with dynamic natural qualities, these rural settlements represent exceptional examples of the traditional masonry, characterized with the values of the local cultural matrix. Example are this settlements are the following villages: Bitushe, located in the area of Dolna Reka; Rosoki in Mala Reka; the neighboring village of Selce; the village of Tresonche in Mala Reka that offers a slightly different image of the organization of housing units and possesses different and unique urban setting compared to the villages of this region as a mountain settlement of dispersed type; the village of Galichnik which (fig.24), with its rural structure, represents organic unity of several ensembles – separate neighbourhoods, connected in a unique architectural unity with the remarkably fitted

architectural look of the old houses. Among the rural settlements, characterized with an extraordinary vividness of the architectural look, we could mention the villages of Lazaropole, Gari and Janche, perfectly fitting into the authentic mountain landscape. The village of Kodzagik, from which comes the family of Kemal Mustafa Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey. In this village settlement, the project for the memorial house of the parents of Ataturk was born, who were born here in this village. With the construction of the memorial house, many tourists and admirers of the work of the great Ataturk visit this place, which abounds with the wonderful nature that God has bestowed upon. This is certainly the fact that the Museum has been visited by more than seven thousand tourists, most of them from the Republic of Turkey, among them the Turkish ambassador to our country, Tulink Erkal Kara. Archaeological sites Sveti-grad, fortifies settlement, which dates from Macedonian, Roman and medieval period. It is located northwest of the village, on a large hill that has a dominant position over the spacious territory of Zupa, with the possibility of controlling communications in it. At the very top, which has steep rocks and a flat plateau, there are remains of a fortified settlement. The defensive wall of the castle is built of large stone blocks in a drywall. The biggest battle between the Ottoman army and the Skanderbeg army, which began on 14 May 1449, was the place where this happened. After the numerous defeats of the Ottoman Empire in Albania, Sultan Murat II decided to lead a huge army that would finally defeat Skenderbeg. The main goal of the Sultan was to conquer the fortress in Sveti-Grad. Skanderbeg tried to resist the Sultan, but still on July 31 he was forced to retake the fortress of the Turks Ethnological Heritage The development of crafts, the quality of the craftsmen’s production and the features of the traditional manufacturing are significant part of the cultural existence of Mavrovo- Rosrushe municipality. Certain continuation can be observed only in the development of particular crafts techniques (cooperage, carpentry, goldsmith or silversmith craft), whose production shows quite a reduced scope and limited product sales. Regarding the traditional skills, which used to be cherished as specific forms of traditional production, today we can register: weaving, embroidery, carpet making, and woodcarving, which, although “modernized” in terms of the modern materials and raw materials used, have retained the traditional characteristics of making. It can be concluded that the rich fund of authentically preserved folk costume, as well as the representative scope of its continuous production, are a solid base for planning more organized ways for its presentation in form of ethnographic collections of special character. Local Customs and Folk Tradition

One of the components for shaping the general cultural image of the region is the existence, maintenance and treatment of the living heritage, which contains the various segments of the local myths, spoken traditions, ancient legends, rituals, seasonal rites and customs related to wedding and funeral ceremonies and religious holidays. Originating from the religious music heritage, which in certain areas (Mijak region) it has ancient chronology and reaches the medieval period, the folk existence of this region has developed in several types of traditional singing, whose sounds have been kept as a music tone of the contemporary Figure 24.Galicnik wedding festival folk events. Exceptionally inspirational shepherd, wedding, and migrant workers’ songs, love lyric poetry and rite melodies, as well as the instrumental matrix for folk dances, represent valuable relic from the remote past time of folk tradition. The event that could best define the genuine forms of traditional customs in the region, and the devoted care for their continuous maintenance, is the magnificent ritual of the Galichnik Wedding Festival (fig.25), which every year, on the religious holiday St. Peter, takes place as a ceremony of national character. Revitalization of the events from the old customs and their wider affirmation, as well as reanimation of the rich folk tradition, in the context of more organized forms of presentation, would contribute to permanent preservation of the traditional qualities of the ethnological treasury in particular kinds of cultural presentation in public.

4.1.3 Cultural heritage of municipality Debar Municipality Debar has significant number of cultural heritage registered on its territory, where the chronological limits of recorded archaeological and historical locations encompass a period from late classical period until the late medieval period. However, the biggest concentration of archaeological locations belongs to the medieval period and offers valuable data on the quality of life of the medieval population on this territory. Islamic architecture The New Hamam is located in the central area of the town of Debar, nearby the bazaar. There are no exact data on how the building was constructed, but the rumours indicate it dates from the XVIII century and a refurbishment is likely to have taken place in the XIX century. From a conceptual and functional aspect it is a developed type Hamam. This Hamam is renowned in the Region for being the only one containing all functional elements – changing room,

intermediate room, bathing room, water tank and fi replace, and the longest operating one; it was opened until 1992. Today, this building is being reconstructed and represents an art gallery. The potential of the New Hamam is to be further developed as a multifunctional cultural space. The Old Hamam in Debar is a cultural good showing the visible style and architectural values of the classic Islamic architecture. The construction is comprised of smooth walls and domes made of stone, bricks and lime mortar. Concerning the investment potential, it is important that the Old Hamam contains all necessary rooms and properties to perform its function. The quality parameters of this cultural good enable building a concept for further development of its potential. Located in the central town area, the Old Hamam, is abandoned and out of the main focus. This cultural heritage asset if possibly reconstructed might even bring to the present the traditional custom of enjoying the Old Hamam functionalities. Mosques Inchar Mosque, in Debar, is one of the oldest mosques build in Macedonia (the oldest of all 9 mosques in Debar). It was built in 15th century (in the year of 1468), by the decree of the sultan Mehmet II. Dear Leap Bridge (Elen Skok) is Ottoman bridge, located in Debar region and built in the middle of the XIII century by the famous architect Mimar Hajrudin. According to the legend a provincial ruler (a Bey) of the Debar region during the Ottoman Empire, and his men were hunting deer. The Bey successfully wounded a deer but the deer managed to evade their grasp. The deer never surrendered, even when cornered and kept escaping the hunting party. The Bey and his party thought they had the deer trapped on the high banks of the Garska River but before the men could grab the deer, the deer jumped to the other side of the river and died. Impressed by the deer’s bravery and driven to catch that deer, the Bey honored the deer by building this bridge and had it built in the shape of a deer’s leap (fig.26). Archaeological sites Banjishte Abranovci is archaeological site and medieval necropolis. A hundred meters west of the village, on a mild slope there are encountered crude stone structures from the grave. These graves are of cyst type with west - east orientation. Old traditional architecture The best representations of the XIX century traditional architecture can be found in Debar. The house of Gani Grazhdani represents one of these houses. In 1968, the town Debar transforms this house in a protected cultural good, destination worthy of attention and a premise reminder of the urban life in Debar as it was hundred years ago. The rich ornamental interior, the symmetrical functional solution, representative of this type of Debar houses, is a great

foundation for adaptation. The adequate repurposing, along with the existing properties, would create a premise eligible for creative expression, hospitality or perhaps a cultural centre. The house of Erebara is one of the most famous traditional house in Debar municipality. The house is partly made of wood and is made from the craftsmen in Debar region. Also the heel of the house is to be found on the coins of 100 denars. The house of Veliu Suri is placed in the centre of Debar. The House of Veliu Suri is unattended and is one of the rare types in the Republic of Macedonia that deserves better attention, both for its architectural concept and rich interior. The house is typical for Debar, symmetrically constructed with a ground floor, first floor, and the traditional enclosed chardak (a wooden balcony). The house interior reveals a great story in its interesting and plentiful decorations, carved wooden ceilings, doors and chests. The house is challenging through its development potentials, especially in the field of hospitality, tourism and culture.

Figure 25,Bridge Elen skok

4.1.4 Cultural heritage of municipality Vevcani

The cultural heritage of municipality Vevcani is represented by sacral monuments and old traditional architecture that reflects the most characteristic aspects of way of living of the local population. Sacral architecture Sv. Nikola is a gathering church where villagers gather to celebrate all the religious holidays. The permit for this church to be built was issued in Vevcani in 1834, and for the very same the villagers gave a lot of money for bribery. The fact that the floor of the church is above the ground is a great evidence for the bribery, because back in those days it wasn’t allowed for churches to be built above the ground only as basements. It is said that firstly the church was built seven feet below the ground but it was buried. The church is constructed with hand carved stone blocks. Its length is 18 meters and she is 12,5 meters wide. The icons are made by Dimitar Krstevic – Dico Zograf (1819 – 1872) origin from Tresonce, from Debar region. This distinguished painter has left very valuable art work behind him. At the north-east part of the church there is the Church bell that was given as a gift by the brothers Nasto and Krstan Kostojcinoski, they brought the bell from Romania where they used to work, as many other men from Vevcani (fig.27). Figure 26.St.nikola

Old traditional architecture For centuries back constructions workers were well known for their construction skills, brickwork, stone carving etc. Organized in groups they worked as migrant workers all around the Balkan, they were honest and hardworking. Meeting new cultures and new ways of working they would bring back what they have learned to Vevcani and use it in the local construction and by doing that they were modernizing the place. The old and traditional architecture is still recognizable of building or the external look of the houses and using the domestic materials for building, porch, the division of the season living, using certain rooms only for summer and Figure 27. Old houses in Vevcani other for winter only.

The beauty of Vevcani is mostly created by the old houses (fig.28) that exist as an evidence of a life that once was here and still prevails. Such houses are the following one, they are well kept and well preserved despite the harsh conditions of time: The house of Duckinovci, a palace, vertical division Figure 28.The house of Pesinovci onto three parts, the porch is at the very front and there are certain byzantine admixtures.

The house of Pesinovci, (fig.29) is a tall house, with a two story vestibule, a double middle porch with deeply defined winter apartment between the stories and a summer apartment on the upper story.The house of Korunovci (fig.30), it is a house with a three part division and a middle porch, and a specific construction that was noticeable in the middle aged churches in our areas.

Figure 29.The house of Korunovci The house of Kitanovci, it is a house that is highly developed with a three part division of the basis and a centrally placed porch. The house of Popovci, it is a house with a high architectural and structural expression with a characteristic and specific typology. The old house that belonged to the Pupin family, was built in 1880 by the family from where Mihajlo Pupin origins (fig.31). The neighbourhood is called Pupini for a very long time and since the house is reconstructed it has given a new life to the street and the neighbourhood in all.

Figure 30.The old house that belonged to the Pupin The beautiful handmade stairs out of chestnut tree family lead to the porch and rooms upstairs where the old

fireplaces and old wooden chest with the amazing antique furniture and households items. This house is museum stand for the exceptional Pupin about his life and work. There are several rooms and all the original interior and exterior that could be preserved is protected and put into use. Ethnological heritage The traditional costume in Vevcani represents a gathered reflection of the people’s cultural tradition whose roots are ethno cultural ideology of the Macedonians, some elements are of the ideology understandings and some are from the aesthetical understandings throughout the centuries. Of all the aesthetical categories and disciplines in knitting the costume the most valuable and appreciated part is the knitted area called "vez". The knitted part can be on the shirt and the headscarf, called "ubrus".Another interesting part that includes knitting are the knitted socks called "arganojci". There are several kinds of traditional costumes in Vevcani (fig.33). The women’s costume has several kinds depending on the weather conditions and the social status. The most noticeable woman costume is the bride’s one, dating from the 19th century. From the upper part of the clothing we can mention the following; a shirt knitted with cross and "vasilicarka", smaller knitted shirt, "zoban"that has velvet sleeves and a knitted decoration from a sterling silver, "klasenik", "sokaj", "jube", "bovca resacka", belt, "kolance-prepaska", scarf, chin piece with coins, "scarf with Figure 31.Traditional "kesme", as for the lower part of the clothing there are: socks and costumes in Vevcani shoes.

4.1.5 Cultural heritage of municipality Struga Municipality Struga has cultural heritage, that dates chronologically back to the VI century BC. It is considered, according to some relevant sources, that the first inhabitants of this area were the Briges and the Enheleians, and later came the Desarets. With the passing of the centuries this fishing settlement grew into a town-like village which was called Enhalon (eel). The name is accidental. Namely, here on the outflow of the river Crn Drim from the Lake Ohrid The name Struga was mentioned for the first time in a document dated from the XI century. In another document dated from the XVI century (Kalimanova Gramota). In the VI century Enhalon, Lihnidos and the other inhabited places were in the frames of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire. In this period the Brsjatsi tribe settled in this area changing the name

Enhalon with a new one, Struga, on which historians and linguists have different opinions; some say that the word comes from the word STRIG (to fleece sheep) and some claim that it means a passage for sheep through a fence which was called STRAGA, STROGA, STRUGA. In addition, there are some claims that Struga means a river branch, a tributary or a river flow. In the medieval times Struga was frequently visited by authors who wrote about their travels. The famous Turkish traveler Evliya Cheleby, who visited Struga in 1671, describes the town in detail. The traveler Cheleby wrote that the town was built by the lake and consisted of 300 houses all built of hard material. Cheleby adds that the climate is pleasant, and that there are 3 inns and 40 stores in the town. Old traditional architecture Old traditional architecture in Struga is represented by many traditional houses placed in the centre of the city. The most representative are the houses of Kodzoman, Vlado Malevski and the house of Nestorovi. Other interesting examples of traditional architecture can be seen on Braka Miladinovci and Niko Nestor Streets right from the bazaar. The first one begins with Miladinovci House in which the brothers were born and lived and today it serves as a museum dedicated to them. Sacral architecture Assumption of Holy Mother of God is a cave church, situated high on the rocks of the western bank of Ohrid Lake. The church is dating from the XV century and served as ascetic chapel. The church is built according to the space inside the cave and the east side is blocked with a stone wall and there is the alter apse and entrance. Halveti Teke - is one of the most representative examples of Ottoman architecture in Struga and it is protected by the Macedonian Cultural Memorial Institute. The tekke (Muslim monastery) was established by Hasan Baba (Asan Dede) in the beginning of the XVIII century and consists of five rooms in the shape of the letter T. Archaeological sites Ustie of Drim is the archaeological site that has the most impressive remnants of the pile-dwelling (palafitas) settlements that belonged to the prehistoric era in Struga region. The site present underwater cultural heritage of the prehistorical period. The site id placed on the coast of the lake, where the river Crn Drim(fig.34). Within the Figure 32.Ustie of Drim settlement was found archaeological material, fragments

of ceramics and tools from bones, which are now placed in the Museum in Struga and National Ohrid Museum.

The road from Roman period can be seen near the village Radozda, on the slopes of Jablanica (fig.35). The road is paved with stones, and the width of the road is 2.50- 3 m, while the preserved length is 100 m. The road was part of the road Via Egnatia, which dates from the roman period.

Figure 33.The road from Roman period Basilica in Oktisi is earlychristian basilica, with three naves of the naos, narthex, exonarthex, lateral annexes and baptistery. The floors of the central naos, narthex, baptistery and north annex are covered with mosaics, with geometrical, floral and animal decorations. The basilica is dated in the first half of the V century (fig.36).

Figure 34.Basilica in Oktisi

National Museum „Dr. Nikola Nezlobinski“ The Museum is among the oldest ones in South-Eastern Europe. It is recognizable by its permanent display of natural history, which contains many unique specimens. Nikola Nezlobinski Nature Museum with fauna from the area including some extinct species. The museum was founded in 1928 by Nikola Nezlobinski, a Russian doctor who lived and worked in Struga after the October Figure 35.Struga Poetry Evenings Revolution. In 1961 the archaeological department was formed and in 1974 the Gallery Vangel Kodzoman was opened. The museum researches in the field of archaeology, history, ethnology, zoology and botany. The museum is a unique presenter of the natural and cultural heritage of the region of Lake Ohrid – UNESCO World Heritage List.

Struga Poetry Evenings is the event in honour of the Miladinovski brothers and every year a renowned festival of poetry is held, where many famous world poets take part11

4.2 Cultural heritage of municipalities Diber,Klos,Mat and Bulquize

The folkloric Dibra costume is a vest full of life, which reflects through details, the culture and richness of the area. Dibra has inherited to present days a huge variety in terms of popular costumes. These costumes have always existed influenced by factors such as climate, tradition and possibilities. The folkloric Dibra costumes, used to accompany the daily activities, but in some cases there were differences between celebrations and mourning. In the period of time 1967-1970, traditional costumes were targeted by comunist regime. Folcloric vests were considered as retro’ signifying under-development. In this period, old type folk costumes, marked as “heavy and old”, were replaced by new and contemporary clothing; despite these important changes, many folkloric costumes of Dibra region, have made it to present days with their colorful motives and splendor. Folkloric costumes of Mati area Folkloric costumes represent symbolic materialization of communities’ lives. This is the basis upon which many studies are based, some of them reaching the conclusion that folk costumography, reflects social, economic and historic developments. This fact is quite evident in Mati region costumes which exist in an extraordinary variety. They are like a book where the history of the region, an old and rich history and tradition, has been written on. Without any doubt, Mati is the riches region of Albania in terms of folk costumes. This is more visible and noticeable on women’s costumes. They are characterized by a rich variety of colors, shapes and symbols. There are some typical colors which are more frequent in Mati folk costumes, such as: red, yellow but also white. Ethnography specialists have used colors as classification criteria of Mati women costumes. Based on their studies, white color in women dresses is more common at catholic religious women, whereas “black dominated dress” is typical for Muslim religious women. Especially in villages of upper Mati valley whose inhabitants had been converted into Muslim religion. “Mati area costumes”, has also specific characteristics according to location of the villages. The prominent researcher Prof. Dr. Afërdita Jonuzi has defined five main locations of Mati area costumography, as shown below:

11 http://www.exploringmacedonia.com/struga.nspx) Source: www.struga.org

Prelli, Rranxat, GuriiBardhë, Martaneshi and Topalltia. Later, costumes with typical tight white panties, assumed the same role of “old” type skirts, and was used merely as a ceremonial costume, while the daily dress, which started to be used massively, was represented by a type of black breeches, accompanied by wool white xhamadans, decorated with black sewing. In colder seasons, another heavier jacket, typically back was also used, decorated also with woolen yarns. As a lone island surrounded by other costumes of Mati area, are the costumes used in Gur i Bardhë village. Situated in an excellent geographical position, this village has continuously been a center of urban characteristics as well as a trading hub in the road starting from old Durres (Dyrrahu), to Dibër e Madhe and further up to Balkan regions and main centers of Otoman Empire. For this reason, many cultural elements used in this village, including folk costumes, are completely different from those of surrounding villages. Dibra-Mati area is well-known for stylish architecture construction, both original and characteristics. Architecture monuments constitute the richest material heritage of the area. Dibra construction masters used to be known in all Albanian as real craftsmen in construction field. This tradition goes back in time and is witnessed by archeological findings of the area. It went from generation to generation for centuries, enriching itself with experience of neighboring countries where Dibra workers used to work. Dibra inhabitants were famous for their artistic taste regarding construction of their dwellings, very functional for those times. Their construction method comprised also use of complementary material. These material were different in the mountain part vis avis lowland areas. Dibra buildings’ decorations have been widely used and consisted of elements like main round arched beam made of stones, decorated ceilings made of carved and painted wood; houses were embellished by element like protruded balconies, of different shapes, or other architecture elements. The typical house built in Dibra was 1-store, sometimes 2-store and rarely 3-store high. Number of stores was also indicative in terms of social scale belonging: poor strata of population had houses of not more than 1-storey high, whereas rich members of society had taller ones.

Dibra is well-known in Norther part of Albania for its characteristic architecture of buildings, - the towers (fig,38). Towers are quite wide-spread all over its territory. Some of them have the status of cultural monuments and are protected by the government. The whole region has a large number of these constructions, which are recently being renovated and becoming available for visitors and tourists. The most prominent ones are:“Kulla e Kazaferit”in Gollobordë, “Kulla e Sufe Tollës” in Lura, “Kulla e Sale Markës” in Zogje, “Kulla e Sufe Laçit” in Gjurrë -Reç, “Kulla e Bibe Doçit” in Lura, “Kullat e Hoxhës” in Muhurr, “Kulla e Bajram Dodes” in Tejmallë, gate decoration of “Kulles se Cen Puces” in Sopot, “Kulla e Riza Lushës” in Arras, where the Arras Meeting in August 1920 was held.12 Figure 36. Dibra monument Kullat MatjaneIn Mat, there are findings of old feudal towers and castles. After the falling of Kastriot participate and consequent destruction of their towers, fortresses ensuring safety of inhabitants’ lives were destroyed. Local highlanders become object of Turkish expeditions, feudal wars, lootings, friendly fire, and other phenomena. In order to preserve untouched freedom and properties, locals, further to the building style of local feudal, created the prototype of “tower home” which was later evolved from century to century according to historical and economic factors and with the appearance of fire-weapons. Changes of these historical and economic factors as well as creation of new relations, brought up conditions that people from the countryside started building constructions fortified with “sharapote, sheshena and frëngji (loopholes), acting as fortified towers-castle type of building. These towers inherited features from Illyrian and Arbri castles which were usually built on high-dominating places. Risks of times imposed constructions built upon high hills, overlooking territories, supposed to protect not only families and properties, but whole tribes, neighborhood and areas; when risky events would occur, their owners would ask for help which was mutual and imposed based on land and property ownership and also in “kanun” (set of rules of the time).This way, towers remained free and untouched spots and among fortifications and loopholes, resisted with weapons and arms towards invaders keeping up the freedom hopes. In Mat, typical construction of big feudal and “bej” tribes were build according to the following principle:

12 http://rrugaearberit.com/2017/04/01/objektet-arkitekturore-te-dibres-mundesi-per-zhvillimin-e-turizmit-kulturor/ https://www.facebook.com/GazetaDibra/photos/pcb.1006762826054016/1006760219387610/?type=3&theater

houses surrounded with strong walls at whose corners towers would be built also known as “castle-towers”. Such synonym and the term itself; fortified building-tower, indicates the origin of today’s Mati tower, connecting it with medieval feudal period. The construction of the tower which today is located in Mati area, dates back end of XIX century and beginning of XX century. The oldest prototype is the tower being built by clay, wooden belts and large shelters, while the new style of building towers is the one with limestone and few wood and shelter. Researchers agree on the age of these towers and date them no earlier than XIX century. Their existence shouldn’t be the basis for their fixed age, because these towers used as dwellings, couldn’t last more than one century. It seems plausible that I local inhabitants have built other constructions from the ruins of old towers ore very close to them. With regard to towers featuring clay and limestone, the idea behind seems to be not their age of tower evolution, but construction style related to class and economic differentiation of the landlord. Rich families would build their house 3-4 stores high with stones and limestone, sometimes with corners, whereas poor people by using clay and wood. Feudalists on the other hand would surround their towers with high walls and name them “castle-towers”. In the XIX century, Mati region had a visible evolution which was related to the use of forearms and bullets due to their impressive ballistic effect. Typical characteristic were the upper stores which had the fortification role, where apart from loopholes and small windows, feature no other light entrance. This phenomenon disappeared from year 1910 onwards, where Mati was object of attacks from Shefqet Dërgut Pasha expeditions. He did not allow anymore building of typical loophole style, but ordered to destroy also the existing ones. The ruined towers together with those built after county’s independence, weakened the fortifying character, because not only windows were opened in the higher stores, but smaller ones were enlarged and replaced with real size windows. As the families would grow, another tower would be built close to the existing, often attached or connected somehow. Large families would build big towers with middle entries and up to eight fortifying spots. These towers would create a unique protecting system which in their entirety, would have their specific role according the architecture solution and fitting with the surrounding territory. The higher store of the building was designed as fighting spot, while the other 1 or 2 lower floors were used for storing agriculture and animal products. At the end of the day, this construction style featured one 3-storey high tower used for protection purposes and another 2-storey high tower built to increase the overall surface available, without affecting one

another. This castle-tower building style clearly witness their origin and their relation with medieval feudal castles. After the World War II, with changes in the political order together with different socio-economic factors, towers suffered drastic changes. Their fortified character went lost. The only feature remaining was their 4-corner shapes but loopholes and protection spots were replaced by larger windows at all building sides.

Bridges

Mati area is situated in the central massive, between mountain chains Skënderbeg and Dejë- Balgjaj, connecting with the lowland, seaside and coastal area, or areas in her back, through mountain passes.

Figure 37. Famous bridges from Mar

Bridges of road infrastructure crossing Mati (fig.39), are located mainly on the upper stream of Mati river, where the river exits the last canyon, in Klos. There were built by stones and wooden material. Many of them have gone destroyed, and all what is left are just ruins or people memories. Bridges used to be joint constructions of a community, neighborhood or tribe and therefore raw material was ensured jointly, whereas labor force was paid to builders by different persons. Stone bridges are mainly found in Krye-Mata area, in villages like Gur i Bardhë, Klos, Dars, Bërshi, Patin and Gurrë e Vogël. Their itinerary follows tracks of convoy roads or “Big Road”, as these roads used to be named. Nowadays only 9 of these bridges are still afoot and functioning, whereas other 7 are in ruins. Out of them, 3 used to be over Mati River, while the others over its tributaries. Bridge construction initially consisted with site selection, following the road direction, with deviations according to landscape. Construction sites were usually rocky, with high or low level, for solid bridge foundations. Then supporting bridge feet were built, over which the bridge arches were added. Stones used for construction were lime, sandy or “shpani”. Stones would be worked, to obtain regular rectangular shape, dimensions 50-60 cm length and 15-20 cm width. Stone bridges in Mat were built in compliance with economic and historic conditions of that period. Their construction was conditioned by markets’ booming as well as of road network connecting these markets. Powder production provided security and fame to these roads, over which not only goods, but also

weapons would cross to protect freedom and motherland. The period of construction of majority of bridges, was the end of XVIII century and beginning of XIX century, coinciding with empowering of two major participates: Bushatllinj in north and Ioannina in south. From the construction style, these bridges are quite similar with other bridges being built elsewhere in the country. Their features fit with those built in neighboring areas such as Krujë, Librazhd, Shkodër, Tiranë, etc. Their construction depended on terrain landscape, preferring rocky site which would influence bridge duration and lower the construction costs. Raw material was generally found in the vicinity of the construction sites (lime, sand and more).

Ura Vashës (Maid’s Bridge) Ura e Vashës (maid’s Bridge) is situated between villages Klos and Guri i Bardhë. It connects two banks of river Mati and used to be the only connecting bridge of that river upper stream. It dates back beginning of XIX century, built by river stones, 11 meters long, arch base between two feet of 7 meters. Other features of the bridge are; height between arch and water flow is 7 meters and the width of bridge track is 2.8 meters paved by stones. Its arch is demi-circle, made of worked and carved limestone with double arching. There are iron reinforcements on both sides of the arch. Photos of this bridge (fig.40) are used to accompany decorated objects made by Sefedin Stafa; his production needs to be promoted to enable tourists finding them while visiting and close to the bridge.13

Figure 38.Promotion of cultural heritage

Ura e Kulmares (Bridge of Kulmare) Ura e Kulmares is situated close to Guri I Bardhë over Sheun e Dishit and connects Hoxhaj neighborhood with Dishi Mountain. Also known as “Ura e Lopëve” (Cows’ Bridge) as its helps

13https://sefedinstafa.com/featured/maidens-bridge-ura-e-vashes-sefedin-stafa.html?product=throw-pillow

animals reaching mountain pastures. Bridge is 11 meters long and 2.5 meters wide. This is one of the highest bridges of Mati. Its top of the arch is 14 meters from water surface. The legend tells that this bridge was built for charity by maid Hasime Tuska from Guri i Bardhë. This seems to be a rare act in the field of engineering and construction, especially in the highland. Ura e Shahinit (Shahini Bridge) Ura e Shahinit is located over Sheun e Madh close to Çelaj neighborhood in Patin, Klos. This is a smaller bridge compared to others and this is related to its position. Its is 6 meters long and 2 meters wide. Its height from top of the arch to water surface is 7. 6 m. It was certainly built to connect Klosi market with market of Lisi. The bridge was built by a person named Shahin, from Celaj family in Patin. Its construction date, based on building technique and typology, must be in the period between XVIII-XIX centuries. Ura e Halilajve (Halilaj Bridge) Ura e Halilajve was built between villages Dars, Bel and Fullqet of Klosi, over “Sheun e Xhabzës”, which originates from Xibri. Bridge was erected on a rocky spot over two high banks. It is composed of an arch and a complementing window on the right side. Its arch is stretched and broken in the middle. The bridge’s arch is 15 meters long, “light distance” between the two feet is 11 meters, whereas height from top to water reaches 9 meters. Road track is paved with river stones and is 2.6 meters wide. In order to complete the space created on the right bank, a small complementary arch had been built, featuring a window. Legend wants a member of Halili tribe as bridge’s constructor; however his name and construction date are not known although this is one of the oldest and well-kept bridges still existing in Mat area. Ura e Shën e Premtes (Bridge of Saint Friday) Ura e Shën e Premtes was built in between centuries XVIII-XIX. It is situated in the upper stream of Sheut të Lusës, between villages Gurrë e Vogël and Frankth. The bridge was named after the ruins of a medieval church known as “Saint Friday”. Both sides of lower arch are connected by iron bars. Bridge features a 10.5 meters length, 2.5 meters width and 9 meter height from top to water surface. It is believed to been built by Jashar Kadriu from Gurra e Madhe, for the purpose of connecting Gurra area as well as other villages of the region, with Komsie market. Its construction date is believed to be the beginning of XIX century. Religious Facilities The Mati area is also rich in religious facilities. These may be included as well in the visiting sites as part of touristic destinations.Historical objects are mainly castles and towers which could be visited from Burreli town with the following distances:Rruga e vjetër e Arbrit (Old Arbri Road), Venetian Bridges, such as Ura e Allamanit (Allamani Bridge),- 18 km, Ura e

Halilëve (Halili Bridge), - 19 km, Ura e Hoxhës (Hoxha Bridge),- 24 km, Ura e Vashës (Maid’s Bridge),- 23 km from Burreli town, etc.More site to be visited:Kalaja e Skënderbeut (Skanderbeg Castle),- 30 km, ruins of Kalasë së Komsis (Komsis Castle), - 8 km, Kulla e Dedollit (Dedolli Tower),- 25 km, Qyteti dhe Kalaja e Varoshit (Town and Varoshi Tower),- 27 km, kullat e Macukullit (Macukulli Towers),- 25 km, Sarajet e Zogut (Burgajet) (King;s Manson),- 14 km, Shtëpia muze e Rexhep Lleshit (Home Museum),- 28 km, Memoriali i Kuvendit të Dukagjinit (1602) (Memorial of Dukagjini Parliament),- 20 km, Varri i Turkut (Turkish Grave),- 18 km, Stanet e Nelëve, - 30 km, Sherapop (Powder production factory), - 25 km. Famous religious sites and facilities, are the following: One of them is Kisha e Shën Mitrit (Church of Saint Demeter) built in 1892, pronounced Culture Monument in 2007. Kisha e Shën Mitrit is an orthodox religious facility located in Kërçisht i Sipërm (fig.41). This church was built by local workers in 1892, with stones and lime mortar heavily influenced by byzantine culture. Its roof is built upon a wooden frame and covered by stone tiles, whereas ceiling is painted by afresques.14 Figure 39.Church of Saint Demeter Kisha e Shën Sotirit (Church of Saint Sotiris) was inserted in the list of Culture Monuments back in 30.05.1970, from the then Ministry of Education and Culture. Walls were erected using stones and lime mortar. These walls host afresques of dimensions 7 × 3.2 meters, but actually damaged. Rooftop is covered by stone tiles. Church was built in 1270. Xhamia e Allajbegisë (Alljbeg Mosque) was inserted in the list of Culture Monuments back in 30.05.1970, from the then Ministry of Education and Culture. Mosque was built in 1585, features a cubic shape with a dome and praying area of dimensions 6.4×6.27 meters. Its tower has a multifaceted basis, boasting 10 windows and stone frames. Building technique is more handcrafted according to Albanian culture and tradition. The area has also other religious sites and facilities whose distances from Mati town are as follows: Kisha e Shën Nikollës (Church

14 http://rrugaearberit.com/2017/04/01/objektet-arkitekturore-te-dibres-mundesi-per-zhvillimin-e-turizmit-kulturor/

of Saint Nicola), Kisha e Kalirecit (Chutch of Kalirec), Kisha e Fushë Bazës,- 16 km, Kisha e Bushkashit - 16 km, Kisha e Ulzës, - 21 km, Kisha e Stojanit, - 18 km. Manifestations There are many celebrations organized in Dibra area which might be transformed into rituals, such as Harvesting Feast. This is an annual occurrence, organized in October where local products and gastronomy may by tasted. Festa e Liqeni të Zi (Black Lake Feast). This feast has a nice but yet painful story behind. Legend tells that one young couple was working in the fields, but due to some earth displacement they disappeared not to be found anymore. Later, the ring of the young girl appeared in Vasije village, where locals would get drinking water at “Good Water Source”. From that days, tradition wants everyone drinking water from this source, to leave behind a yarn form his/her clothes as a token of remembrance and respect for the disappeared couple. Local community members respect this tradition. Black Drin Valley hosts the traditional activity called “Drini’s Feast”. This celebrating activity marks the opening of tourism season in Black Drin River and is organized in Muhurr. The purpose of this activity is not only the opening of tourism season on Black Drin River, but also touristic promotion of the whole area. Usually the touristic season is celebrated on July 1, but it depends also on climate conditions. Celebrations would consist on following activities: singing, playing musical instruments, dancing, sport activities, etc. Visitors can also taste traditional local dishes and products. 15Another celebration is Oda Dibrane (which described earlier) and has the objective to present spiritual culture of our region, as well as promoting spiritual heritage, folkloric and humoristic songs. It is celebrated in October, a month peculiar for the variety of local products and greatness of natural colors.16 Kulla e Gurit të Bardhë (Tower of Guri i Bardhe) and the project of 100 villages as touristic destinations, - an initiative of Albanian Government Project of 100 villages as a network of touristic destinations, is an initiative of the Albanian Government. There are un-exploited opportunities all over the country. Precious traditional and

Figure 40. Tower of Guri i Bardhe

15 http://dibraexpress.com/potenciali-turistik-lugines-se-drinit-te-zi/

16 http://www.dibra.gov.mk/?p=199304 https://www.gazetaexpress.com/lajme-nga-maqedonia/ne-diber-hapet-festivali-oda-dibrane-586451/

natural resources, are half-dormant, far from visitors’ eyes, and more far from being used and benefitted from (fig.42). In the list of 100 villages planned to become more attractive to tourists, is also Guri i Bardhë in Mati area. This is a village full of history, tradition, natural beauty and hospitality. No other choice could have been more appropriate. Guri i Bardhe and the surrounding area, preserves and maintains, thanks to nature better than everywhere else, an old tradition not less known in the past. Should the project succeed to “discover and make visible” the “treasuries” of Guri i Bardhe, harmonizing them with the splendors of its surrounding nature, it would certainly become an attractive national destination for adventure tourism. Inhabitants of Guri i Bardhë, but also Mati people in general, like to declare themselves as real descendants of Skanderbeg.. They have fanatically preserved the name Petralbe, which is nothing else that the Latin denomination of their village. They have also other references for that. Marin Barleti mentions them specifically in his “History of Skënderbeg”. Road from Tirana to Guri i Bardhë, goes across an impressive landscape. Mountains, forests, green, water sources display the stunning natural beauty of the area. Today spots like Qafë Molla, Malin me Gropa, Kroin e Gjeneralit, Qafën e Qershisë, Gujën, etc, are not not known to everyone. The place of many animal dwellings, which is lie a heaven for animal breeding development. A fantastic idea is to build a ring-like path to be ridden by bicycle, starting from the southeastern exit in Shëngjergj, ending up in Gurin e Bardhë, making a turn from Xibri to Qafë Murrize, Shkallë e Tujanit and back again to Tirana. Powder Powder was produced in large quantities in Mat and in the vicinity of Petralba for more than 5 centuries. Adjacent to Petralba there is a village named Fushat (Fshat), inhabited by the trive called Llaveshat. Powder used to be manufactured in simple factories, by using water energy but also labor force. These workshops were named “powder stores”. Klosi became the earliest and the biggest centre for powder manufacturing, and at the same time, the rear base of the Albanian resistence. Klosi region used to produce powder for carried weapons, for canons, hunting guns, for stone-breaking purposes, etc. This activity went on from the beginignof XV century until 1911 when the army of Shefqet Durgut Pasha, commanded by a Turkish office, Gafurr – efendi, destroyed all powder stores in Mat, except, the ones used be Hysen Hasan Llavesh, which went on manufacturing powder until 1939 when country was occupied ny fascists. Tradition of powder production started initially in Fushat (Fshat) and later in Klosi region, used to be an activity both economic and source of pride not only for Mati area, nut also for the entire Albania.

Pazari i Urës (Bridge Bazar) Pazari i Urës used to be an important and strategic site connecting communication roads not only with Mati area, but also with Tirana, Durrësi, Kruja, Dibra and other regions inside and outside Albania. Denomination “Bridge Bazar” is related to the biggest bridge which used to be at the same spot over Mati river, connecting “Fushat e Urës” (Bridge Fields) to “Stragjun”. In this market, at any time, beside many animal and agriculture products, salt used to be traded coming from Durres through Qafë Murriza, same as kerosene, pot production, local crafts, clothing, different tissues, silk products (typical from Kryemat area), weven products, carpets, decorations and jewels for women, wood handicrafts, working tools, locksmith products, etc. Pottery was usually coming from Keta and Martaneshi, although they were also produced in some Klosi villages. Woolen tissue, manufactured by locals, was of a high quality. Linen tissues were also manufactured and traded. Old people would tell about tradition of silk manufacturing, with special rooms designed for cultivation of silk-producing-worms. As Klosi market was big and developed, traders from other towns would come and rent homes in Klosi villages, oning their own stores. Well-known examples were: Vath Bajroni ( Lushi) from Tirana, who had a store and shop at Llaveshaj in Fshat village, close to Bridge Bazar, until ’40 of last century. Being the whole area of a Muslim majority, old people tell stories about traders hosted in the market, mainly coming from Macedonia or other Albanian reagion abroad, named for instance: “kaurri i Bejnit (Christian of Bejn) (Nikolla Gjargoni), “Kaurri i Fullqetit “ (Christis of Fullqet)(Dhimitri), in Fullqet for a long time existed the shop run by Pjetër (Peter) Çoka, “kaurri i Cerujës”(Christian of Ceruja) (Spiro) , in Cerujë there was a shop managed by Mitro, “kaurri i Patinit”,(Christisn of Patin), etc. These traders and shop-keepers had their homes and shops in the above mentioned villages. Apart from trading functions of products and animals, bazars had also other functions. They were meeting spots, communication and announcements of news and villagers among each- others. Such role, from Kastrioti period has been played for a long time by a place named “Dardhat e Kuvendit“, which is located some 350 steps away from Bazar’s Hill in Fshat, by the mountain where Petralba town is situated. This place was popular not only for inhabitants of two Petralbs neighborhoods (Tanushë and Gurëza), but also to the surrounding area, especially at Kastriot’s time, where public debates used to be held with people coming from all over the region. This function, for a long time, was exerted at the place named as Kodra e Plakut (Old man’s Hill), which is also in Fshat, between Petralba and Bridge Bazar.

4.3 Social, cultural and economic differences

Border regions and their adjacent areas are usually highly influenced socially by their proximity to a border (Gelbman & Timothy, 2011), and depending on the social differences on each side in a border region, functional barriers might be formed (Timothy & Tosun, 2003). Even though countries have started to work closer together over borders, their border regions might not be sufficiently prepared for the clash of different social way of life. As a result this influence the collaborations as the degree of functional barriers increase. It is not only municipalities and inter-regional organizations working with tourism development whom become affected by social differences, but also tourists. Travellers specifically notice negative attitudes among people who work in border crossings which influence their experience of the region. This issue arise as border officials usually not see themselves as a part of the tourism industry (Timothy & Tosun, 2003). Hence, the social climate of border regions influences both collaborations on a higher level as well as ordinary travellers visiting the region. Alongside social cohesion and understanding, are cultural and linguistic similarities and differences of great importance to consider in human interaction (Timothy & Tosun, 2003), as in collaborations across borders. The cultural similarities or dissimilarities are usually strongly related to the history and function of the border, as to what extend residents in the area has been able to interact (Timothy, 2001). As the cultural cohesion is tied to historical relations every border region possesses unique features different from other geographical locations17. Different national regimes on each side of a border influence the lifestyle and culture of the population. Therefore border regions and adjacent areas become highly influenced culturally by their proximity to an international border (Gelbman & Timothy, 2011). Even though the geographical distance is not far, cultural dissimilarities CBC region can lead to an increased perceived distance. This is usually tied to the perception among people of entering an unfamiliar sphere. Different language,history, ancestry, culture and different religion of the citizens from municipalities form two countries are more specific examples attributes which possibly lead to barriers to tourism and cross-border collaborations. In addition there is different political view in cross-border region. Even the municipalities from eligilble countries are closer, cultural differences might still create barriers for people, even at friendly borders. Formalities tied to crossing the border especially increase this type of barrier (Timothy & Tosun, 2003 Even

17 17 https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:944065/FULLTEXT01.pdf 68

though their research lack connection to cross-border tourism collaborations, Björkman et al. (2007) rise some interesting points regarding cultural barriers in mergers of organizations.

Like most neighbors, municipalities in CBC region have differences — primarily in culture and lenguage — but they do overlap in some areas, such as food. The universal cuisines that unite these two countries could be served as “bordered menus.”.

Feasting is ingrained in the culture of this small Balkan nation, and a reliance on agriculture and home producing means that has been a haven of organic bounty and slow food long before these became buzzwords for gourmands.

In this fertile pocket of southeastern Europe, Mediterranean influences have intermingled with centuries of Ottoman rule to create a rich menu of local specialities. Today, food-loving rural communities are developing grassroots tourism initiatives to offer excellent culinary experiences for travellers. Often they are set in delightful stone villages rooted to the slopes of mountainous national parks, and many cater for overnight visitors. 18

Figure 41. Diffrent type of cheese preparation on CBC (right sheep milk cheese in Mavrovo, right goat milk cheese from Diber)

18 https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:944065/FULLTEXT01.pdf 69

Many tourists are curious to try everything which is served in a kitchen table but would also ask about ingredients and cooking method. Fascinating, micro food communities are everywhere in CBC region. The cheesemakers of Mavrovo produce coveted raw-milk hard cheeses using traditional methods.

The latter are produced using age-old methods with animals reared on mountain pastures; one of the cheeses, sirenje (fig.24)19, is the star of Macedonia’s national šopska salata – a simple fuddle of tomatoes, cucumber and onion enriched with sharp, crumbly white cheese (not unlike a Greek salad). The hills around border guard endless bounty (porcini mushrooms, walnuts, cherries, berries, mountain herbs and honey, to name a few) that ends up on local plates.In Mavrovo region speciality is pita (a flaky, coiled pie stuffed with tangy local cheese and spinach or leek) and the slow-roasted lamb.

Against this background of depopulation and abandonment of the land, shepherding and cheesemaking are still rooted in an ancient tradition that dates back to the Mijaks, a nomadic tribe that settled in the area in the 5th and 6th centuries. The production of cheeses in mountain pastures is an important economic activity, closely linked to the local identity, and has the potential to contribute to a revival of the entire region. The Mavrovo Park is home to a very special cheese, Kashkaval, possibly the ancestor of all pulled-curd cheeses. The name recalls Caciocavallo, a pear-shaped cheese from southern Italy, but Kashkaval is cylindrical. The sheep’s milk cheese weighs around 4 or 6 kilograms and undergoes a long aging in cool, damp locations, following a complex production process. Raw sheep’s milk is warmed to around 30-32°C and curdled. Curds are then cut into pieces of around 5 or 6 centimeters long, left to rest, and then cut again to pea-sized lumps. Once the whey has been drained off, the curd is pressed in a cloth and the next day is cut into thin strips which are placed in a wooden basket and heated in salted water (to 70-75°C). The cheese is salted and put in steel molds overnight, then left out in caves for one day before being dry salted with coarse salt 3-4 times for 40 days. At the end of summer, kashkaval is washed with water and sun-dried in the yard for one day, and then aged for a further 4 to 6 months20. Kashkaval is the most interesting and complex of the local cheeses, but the area’s ancient shepherding tradition has produced others. Some of the other dairy products made within the park include Belo Sirenje, similar to Greek feta, and the thick, yogurt-like Kiselo Mleko, literally "acidic milk", made from boiled sheep milk cooled to 42-45°C and inoculated with starter culture from previous batches. All are made from the raw milk of a local breed of sheep,

19 Photos are taken from: https://aam.al/listing/goat-cheese/#lg=1&slide=2 , http://www.gomacedonia.com/ , https://www.fondazioneslowfood.com/en/slow-food-presidia/mavrovo-reka-mountain-pasture-cheeses/ 20 https://www.fondazioneslowfood.com/en/slow-food-presidia/mavrovo-reka-mountain-pasture-cheeses/ 70

the Sharplaninska. In the summer, the sheep graze on the rich variety of grasses and herbs in the meadows of the park’s 52 mountains.

Quality milk from sheep, goats or cows was made for making cheeses, buttermilk, cottage cheeseand other dairy product. Cottage cheese from Zupa is one of the finest known dairy products.

The most common dish is cooked beans. The beans are cooked with various added vegetables as red pepper and dried meat, and also baked in ceramic pot. The dish “ kasha “ was also frequently prepared and eaten as domestic meal. That dish is made of flour, fat, salt and vinegar. Boiled and baked potatoes were also highly consumed , One of the most popular dishes in Zupa is so called ‘ Birjan ‘ which is actually cooked rice in a pot with herbs, spices , with or without meat which was most often sheep or chicken.

“ Bungur “ isalso very frequently used as a substitution to rice.”Bungur“ is white wheat which was boiled , dried and milled with two large stones. After the wheat was milled it was stored in clean white linen. “ Bungur “is cooked in a pot with water and vegetables were added : leaks, red pepper , potatoes etc. The dish with onion called “ Janija” was prepared with grated and fried onion, to which meat was added and slowly cooked. “ Janija “ dish was made of rice and onion.

Women from Zupa are still commonly preparing homemade pasta called “ jufki “ and “ tarana “ . This is homemade pasta, dried on sunshine and stored to be eaten during the winter. This pasta is eaten boiled similar to other very popular dishes called “ Mamaliga “ and “ Bakrdan “. The Muslim women are known for preparation of pies ( “gjomleze “, “ jazmaznik “, “ burek “, “ baklava “ eтц ) In Zupa and surrounding regions preparation of food for wedding celebrations was and still is of high quality. Those meals especially soups, beans, “ birjan “, meat and famous dessert “ alva “ were prepared in huge pans called “ kazans “ . Food prepared on weddings is served in special dishes called “ Sani “ where the consumption is collective. In Zupa and neighboring areas in particular was still preparing quality wedding dishes in vats especially soup, beans, birjanot (pilavot), the meat and the famous Alvi. Weeding food is served in special vessels “kazan” that is eaten collectively.

Figure 42. Cultural differences in cooking” jufka” in Diber (left) and Mavrovo (right) From “qulli me pulë” (chicken), a traditional recipe of Bulqiza area, to grilled lamb, pickles, cheese, yogurt and milk from animals grazed over 2000 meters above sea level, to Dibra famous “sheqerpare” (local sweet), these are other reason to visit Dibra region.

Dibra is quite renowned for its traditional cuisine. Although recipes are relatively simple (flour, butter or sugar), local recipes are tasty and fist of all organic, which represents an added value for this food. Among these representatives of gastronomic tradition, the main dish and of the most known food is “Jufka e Dibrës”, a traditional Dibra dish (fig.44). These are macaroni, crafted traditionally only with flour, eggs and milk, by factories which have maintained the ancient recipe, cooked with chicken fat. Another characteristic dish of the region is “Jahnia”, as it is called locally. This dish is meat and onion based. Typical sweet of Dibra is “sheqerpare”, prepared with love and energy, based on a simple recipe containing only flour, eggs and lots of butter. Nevertheless, despite taste and possibilities, Dibra region still lacks marketing of its traditional products. “Jufka” and “Sheqerpare” from Dibra, are as a matter of fact known and requested, but apparently not properly promoted.

4.4 Current problems with management of natural and cultural heritage 4.4.1 Municipalities: Ohrid Lake Region, Mаvrovo and Rostuse,Vevcani, Debar and Centar Zupa According to the IUCN criteria, the management of the Protected Area can be carried out directly by the Government, that is, the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning with Proper Guard Service and Controls or Management of the Protected area to be awarded to the

Local Self-Government, a non-profit organization, an association of organizations, a private group or an individual. In order to perform the activities of management and protection of the Parks, the Government has established public institutions – Public Institution National park Mavrovo and Public Institution National Park Galichica. Monuments of nature (Ohrid Lake and Vevcani springs) are managed by the municipalities as well as lower protected area. Due to problems with Ohrid Lake managments, international organisations, jurnals and magazinse paid attention to this (fig.44). Due to UNESCO status the Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid region has several layers of legal protection. The protection of cultural heritage is regulated by the Law on Cultural Heritage Protection (Official Gazette of RM No. 20/04, 115/07), by-laws and a law declaring the old city core of Ohrid as a cultural heritage of particular importance (Official Gazette of RM No. 47/11). The protection of natural heritage is regulated by the Law on Nature Protection (Official Gazette of RM No. 67/2004, 14/2006 and 84/2007), including within and outside of protected areas. There is also the Law

Figure 43. BBC article about Ohrid Lake endangerment on Managing the World Cultural and Natural Heritage of the Ohrid Region (Official Gazette of RM No. 75/10) .At this moment legal instruments are updating. The property is managed and protected through a range of relevant management documents, and an effective overall management plan is a clear long-term requirement. The “Physical Plan of the Republic of Macedonia” of 2004 provides the most successful long-term and integrated document for land management, providing a vision for the purpose, protection, organization and landscape of the country. It is managed by two ministries (the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Environment), via three municipalities (Ohrid, Struga and Debrca), although the municipalities legally do not have the authority to protect cultural and natural heritage. The Institute for Protection of Monuments of Culture and Museums in Ohrid has the authority to

protect cultural heritage, and the Natural History Museum Dr Nikola Nezlobinski in Struga is responsible for protecting movable heritage. The Galichica National Park is authorized to manage natural heritage within the park as a whole, and part of the cultural heritage located within the territory of the Park. The Institute for Hydrobiology in Ohrid is responsible for the continuous monitoring of the Lake Ohrid ecosystem, the research and care for Lake Ohrid’s flora and fauna, as well as the management of the fish hatchery, also to enrich the Lake’s fish stocks21. According to this integrated management of natural and cultural heritage through a joint coordinating body and joint management planning are urgently needed to ensure that the values of the property are conserved. Given the vulnerabilities of the property related to the development and impacts of tourism, the management requirements for the property need strengthening and new cooperation mechanisms and management practices must be put into place. Every protected area has Management Plan according to who allowed activates are prescribe ed (table 7). According to the Law on Nature Protection, the zone for strict protection is part of the protected area with the highest protection interest, which is characterized by genuine, unaltered features of ecosystems, or there are quite minor changes due to traditional controls practices. In the Zone of strict protection can be distinguished natural spaces, "without any" intervention of man and limited spaces intervention, where the traditional way of management is still present and serves to maintain the natural values of the zone. Also according to the Law on Cultural Heritage Protection, the zone for strict protection is part of the protected area with cultural heritage with highest protection of the cultural-historical values and with respect to the tradition and function of the space and content. The Active Management Zone is a zone of high interest for protection, which requires greater management interventions in order restoration, revitalization or rehabilitation of habitats, ecosystems and other landscape elements. Activities in the active management zone are allowed economically character, which do not adversely affect the primary purpose of protection, such as ecotourism or traditionally extensive farming. Successful management of this zone, as well as its further permanent maintenance, can lead to the acquisition characteristics of the zone of strict protection. Also according to the Management Plan of the protection of the cultural heritage there are three zones of protection: zone with strict protection, zone with limited protection and zone without any protection, in which there not exist any cultural heritage monuments.

2121 https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/99 74

The sustainable use zone is a significant part of the protected area that does not possess high values for protection, where infrastructure objects are located, cultural heritage objects, types of forests plantations that are not characteristic for the area, as well as settlements with surrounding agricultural land. Table 6.Allowed and prohibited activities in protected areas

ACTIVITIES zone for strict The Active The protection Management sustainable Zone use zone Scientific research yes yes yes Setting up signposts yes yes yes Setting up information boards no yes yes Walk on marked paths yes yes yes Walking outside the marked paths no no yes Watchers and observers house no no yes Restored places of rest (eaves, tables, benches) no yes yes Fire starting no no no Cycling on arranged path no yes yes Arrange the space around the springs no yes yes Camping at specified locations no yes yes Sustainable forestry does no no yes Collection of forest waste (branches, trees) no no yes Collecting other forest products no no yes Collecting butterflies no no no Traditional agriculture no no yes Mowing grass no no yes Grazing grass no no yes Beekeeping no yes yes Intensive farming no no yes Fishing no no no Hunting no no no Motor vehicles and motorcycles no no yes Horse riding no no yes Paragliding no no yes New objects for tourist purposes no no yes New facilities for agricultural activities (sheepfolds, boats) no no yes A new infrastructure-electro-energetic no no yes New infrastructure-roads no no yes

During our research it was established that these rules are not always respected i.e.e traces of motor vehicles could be seen in zones where their movement is prohibited . Municipalities’ Local Environmental Action Plans, SEA, EIA, Environmental Impact Assessment reports, Heritage Impact Assessment reports, UNESCO report as well as all studies dealing with this topic were taken into consideration. According to our research the environment in Ohrid region is jeopardized more by the poor water management and sewage systems, uncontrolled urbanization and the pressure applied by tourism activities rather than by the industrial activities, which are still at a low level in most of the protected and valuable natural sites.

Lake Ohrid is well-known globally as the only ancient and long-lived lake in Europe and a biodiversity hotspot of global importance. But, in the last decades the lake itself is facing the global problems of eutrophication. As a result additional phosphorus input from households (sewage, washing agents), industry or agriculture (fertilizer) usually leads to higher algal densities, which in turn may affect tourism (e.g., rotting algae at shores, water looks dirty, health issues) and lake ecology (e.g., lack of oxygen in deep water, competition from better adapted species). The biggest problem is certainly Sateska River which is the largest source of phosphorus pollution in the lake. As a result of the erosion in the catchment, near the mouth of the river to the lake, the river Sateska deposited more than 100,000 m3 per year sedimentary layers in the lake, of which 38.1 tons of phosphorus. It causes physical (mechanical) and chemical pollution of the lake. Uncontrolled development has caused the deterioration of shoreline habitats. Characteristic example is the alteration of the reed zones. Urban encroachment as well as recreational facilities does have a harmful impact on hydromorphological structures of Lake Ohrid. The ecological status of the lake is particularly at risk from the continued destruction of wetlands and uncontrolled building and infrastructure development at the shoreline (even it is forbidden facilities to bi build 50m from the shorline).22 Unsustainable agricultural practices exert a pressure to the Lake system being also a significant source of pollution. Runoff enters directly or indirectly through its tributaries into the Lake. Irrigation of farmlands, with water abstracted from the Lake and its tributaries, increases the load to the Lake. A variety of agrochemicals are used in both countries with no or little control. Uncontrolled and excess fertilizer use is the cause of nutrient pollution and hence eutrophication. Uncontrolled waste disposal at both parts of the watershed might be a source of pollution for the underground water and, hence, for the Lake. Efforts to address this issue have been initiated. Unsustainable exploitation of fisheries has caused the decline of fish stocks. The impact is bigger at the more commercially valuable species such as the Lake Ohrid trout (Salmo letnica). Fishing pressures are different in the two sides reflecting both the socio-economic and the

22 http://www.moepp.gov.mk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/ICR-3-Lakes-Main-Report.pdf 76

relevant regulatory regime differences between the two countries. It was only in 2002 when limits to the catch of trout have been set in the left side of the lake .23 In mountain area of Mavrovo and Rostushe, Debar and Centar Zupa for almost a couple of decades backward as a result of the process of emigration to the local population, the anthropological pressure on high-mountain pastures has decreased, which is what it is enabled natural succession of habitat types (natural habitats) in the zone of mountain ecosystems. On the other hand, as a result of effective protection and sustainability forest management by the Public Institution National Park Mavrovo, to a significant extent has improved the quality and content of forest ecosystems on the entire territory of the Park.

4.4.2 Municipalities: Mat, Klos , Bulquize and Diber The Mat-Diber area is covered by forests, which in many cases, especially during the last 30 years, have been heavily damaged; despite such damage, forestry still has great potentials and is believed to bear many opportunities if exploited in a creative and smart manner over the years to come. Further to this situation, protection and safeguarding of environmental assets, has a vital importance for local communities. Inhabitants of the area are becoming more and more aware and conscious and are growingly considering local resources as well as natural and cultural resources as an important asset whose development potentials, may represent a guarantee for economic gain and improvement of their living conditions; this could be done through activities aiming at development of branches of local economy such as tourism and agribusiness but also through activities whose objective is increase and improvement of life quality, health and welfare. For this reason, protection and rehabilitation of forests represent a priority both for tourism sector but also for an integrated and sustainable development of forest economy of the area in general. We should take into account that tourism, especially adventure and green tourism are naturally related with products of forest economy intended not only as wood material, but also as medicinal plants, forest fruits, honey production, mushrooms, etc. In order to have a competitive tourism, it is obvious that Mat-Diber region should develop and improve its watershed basin infrastructure. Local government must lobby to raise funds for maintenance, renovation and increasing capacities of watershed infrastructure. Basin

23 Study on Integrated ecological approach as tools on conservation and protection of natural resources in the basin of Lake Ohrid within the Project "Blue and green versus black and gray”-(2014)

infrastructure is one of the mandatory issues related to areas; sustainable development; this would assist tourism development in particular, but at the same time support the improvement of irrigation system together with fire protection during summer period in pastures and meadows, strengthening of animal breeding activities which is currently one of the main economic activities for the majority of local community. Economy of Mat-Diber region is indeed small and since a long time hasn’t experienced changes or development and doesn’t seem to be able to use great potentials offered by the existing natural and human resources. The main source of revenues for the majority of the population, is the agriculture sector. Number of registered businesses is pretty small and the size of agriculture farms and animal breeding farms, are also very small. Despite of continuous improvements, road infrastructure, especially the one connecting villages with each other, is far from being normal. Consequently, movement of people and goods, together with access to services, are very difficult particularly in winter period. Apart from social isolation, poor infrastructure creates economic disadvantages in terms of access to markets for small, scattered and isolated farms, as well as the safe and secure travelling of all those who intend to visit the region for touristic purposes. Territory doesn’t have a developed public transportation, which implies high transportation costs for those who don’t own private vehicles (among which tourists as well). Network of potable water supply and sewerage system, are insufficient, mainly in the countryside where the majority of the population lives and the biggest natural and historic attractions are located. Development of a rural sustainable economy, could be supported through strengthening and developing of economic sectors such as: Forestry, Tourism, Agriculture, Animal Breeding; other sectors in need of greater attention are: Education in general and professional one, whose strengthening encompasses also tourism; improvement of road infrastructure, water supply.Sewage system, irrigation system, water infrastructure in forests and pastures; touristic and accommodation infrastructure together with the better internet coverage and larger use of information technology from inhabitants and entrepreneurs.

4.5 The impact of tourism Tourism and nature have a symbiotic relationship. This can be mutually reinforcing and both negative and positive. For example, the importance of biodiversity to the appeal of certain destinations can bring additional visitor pressure but also more support for conservation and its

promotion. The tourism products encompass elements such as attractions, infrastructure, services,etc. These elements, together, comprise the overall pressure for nature. Negative: ✤✤ Pressure on cultural heritage, cultural-historical monuments leading to cultural heritage loss, from poorly sited, designed or managed tourism developments, operations and activities; Example: unplanned urban development in the Ohrid central area. ✤✤ Pressure on habitats, leading to biodiversity loss, from poorly sited, designed or managed tourism developments, operations and activities; Example: unplanned urban development in the Ohrid lake costal area. ✤✤ Direct threats to individual species, for example from recreational activity, from use for food items, souvenirs or other trading, or from competition from invasive alien species introduced through tourism activity; Example: overfishing of endemic and threatened species of Ohrid trout 24Five alien – or neozootic – fish species have already become established in the lake. They might compete in particular with native littoral species for food and habitat and thereby become a threat to the lake’s natural biodiversity ✤✤ Site clearing for development of tourism infrastructure; Example: Destroying the reed area for more beaches ,plans to drain the 75-hectare Studenciste marsh and build luxury housing complete with a marina. The proposals also include the replacement of nearby reed beds with beaches made from imported sand. ✤✤ Tourism affecting other environmental conditions which may negatively impact on biodiversity, for example through waste disposal, water consumption and pollution or greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change. Example: inadequate waste management in Mavrovo during winter .Some attractions and sites suffer from poor waste collection and the presence of waste damages the traveler experience ✤✤ Decrease of tourism flows due to the degraded state or loss of biodiversity Example: A lot of tourists complain about the bad waste management in Struga region The most obvious reason for the controversy of tourism in protected areas like Galicica and Mavrovo is the fact that it is drawn to environments which are inherently sensitive in terms of ecosystems and natural habitats. The question if tourism is acceptable in protected areas is based on assessments that have to be as detailed and accurate as possible.

24 http://www.moepp.gov.mk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/ICR-3-Lakes-Main-Report.pdf 79

Examples of potential risks from tourism activities, which are especially crucial in protected areas are25: • The construction of new accommodation facilities, visitor centres, infrastructure, and other services has a direct impact on the environment and cultural ehritage, from vegetation removal, animal disturbance elimination of habitats, impacts on drainage etc. • Wildlife habitat may be significantly changed (travel routes, hunting areas, breeding areas, etc.) by all kinds of tourist development and use. • Soil compaction can occur in certain well-used areas. • Soil removal and erosion also occurs, and may continue after the disturbance is gone. Concentrated use around facilities has a negative effect on vegetation. • Transportation may have direct negative impacts on the environment (e.g. vegetation removal, weed transmission, animal disturbance). • Fire frequency may change due to tourists and park tourism management. • Increased demands for fresh water. • Disposal of sewage or litter in rivers, lakes • Release of oil and fuel from ships and smaller craft. • Propeller-driven watercraft may affect certain aquatic plants and species. • Motorised transportation may cause pollution from emissions (from plane, train, ship or automobile). • Hunting and fishing may change population dynamics. • Hunters and fishers may demand the introduction of foreign species, and increased populations of target animals. • Impacts occur on insects and small invertebrates, from effects of transportation, introduced species, etc. • Disturbance by visitors can occur for all species, including those that are not attracting visitors .• Disturbance can be of several kinds: noise, visual or harassing behaviour. • The impact can last beyond the time of initial contact (e.g. before heat-rate returns to normal, or before birds alight, or mammals resume breeding or eating). • Aquatic animals may be hurt or killed by boat impacts or propeller cuts. • Habituation to humans can cause changed wildlife behaviour, such as approaching people for food.

25 ((Source: Eagles, McCool and Haynes 2002: 33)) 80

• Pressure on habitats, leading to biodiversity loss, from poorly sited, designed or managed tourism developments, operations and activities;

4.6 Tourism infrastructure planning and management

Generally, when talking about the tourism infrastructure for visitors especially in protected areas as national parks (e.g. trails, visitor centres, resting places, parking lots, camp grounds, viewpoints etc.) particular precaution is necessary due to the high vulnerability of the natural values. In the following, the sustainability principles for two typical examples for visitor infrastructure in protected areas are presented.26 Trails To provide trails for hikers, cyclists, horse-riders, skiers, climbers and other types of visitors is a key issue of protected area management. Trails and the whole network of trails in a protected area of Ohrid Region, Mavrovo and Vevcani are carefully planned in order to achieve two goals: a) To keep the negative impacts of the trails and the visitors' activities on and along these trails to a minimum (acceptable) level. b) To provide the visitors with an adequate infrastructure (the trails and related facilities) that allow for a meaningful nature experience according to the expectations of the different visitor groups mentioned above. In general, in tourist destinations in CB region two types of trails are present (fig.46) : normal trails that basically enable visitors to get around/to get to places of interest, and interpretative trails with information about flora,fauna heritage etc.

26 26 sustainable tourism development in unesco designated sites in south-eastern europe 81

Figure 44.Treils (left interpretative; right normal) The latter are an important opportunity to communicate with the visitor and, to a certain extent, to influence his experience and behaviour. Interpretative trails have many different purposes including information, education, recreation, safety and conservation of natural and cultural resources. Modern interpretative trails do not only provide information, but follow the concept of actively involving the observer in an interactive process of learning about and experiencing nature. Interpretative trails are characterized by their structured sequence of interpretative features. Modern interpretative trails in protected areas aim to inform the user about the ecosystem(s) the trail is located in. They are a means to communicate natural and cultural values and to raise the visitors’ awareness for environmental conservation issues.

Campgrounds Campground owners can contribute decisively to the environmental performance of the campground by obtaining some basicrules. However, aiming at a really sustainable camping site, it is also necessary to establish rules of behavior and to communicate them to the visitors, the staff of the campground and the local people in the vicinity.

Some basic demands campgrounds (not only) in protected areas should meet: Reduce and recycle waste (solid waste and sewage) Efficient use of water and energy Nature-oriented design of the campground, using local materials for construction

Use of traditional coloring and local raw material (felt, wood) in yurta camp construction Processing and selling of local food and beverages Avoidance of negative impacts due to transport (e.g. offer local transport; shuttle services for guest coming by trains) Use of environmentally-friendly detergents Cooperate with the protected area management for informing tourists about adequate recreation opportunities and proper behaviour in the area

According to our research and field surveys none of these demands is fulfilled in the campgrounds in CB region even there are protected areas (for example camp Gradishte in near protected Ohrid lake). Another thing is that the region lacks roadside information and signage in English that enables independent travellers to navigate throughout the region on their own with motor vehicles or bike. Easily accessible, only maintenance of the road to them and information boards is necessary was the answer of 64,42% of the respondents form Ohrid,Struga,Debar,Vevcani,MAvrovo and Rostuse,Centar Zupa ,while 59,94% of the respondents from Mat, Bulquize, Klos and Diber answered that natural and cultural heritage site are Difficult to access, there is no appropriate path for them, and there are no information boards for them.In this part of the region visitor signage within towns and settlements is limited and inconsistent, as well as recreational areas facilitating easy navigation by independent travellers.

4.7 Marketing, branding and access to information There is limited and uncoordinated online information about the different events, attractions, activities and sites in and around the destination. Visitors have a need for basic information such as directions to specific attractions, opening hours or possible entrance fees, as well as more sophisticated online tools such as event calendars, itinerary generators, etc. This is especially relevant when attracting independent domestic, regional and international travelers. Most visited web pages about the different events, attractions; activities and sites in and around the destination in municipalites Ohrid,Struga,Centar Zupa,Mavorovo and Rostushe,Vevcani and Debar are Booking 60,38 % and Trip advisor 15,09%, while 50 % of respondets from another 4 municiplaitues Klos,Bulquize,Diber and Mat answered Booking . There are some local websites for this purposes https://macedonia-timeless.com

https://www.discoveringmacedonia.com http://travel2macedonia.com.mk/ www.exploringmacedonia.com http://eden.mk/ http://svp.org.mk/about-the-festival/?lang=en Vevcani-info.mk/ http://www.skimavrovo.com/en http://ohridskoleto.com.mk/en/program-events/ https://www.ohridnews.com/ http://www.merkezjupa.gov.mk/ https://www.discoveringmacedonia.com www.bashkiaklos.gov.al/

4.7.1 Mobile App for tourism marketing

The impact of digital transformation is evident in all industries and sectors, and the tourism industry is no exception where technology has disrupted the old order of things and completely reinvented the ways to explore traveling. Travel agencies and physical bookings are now almost outdated. So much that a recent survey by eMarketer shows that travel-based mobile apps are the 7th most downloaded category and that 60% of smartphone users prefer travel apps for planning their leisure tours.27 The application of Information and communications technology (ICT) and android smart phones can be a powerful tool for biodiversity conservation. ICT excels at tasks like efficiently collecting, analyzing, and interpreting voluminous data, as well as using such data to optimize work It is often said that whether it is possible or not to sustain our relatively stable environmental conditions that have supported the lives of human beings for the past ten thousand years depends on our behaviors in the coming ten to twenty years. We are currently at a pivotal point where it will be determined whether we can prevent biodiversity loss or not. At such a critical point, we consider “information” and its “positive use” to be essential keys for moving in the right direction by understanding complicated natural environments globally and also understanding them on regional and species levels.28. According to our desc reaseach (fig.47) on Play Store only few mobile app exist for tourism promoting for the CBC region (all of them are for Ohrid,Struga,Mavrovo and Vevcani).

27 https://www.rishabhsoft.com/blog/mobile-app-development-for-the-tourism-industry 28 Role of ICT and Mobile apps in Biodiversity Conservation . P. B. ReddyPG Department( 2011) 84

Figure 45. Mobile app for tourist promotion in CBC region

4.7. 2 Instagram for Tourism Marketing

According to some research 60% of millennial travelers on social media are active on Instagram, and 48% of Instagram users use the app to find new travel destinations and places to explore. Travel and Instagram are so synonymous that Instagram recently released features that allow businesses to add “Book” and “Reserve” buttons to their feeds. See a photo, then book a vacation — all within one experience. Instagram photos are changing the way we holiday. The way we plan our journeys and the list of must-see sites are more likely to be defined by a photo seen on Instagram rather than a brochure in the travel agent. With Instagram tourism becoming so influential, how is this affecting the kinds of photos we take on our travels. Now owned by Facebook, Instagram’s influence on the way we view the world and make travel choices has been nothing short of phenomenal. Whilst travel seekers once mainly sought inspiration from holiday brochures or guidebooks, they’re now turning to high-ranking Instagram feeds to decide where to venture to next. In essence, Instagram is the internet’s version of a global travel brochure. Instagram even makes it easy for users to facilitate their travel plans based on photos that have captured their attention. With geotagging, viewers can identify the location of an image and conduct further searches, while saved posts of must-visit photos can be organised into

collections. If you see a travel photo you like, the addition of outbound links means you’re now just a click away from booking your dream holiday. Thanks to the lure of pictures posted on Instagram, many destinations have seen an upsurge in tourist numbers – and tourist boards couldn’t be more grateful. Breathtakingly scenic Trolltunga in Norway, a rocky outcrop that makes the perfect selfie platform, has seen visitor numbers spike from 500 to 40,000 between 2009 and 2014, largely due to Instagram tourism. The unique landscape of Iceland has also captured the attention of Instagrammers, with Seljalandsfoss waterfall a particular highlight. Tourist numbers to Iceland doubled between 2011 and 2015, with American tourists outnumbering the Icelandic population in 2016 alone. Instagram postings have also played a role in boosting visits to the Seychelles, Hungary, Bhutan, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cuba and Portugal. In some locations, you can even hire your own Instagram guide who will gladly show you the best sites to snap selfies that are sure to garner scores of likes.

Instagram tourism influencers Businesses have been quick to recognise the huge potential Instagram has as an advertising platform, with many savvy firms collaborating with top influencers on the site to serve as brand ambassadors. Lake Wanaka Tourism Board in New Zealand is a great case in point, where in 2015 they invited Instagram’s influencers to share their photos of the region. As a result, tourist figures shot up by 14%, representing the fastest growth rate in New Zealand at the time. One couple, who are based in Bali, are even paid enormous sums by brands to travel the world and post captivating photos on Instagram. This couple are so influential at gaining trust from their followers and affecting their travel choices that they can earn thousands of dollars for a single photo.

Arguably, consumers see an Instagram photo as a real and personal depiction, and not a campaign created by a marketing department. Essentially, Instagram has become an online review platform of destinations – and since 84% of people are swayed by the opinions of others, with 92% of consumers trusting influencers over brand advertising, it’s easy to see how Instagram outperforms holiday brochures with its powers of persuasion. As Instagram continues to add features, travel brands must evolve their content strategies or risk getting left behind. In-feed booking, carousel multi-image posts, Instagram Stories, swipe up shopping/web links and robust advertising options have all been a boon to tourism and

location-based brands, offering more ways to reach and engage travelers. Instagram’s influence on decision-making reinforces that consumers continue to have an appetite for imagery.29

On filgure 48could be seen the most used hashtag on instagram for the municipalities

Figure 46. the most used hashtag on instagram for the municipalities in CBC region

29 29 https://www.convinceandconvert.com/research/instagram-tourism-marketing/ 87

             5. FACTORS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF  TOURISM    In order to be able to discover the factors that make   attractive a   destination to   develop   tourism, it is  necessary to begin by offering a definition of tourist   attraction. According to UNWTO attraction is any   object, person, place, or concept that draws people   either geographically or through remote electronic   means so that they might have an experience. The   experience can be recreational, spiritual, or otherwise.   An attraction is an outstanding example (for whatever   criteria used) of a resource which includes all the  elements in a particular class. For example the common   bleak (Alburnus alburnus) is an attraction among the   another fish species in Ohrid lake, because the famous  Ohrid Pearl is made of its scales.

Attractions are usually divided as cultural and natural. According to Public Use Planning effort of the World Heritage Center categorization of attractions is of four categories:

1. Geophysical-landscape-aesthetic. Includes mountains, gorges, big rocks, rock formations, caves, rivers, water bodies, scenic views, overlooks of forests (when the attraction is merely seeing and not interacting more directly with the forest), unusual cloud formations, unusual meteorological conditions (high velocity or unusual wind behaviour, light hitting or passing through geological formations in strange ways), thermal waters, volcanic activity, or even unusual celestial events such as the Northern Lights, Perseid Meteor Showers (example on fig. 49 ), or exceptionally clear night views for star-gazing.

Figure 47. Geophysical attraction - Persid meteor observation in Ohrid (Credit: Stojan Stojanovski, Kristijan Gjoreski, Igor Nastoski / Ohrid Astronomy Association)30 (municipality of Ohrid) 2. Ecological-biological. Includes any and all organisms, their parts, their behaviours, aggregations, or associations in communities with other organisms. It also includes ecological events or processes that include the participation of organisms, such as decomposition, reproduction, predation, migration, and fossil remains (though one could categorize these as geophysical as well). Ohrid trout (fig.50) is an endemic species of trout in Lake Ohrid and in its tributaries. The Ohrid trout is called a ‘living fossil’ or ‘dinosaur fish’ – it lives in Europe’s oldest (and fabled) Ohrid lake in CB region. In 2016, a documentary movie was released named “The Trout dance” to raise awareness for its protection. According to tourism workers, the film can also be used to promote Ohrid, because tourists like stories, especially authentic stories shown in this way with underwater shots and photos.

30 this amazing view of a perseid meteor was captured by amateur astronomers stojan stojanovski, kristijan gjoreski and igor nastoski of the ohrid astronomy association in ohrid, macedonia during the peak of the perseid meteor shower on aug. 12-13, 2015.

Figure 48. Natural attraction- Ohrid trout, the living fossil (municipality of Ohrid)

3. Cultural-historical. Includes all human constructions, practices, and remains (archaeological). It includes all manifestations of human evolution and cultural expression. In some cases, it includes ideas of particular individuals or events that are interpreted through objects and places like a house or a person’s possession, like some famous philosopher’s eyeglasses or the house of a military commander.

Figure 49.Cultural attraction- Kemal Ataturk family’s house (municipality of Centar Zupa) At 1,200 meters above sea level over the karst countryside in village Kodzadzik in Municipality Centar Zupa, were found the foundations of the family house of great Turkish reformer and statesman Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, on basis of which in 2009 began reconstruction of the memorial building(fig.51). 4. Recreational. These include all attractions built by humans for the specific purpose of entertainment or education. This includes theme parks, botanical gardens, sports fields, motion- based attractions (such as ski resort fig.52), zoos, museums, theatres, shopping malls, etc.

Figure 50. Recreational attraction- Ski centar Zare Lazarevski (municipality of Mavrovo and Rostushe) Attractions are often confused with activities and services. Attractions can also manifest at a variety of scales, again, depending completely on market perception. For example, a local attraction in village Lukovo ,Municipality of Struga is DolnoDrimkolski Ilindenski football tournament which is traditionally played the last Sunday before Ilinden. A regional attraction has power to attraction domestic and foreign tourists from throughout a region such as the Vevčani Carnival to which once a year tens of thousands of participants also known as “Vasiličari”. The annual carnival is a mix of pagan customs translated into modern language. Vevcani Carnival as an event unites all forms of expression of our traditional culture, transforming the needs of contemporary society, treating topics from today. Likewise attractions can draw visitors nationally and internationally. There are a number of elements that can contribute to, and enhance, the general attractiveness of a tourist area in cross border region. These include a pleasant climate, friendly people, low cost of living, favourable rates of exchange, and ease of accessibility, good connection between natural attractions in both countries etc. All of these factors can be very significant, but do not determine by themselves the tourist character of an area. Indeed, the presence in the area of 'something interesting or unusual to see or to do' or, in other words, 'a set of natural or man- made attractions' still plays an important role in the tourist's decision making process. (Ferrario, 1979, p. 18). Without these attractions tourism cannot exist and there would be little need for specific transportation facilities, tourist services, and marketing strategies (Gunn, 1994). In order to make connection between municipalities in CB region (their tourist attractions) in order to promote sustainable tourism and sheering economy firstly we need to examine the reasons why tourists will travel in region, i.e., the reasons that lead tourists to select a particular tourist site over another and identify their mobility patterns within a tourist destination. People

travel for a variety of reasons: to escape, explore, understand, and participate. But at the core of the experience lies the destination — the place that hands something to the traveler to keep forever and share with others.

The tourist decision-making process has two different phases, namely: (1) a previous travel planning, to define the destination and the general trip parameters; (2) a travel modification, during the journey to adjust and defines the details (Bansal & Eiselt, 2004). 31In both cases, there are a large number of factors that influence the tourist destination attractiveness. Those factors can be divided into two main components, the ones related with tourist site attributes and factors related to the tourist intrinsic condition. Although this study is centered on the movements in cross border region, for better understanding the issues that influence it, it’s essential to identify the factors that affects the decision making practice to choose a destination. According to Lau and McKercher (2007) the factors related with the human condition push the tourists to the destination and the physical site conditions pull the tourists. There are many factors that can influence de choose a destination, each studded author had synthetize them in different categories. In order to summarize them, it was compiled by the authors the main categories factors that influence tourist destination attraction. Each one of the five categories that we found can be related to tourist condition or physical conditions but, nature and cultural and social events are more related with tourist sites, leisure and adventure to the travel motivations, socio-economic environment and tourism and support facilities to the physical conditions. From the analysis of the previous factors and their relationship with the footpaths, we can say that exists a strong connection between them, namely: (1) socioeconomic environment, because it is an activity that doesn’t involve a significant financial spending and contributes to the civic formation; (2) nature, by allowing direct contact with nature in a sustainable way; (3) cultural and social events, for providing the close relationship with the local population, thus enabling a strong iteration with the cultural and social local events; (4) leisure and adventure, the different paths allow a multitude of new experiences and a sense of relaxation;

31 logistic optimization in tourism networks. available from:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283504617_title_logistic_optimization_in_tourism_networks [accessed dec 10 2018].

(5) tourism and support infrastructure, of which the tourists are dependent such as accommodation, food and transport routes. Considering that accessibility, infrastructure etc have a direct connection with the main factors of tourist destination attractiveness, it may be assumed that the footpaths have an influence on regional tourist attraction. Overall all attractions that could be factors for development of tourism in are given in figure 53.

Figure 51. All attractions as factors for tourism development in region

“A tourism product is Creating tourism experiences what you buy; a tourism experience is what you Tourists and holidaymakers are increasingly seeking remember” Creating out authentic experiences. They want to make the most Know to Grow Experiences I loved it of their time away. They do this by: when I had to put on my  connecting with local people wellies and find the tadpoles. “  immersing themselves into local culture Canadian Tourism  enjoying local food and drink Commission

 exploring local geography and places of interest

This trend provides the tourism industry with a new type of visitor. One who is an active participant in the experience and is seeking more than just a packaged tour, a hotel room or a picturesque view. To create such tourism experiences firstly a new look at the goods and services that have traditionally been part of our tourist industry in Ohrid, Struga, Vevcani, Mavrovo and Rostushe, Centar Zupa and Debar was made, and it was proposed redesign them to allow opportunities for visitors to learn about our region and enjoy its character in a completely new way. Ideas for these experiences can be stimulated by nature, heritage, art, food, sport or whatever a local region has in its cultural locker. The important thing is that they are designed with the individual user in mind and that the activities involved are enhanced through direct field survey of the place,local citizens and way of life. Experiential travel represents a new layer of opportunity beyond delivering traditional tourism products based on goods and services. The Canadian Tourism Commission refer to this as “The Progression of Economic Value” . Whilst each individual level of commerce has value, as your product progresses, so too does your ability to differentiate yourself in the marketplace and ultimately charge a premium. Experiential travel represents a real opportunity to drive more profitability into businesses (fig.54). Figure 52. progression of economic value

7. TOURISM NICHES

Niche tourism refers to how a specific tourism product can be tailored to meet the needs of a particular audience/market segment. Locations with specific niche products are able to establish and position themselves, as niche tourism destinations. Niche tourism, through image creation, helps destinations to differentiate their tourism products and compete in an increasingly competitive and cluttered tourism environment. Academic literature has paid little attention to the role and positioning of niche tourism products. Through the use of the niche tourism life cycle it is clear that niche products will have different impacts, marketing challenges and contributions to destination development as they progress through it.32 The natural attractive-resource values are contained in the macro relief and micro relief structure, favorable climate values, the presence of hydrographic phenomena and whole and rich biodiversity. The relief in the CB region is mainly composed of mountains and valleys. High mountains dominate with picks over 2000 m above the sea level. The biggest valley in the region is the Ohrid-Struga valley located between the mountains Jablanica and Galichica, which is filled in one part with the Ohrid Lake. That points to the position define the space as an ecological basis for the development of tourism that is development of eco-tourism. The environmental development assumption is of priority importance on the whole cbc region especially taking into account the fact that most of the local population poorly employed. It applies to all developmental types of tourism. The region is very typical with the extraordinary presence of caves due to the geology of the mountains which are mainly carbonate rocks. The region is rich in natural, artificial and glacial lakes, and is the most forested one .

The CBC region is rich in globally significant cultural and natural assets. The competitiveness of this region as a travel destination lies in its rich historical heritage, authentic culture and well-preserved nature. The image of an undiscovered part of Europe sprinkled with historical sites, stunning landscapes, and authentic communities attracts travellers interested in exploration and off-the-beaten-path experiences. While each individual country has a lot to offer, the joint marketing of the region as one destination enhances the competitiveness of the entire region. For many travellers, especially those from further afield, the ability to combine two countries into one itinerary based on specific interests or convenience is a large factor in the ultimate purchase decision.

32 https://www.napier.ac.uk/~/media/worktribe/output-209366/fullthesispdf.pdf 95

Below is a list of most well-known natural and cultural destinations in each of the countries of focus (fig.58). The selection of the destinations was made based on desk research of most popular destinations in online (trip advisor, booking) and online information services for tourism (www.travel2macedonia.com.mk ) interview with visitors etc.

Figure 53.Natural tourist attractiveness

7.1. Municipality of Ohrid

7.1.1 Attraction  Ohrid lake  St.naum springs  Studenciste Marsh  Museum on water - Bay of bones  Elsani village  NP Galicica  Zli Dol  Trpejca village Balkan sen trope  Elsani village  Ljubanista village  Ohrid bazaar  National ohrid museum - robevci house  Pestani village  Saint Erasmus basilica and cave church  Saint Naum monastery  Holy Mother bolnicka church  Saint Constantine and helena church .  Saint Jovan kaneo monastery  Saint Nikola gerakomija church  Saint Pantelejmon church - plaosn .  Saint Sophia church  Holy Mother of god perivleptos church  Lapidarium museum  Saint zaum monastery  Samoil fortress ohrid  Small Saint clement church  Cave church Saint Stefan  Saint Varvara church  Nightlife tour  Old bazar

7.1.2 Experience

 Hiking Tour  Jeep Safari Tours  Mountain Biking Tours  Paragliding  Wildlife watching  Birdwatching  The Safari Jeep Excursion  Scuba diving  Sailing  Boat trip  Kayaking & Canoeing  Spiritual experience  Scientific experience  Cultural experience  Visiting traditional villages with traditional kitchen  Party  Shopping

The park offers marked hiking, cycling and hiking trails. The trails can lead to the village of Velestovo, to the locality Krstec, from where a wonderful view extends over the large karst field Jafa and the largest part of the massif of Mount Galicica or to one of the highest peaks of Galichica - Magaro.

Hiking day trip in the Galichica National Park could lead to Mt.Magaro (2255m asl), the highest peak between lakes Ohrid and Prespa.The summit offers spectacular lake and mountain views. Tour could lead to Trpejca on the shores of Lake Orhid for lunch before transfering back to Ohrid. Route info: Walk distance approx 2-3 hours, 8km, 680m of ascent and 733m of descent. According to the https://www.wikiloc.com/trails/hiking/macedonia/ohrid -Best Hiking trails in Ohrid (Macedonia) are:

VELESTOVO roundtrip in Galichica National Park near Ohrid 9,85 miles - Moderate near Velestovo, Ohrid (Macedonia) Velestovo-Elen vrv- Ohrid 6,88 miles - Moderate near Velestovo, Ohrid (Macedonia) Velestovo Tri Mazi peak in Galichica National Park 7,06 miles - Moderate near Velestovo, Ohrid (Macedonia) Ohrid-Velgosti-Ohrid through Galichica National Park 15,25 miles - Moderate near Ohrid, Ohrid (Macedonia) OHRID to VELGOSTI via Ramne 10,03 miles - Moderate near Rača, Ohrid (Macedonia) TRI MAZHI 12,28 miles - Easy - by Wulfrunian near Rača, Ohrid (Macedonia) From the village Zavoj to Ohrid through Galichica National Park 13,75 miles - Moderate near Zavoj, Ohrid (Macedonia) LETNICA, Galichica National Park 11,1 miles - Easy near Rača, Ohrid (Macedonia) Ohrid round trip 9,04 miles - Moderate near Ohrid, Ohrid (Macedonia) Velestovo-Konjsko-Elshani-Peshtani through Galichica National Park 8,16 miles - Easy - near Velestovo, Ohrid (Macedonia)

Mountain Bike cycling in NP Galichica is memorable experience. The mountain offers great opportunities for mountain biking. The track is also designed for drivers who make the initial steps, but also for the more experienced. The ride covers the area of the Ohrid and Prespa lake, as well as the mountain of Galichica. The departure is from the village of Velestovo. The ride takes place in the national park, and during the ride we will have opportunity to enjoy amazing views on the lakes enriched with grass cover and abundance of various flora and interesting relief forms. The tours ends in the village of Elshani. The tour length is around 41km, offroad on backroads, and around 900m od ascent. Cross country is the most famous type of mountain biking, which takes place on a circular path, where the pitch is in a wavy shape. There is a path for cross country cycling, with a length of 5.6 km, which begins at the information center of the park, continues through the meadows to the Quarry and leads to a dense pine forest through which it is reached to the starting point.

The Safari Jeep Excursion is run by a licensed guide who is fluent in English and Dutch language. They drive through the Galichica National Park through steep terrain with beautiful views, wherefrom you have a view of the two lakes, Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa. Mountaineering tours. Galicica Mountain offers excellent opportunities for organizing various mountain tours. One of the most popular tours in the Ohrid region is the tour starting from the mountain house of the Mountaineering Club Magaro from Ohrid, to the place Lipova Livada, which continues through the areas filled with endemic biodiversity and cultural and historical sites. The tour leads to the peak Magaro, from where beautiful landscapes and panoramas are placed over the Ohrid and Prespa Lakes. This tour lasts from 3 to 5 hours, with a length of 12 km. Another tour that is quite interesting for visitors is Travers' tour along the ridge of Mount Galicica. This tour is designed for people who want more adventure and sports challenge. It starts at the Lipová Livada crossing at 1600 meters and ends in the village Velestovo with a picnic. The tour is filled with landscapes with endemic biodiversity and historical sites. This tour lasts 8 hours, with a length of 11 kilometers.

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Alpinism. The high slopes of the mountain are excellent terrain for mountaineering. The beneath beneath the peak is 760 meters high and offers excellent opportunities for the development of mountaineering, as well as the slopes under Golem Vrv and Tuglaš, 180 meters, intended for beginners. Endemic chasmophytic plats could be seen during this activity.

-Paragliding.Galicica National Park is a popular destination for paragliders. The resort is mostly located in the area Baba, on the regional road Ohrid-Trpejca- Carina-Resen, and safely landing on the beach at the auto-camp Ljubanista. From this viewpoint, Ohrid and Prespa Lakes are simultaneously seen. - Pedestrian walk through Galicica National Park and visit to the city of Ohrid. In NPG, pedestrian tours that beside hiking on the mountain include a visit to the city. The program of this tour includes breakfast, a visit to the city of Ohrid, a walk through the cultural and historical landmarks in Ohrid, lunch, a transfer for the Galicica National Park to the Lipova Livada area, where the trekking for climbing the highest peak of Mount Magaro begins top, transportation to the hotel and dinner. Such a tour is organized in three days, which includes visiting the three National Parks in the Republic of Macedonia. - Visit Biljanini's springs or Studencici are the most famous and most famous symbol of Ohrid, created by nature. For them, the folk song "Biljana platno beleše" was sung, which is known throughout the world. The springs are located at the foot of the Galichica valley below the village of Rača, and around the springs today there are parks, sports fields and a famous restaurant. Water from the sources is also supplied by the Hydrobiological Institute, a scientific institution that deals with the endemic living world of the Ohrid Lake. - Visit to the springs of St. Naum The springs at St. Naum are one of the most attractive places on this mountain. These springs spring from the hammocks at the foot of the mountain. The water is collected in a small pond with two islets, which are beautifully decorated with taverns, whose owners kindly welcome guests who enjoy the beauty of nature. This water flows through the short river to Ohrid Lake. Excursion spots. For the beauty and diversity of the Galicica Mountain region, the spacious high mountain pastures that have emerged as a result of human influence also contribute. Another marked path leads through the large karstic field of Suvo Pole, and then to the mountain house in the locality "Asan-Dzura". The path is divided into two branches, the one leading to the top Goga and the other leading to the Samatska Dupka Cave.

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-One day outings .The park offers the opportunity for one-day excursion, in the locality "Korita". To this site you can also reach the marked pedestrian walkway from the settlement Peshtani. Speleology NPG offers the opportunity to scientifically study the caves and their appearance, structure, characteristics and other forms that have changed over time, that is, the possibility of speleology. The Spelological Federation of Macedonia (SFM) is an organization that is obligated to take care of the speleological objects in the Republic of Macedonia and the karst in general. Its operation is supported by the Agency for Youth and Sport, the Ministry of Economy - the tourism and hospitality sector, as well as the Ministry of Environment. NPG should leave close cooperation with SFM, in order to fully systematize speleological objects in the Republic of Macedonia, to protect the same as the wildlife in them, to promote speleological activities, to promote speleology in the Republic of Macedonia, and with in the region of Ohrid and, most importantly, to arrange the speleological structures Cave Samatska Dupka: In this national park there are ten underground karst forms, ie caves. The largest among them is Samatski Dupka, which is located on the east side of the Studino valley. Its highest height is 9 meters, and the total length of the foot is 224 meters. In this cave there are cave decorations, cave pearls and drapes. According to the division of caves in Macedonia, this cave belongs to the group of tourist caves, which means that it is very important from the capture of tourists. - Other caves: Naumova Cave is one of the most interesting caves near Ohrid Lake, 2,775 meters long, Black Cave located 0.5 km from the village of Trpejca, Cave Govedarnik, Peshtera Orevce which is the smallest cave, cave Mechkina Dupka, cave in near the village of Leskoec, Volja and the Cave Strange Cave. These caves can be seen moving from the foot of the mountain to the higher parts. The caves of this mountain are characterized by cave decorations and diverse morphology. Cultural tourism. The park has numerous monuments that are of great historical and artistic significance and they are one of the strong reasons for visiting it. Monuments of culture in the park are divided into several groups: archaeological sites, churches, monasteries, cave churches and monuments. One of the monuments in the park, which in its importance is one of the more important of its kind not only within the park and in the region, but also in the broader, and at the same time strictly protected area, is the St Naum springs. From the group of churches, monasteries and cave churches, on the territory of the park are registered the Byzantine style monuments with frescoes of European significance. These are the church "St. Bogorodica

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Zaumska "from 1361, in the village of Velestovo and the church" St. Mother of God "from the 15th century. From the cave churches, the church "St. Mother of God "in the village. Pestani from the 14th century, the church "St. Bogorodica "in the auto camp Gradiste and the church" St. Stephen ", which dates back to the middle of the IX century. This national park offers great opportunities to attract many tourists who are nature lovers and have an adventurous spirit, but also for those who are delighted with the cultural and artistic treasure. In order to continue increasing the number of tourists in this part, it needs to be included in the offer for the Ohrid region, affirmation of the park and increase of the activities for promotion of the park is needed. Volcano tours attracts visitors and has immense cultural and spiritual significance. In village Kosel you can see how clay vessels are made, howling on a loom, washing the embroidery in a valley, how to make baskets and begs from wooden rods

Scuba diving is also attractive for tourist in Ohrid.33Lake Ohrid has a dramatic drop-off at its tectonic shelf, which is worth exploring, and there is also a Neolithic stilt village which can be accessed with special permission. In Lake Ohrid, also known as a fresh-water sea, very attractive are the endemic forms of life, such as the Ohrid round sponge living at the depth of 35 meters, the number of underwater prehistorical settlements and the fish in the rocky parts from Gradiste to Trpejca. Diving at the Bay of Bones: Underwater archaeology, explore the lost settlements and remains from the past. Explore the underwater lake life.

Kayaking as a sport is very popular in Macedonia especially at the famous : Ohrid Lake a, where you can do kayaking on backwater.

Sailing is available in Macedonia on the Ohrid LAke. Sailing as a recreational activity and relaxing water sport is also very popular. The local sailing clubs will make your sailing trip unforgetable. The fans of this sport can get enormous amusement by sailing through the lakes, enjoying both pleasures, of the sport and of the nature. From the harbour of Ohrid, sail along the coast with high rocky cliffs and a wonderful view of the National park Galicica. Tourist often visit the monastery of St.Naum, one of the most

33 http://www.exploringmacedonia.com/scuba-diving.nspx

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beautiful places along Lake Ohrid The monastery is most well-known for the monks St. Naum and St. Kliment, students of Cyril and Methodius, founders of the Cyrillic writing. Boat ride There is something extraordinary when seeing the city of Ohrid and it's natural surroundings from the Lake.The most wanted boat rides are Ohrid Old City ,Bay of the Bones , Tito Villa , St Naum etc.Some of the tour agency’s boat trip includes: Boat Driver, Tourist guide and Macedonian traditional food&drink .

Camping is and outdoor experience when participants leave developed areas to spend time outdoors in more natural ones in pursuit of activities providing them enjoyment.Most famous Camping places near Ohrid lake are Eleshec,Andon Dukov, Ljubanista,Gradishta etc.They offer places are available for either tents or car trailers. Moreover, bungalows and stationed campers are available for guests. The campsites have beaches, shops and some of them a summer discotheque. Boat trip to St. Naum The most visited destination in the park, however, is the recreational and tourist complex at the monastery of St. George. Naum, near the border. Every year, over 200 thousand tourists come to enjoy this place where the natural, spiritual and cultural heritage of Macedonia intertwine in a harmonious whole with exceptional beauty. There is a possibility for a boat trip along the springs at St. Naum, which form a picturesque pond with two islands. It is estimated that this lake is powered by 45 springs, located at the bottom or the shore of the pond, and almost half of the clear cold water flows from it from Prespa Lake through underground rivers and watercourses through Galicica's limestone mass.

Fishing – Recreational fishing (angling) in rivers and lakes is one of the most popular types of passive sport activities in Europe. Main motives are the opportunity to spend time in a natural environment, being with friends, relaxation, catching fish for personal consumption. Ohrid native Ljupcho Stojkoski-Lepi is a passionate angler, outdoorsman, and fishing guide who has successfully introduced sport fishing as one of the alternative tourist activities the town has offered in the past three years. Stojkoski has tried to actively incorporate his experiences from Germany and the Netherlands into his promotion of recreational fishing at Ohrid Lake. He offers tourists a unique way of enjoying the lake’s natural beauty while catching fish.

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Scientific tourism. 34Wetlands are becoming increasingly important to tourism, as confirmed by Ramsar, an international convention for protection of wetlands of international importance, which, in partnership with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), formally established focus on the connection between the visitor industry and wetland habitats in 2012. Wetlands offer enormous opportunities for tourism and contribute to the local economy in developing countries (Ramsar, 2012). In 2012, Ramsar presented 14 examples of sustainable tourism practices in and around protected wetlands that show what kind of impact they can make to nature conservation, poverty reduction, regional and national economies, and in support to local culture. Conversely, if tourism is not developed sustainably, the risks are very high. Given Studenchishte Marsh’s close proximity to the city of Ohrid and Lake Ohrid, its development as a tourist attraction would be easily achievable, not only in the sphere of ecotourism, but also in scientific tourism, especially since it is the only preserved wetland on Lake Ohrid’s coast. A visit to Studenchishte Marsh can also be connected with Biljana Springs and the aforementioned early-Christian basilica, which offers some of the best views of the wetland. Combining natural and cultural phenomena, such a plan will also finally put the monumental archaeological site of the basilica into use. Constructed extra muros, it is located where ancient pre-Christian cults worshipped water as life-force, as confirmed by its position near one of Lake Ohrid’s most plentiful springs. Dating back to end of 5th and the first half of the 6th century (Snovli, 2013) BCE, it was established during a consolidated, stable and prosperous period of Byzantine history, which culminated during the glorious reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I (527-565). Thus, it has unique characteristics7 pointing to the exciting tourism potential of this locality. Potentially, the natural habitats of Mazija and others in close proximity to Studenchishte can be incorporated, transforming all these aspects into a rounded story to explore the wetland from multiple perspectives. The walkways are envisaged to incorporate an open-air museum under the concept A Journey Through Time, which will reveal the shared history of people and wetlands, showing how, in many parts of the world, wetlands were the first locations where people transitioned into permanent settlements from a nomadic lifestyle

34 vision for the protection, revitalisation and tourism integration of studenchishte marsh, lake ohrid’s vital coastline wetland

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Nightlife tour .35With a very vibrant nightlife Ohrid is an undisputed party paradise. Spend the night partying, crawling from bars to clubs, or even beach raves - Ohrid's nightlife is sure to accommodate all of your party needs.

7.2 MUNICIPALITY OF STRUGA 36Struga is a town and popular tourist destination situated in the south-western region of the Republic of Macedonia, lying on the shore of Lake Ohrid. Once known as "Enchalon" -Eel, Struga has a population of approximetly 15 000 inhabitants. It has been known since the time of the Ilirs, and many old writers of traveling guides have noted that Struga was a very vivid city, with developed trade, great markets and the houses of the wealthy citizens were always beautiful and decorative. That is why the well-known saying: "There is no other place like Struga" exists since then.

7.2.1 Attraction

 Ohrid lake  Kalista  Radozda  River Crn Drim  Eel road  Lake Globochitsa  Lake Shpilye  House of the Miladinovci Brothers  Festival ('Come, Row')  Struga Poetry Evenings  Gorna belica village  Basilica in oktisi village  Halveti tekje  dr. nikola nezlobinski museum  Saint archangel michael cave chur  Saint atanasius cave monastery  Saint gjorgi church

35 http://www.gomacedonia.com/index.php/en/dmc-services/item/35-ohrid-nightlife-tour 36 http://www.exploringmacedonia.com

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 Cangel kodzoman gallery  Kalista monastery  International music & folk-dance festival "struga festival days"  Old bazar

7.2.2 Expirience

 Scuba diving  Mountain Biking  Sailing  Paragliding  Kayaking & Canoeing  Fishing and hunting  Shoping  Walking  Cultural and spiritual expirience

In Struga, there are got 83 cycle routes to explore. The routes you most commonly find here are of the hilly type. Most people get on their bikes to ride here in the months of May and July. Top user routes in Struga 20B. Kalishta - Palaistra - 116km 116 km 960 m 1,030 m Selo Lokov 80 km 1,680 m 1,680 m Aroud Ohrid Lake 96 km 1,070 m 1,070 m Trajet en Albanie - ELM 352 km 1,060 m 1,500 m Albania - Skopje 202 km 1,240 m 1,980 m arhitektska ruta 5 km unknown unknown

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Night fishing on Globocica. Night fishing is a special enjoyment, and especially if the fish "works", as is now the case with the chapel, the scrub, the caras and the carp of this accumulation. The weather conditions contributed to the maximum water level of all the rivers and lakes. And the Globocica reservoir is full, the fish is active, but only in the night. You can catch maple, scab, karas and some carp. A few minutes before getting dark you get the first shots. These are the jars that approach the food bank, but then it is best to remove the yawns from the water and wait for an hour to see another type of fish. After dark, the chapel appears first, and after it, the caras and the scribbles lie down on the food. It is hunted at a depth of 10 to 14 meters. Walk Along the River Black Drim and Ohrid Lake.The river and the lake compose beautiful landscape which is ideal for walk along and take some photographs.

Spiritual tourism. The Kalista monastery complex - Holy Mother of God, is located on the shore of the Ohrid lake, in a beatuful rocky area, south of Kalista village. The monastery is located in the village of Kalista (30 km from the town of Ohrid) on the western edge of Lake Ohrid, toward Albania. It hosts one of the most important Church in the rock of the Lake. Central place in the Kalista monastery complex takes the new church Holy Mother of God, renovated in 1977 (over an older 17th century church). Today, there's a very important icon is kept, where the Holy Mother of God is painted woth Black face and clothing, holding in her hands the Black Jesus. The oldest part of the Kalista monastery is an cave church, built in the 13th century, deep into a rock. Close to the Holy Mother of God church is the other smaller church dedicated to Saint Peter and Paul (built in 1990). From its basin flow water, which according the local can heal several diseaseс and spell. Now the monastery complex includs another church and the residentials buildings. In the Monastery is possible to buy souvenirs. On the way to Elen Kamen settlement, which is on south, Saint Atanasius cave monastery ca be visited

Spiritual toursm. The rare coastal jewel of Macedonia - Radozda is a place that leaves people breathless, returns the calmness and the ability to become one with the nature. Furthermore bringing smile on your face due to the hospitality offered by the local people. Unlike the highly commercialised, Pestani and Trpejca, Radozda is mentioned only in the more intimate circles of friends who jealously guard this untouched piece of paradise in Macedonia. Centuries-old recipes to which they are still preparing the Ohrid trout, and fresh salad and The Gjomleze are a holiday not only for your eyes but for the stomach as well! When visiting Radozda, a visitor

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should pay attention to: Saint Archangel Michael cave church and remains of Via Egnatia Radozda - little history Radozda is about 10 centuries old, but written evidence can be found from documents of the “Dushanovata Charter” from 1342 to 1345 under the name Radobuzhda. The village was established in mountain meadows about a mile to the west. But the proximity of the lake as an important source of food has forced villagers to move into the coast line to form the new settlement. If you ask people from Radozda about the name of their village, you will hear many theories, but their favourite one is the one that the name comes from the local dialect that means - birth. And not by accident! If you “early bird”, on the opposite side where you see Ohrid in the distance. In the early morning hours just over Galicica the first sun rays begin to appear, and the lake receives a magical golden-yellow colour that suggests a new day! So take a break, while in Macedonia. Visit the beautiful village of Radozda and enjoy the amalgam of nature and hospitality. 37

Religious toursm. The cave church dedicated to the Leader of the Heavenly Forces, Archangel Michael was built in the natural caves high in the rocks in one of the most beautiful areas on the west coast of Lake Ohrid, above the village of Radozda. Saint Archangel Michael cave church got today’s architectural look in the 14th century when also it was decorated inside with fresco painting. Most of the discovered frescos originate from the 14th century But there is a known preserved composition of 13 century, which depicts "The Miracle in Hona" - painted in honour of the patron who is committed to the church. The little church is unique and from locals you will learn that at the time of the first and Second World War, the locals were hiding in the church and thus avoided the bombings, which were often due to village closeness to the Albanianborder.38

Cultural tourism Today festivals are considered to contribute significantly to the cultural and economic development wealth. The festivals have major impact on the development of cultural tourism to the host communities. The festival organisers are now using the historical and cultural themes to develop the annual events to attract visitors and creating cultural image in the host cities by holding festivals in the community settings.

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Struga Poetry Evenings (SPE) (Macedonian: Струшки вечери на поезијата, СВП; of Macedonian|tr.]] Struški večeri na poezijata, SVP) is an international poetry festival held annually in Struga, Macedonia. The festival consists of several events held at different locations:[citation needed] • Opening ceremony on the plateau in front of the Cultural Centre in Struga including a traditional reading of Tga za jug (Macedonian language: Т’га за југ, A Longing for The South) the famous nostalgic lyrical poem written by the Struga-born poet Konstantin Miladinovduring his life in Imperial Russia. • Meridijani (Меридијани, Meridians) a poetry reading by various international poets in the Cultural Centre following the opening ceremony. • Portret na Laureatot (Портрет на Лауреатот,Portrait of the Lauerate) an event devoted to the year's main award recipient traditionally held in the church of St. Sofia in the nearby city of Ohrid usually accompanied by classical music, opera or domestic or foreign ethnic music performance. • Noći bez interpukcija (Ноќи без интерпукција, Nights without Punctuation) multimedia artistic events featuring experimental forms of poetic presentations, which can also include other arts like music and video art. • Daily poetry picnic at Sveti Naum springs near the Ohrid Lake including Ethnic Macedonian music and dances. • Mostovi (Мостови, Bridges) the closing ceremony held at the Bridge of Poetry on the river Drim in Struga including poetry readings and the awarding ceremony. Other events include workshops, round-table discussions on various social topics and their influence on poetry, etc.

7.3 MUNICIPALITY OF VEVCANI

7.3.1 Attraction  Vevcani spring  Vevcani village  Via egnatia road  Vevcani carnevail  mt.jablanica  Podgorci lake,  Vevcani’s Loch  Smolejca

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 Starza  church St. Spas  Jankov Kamen

7.3.2 Expirience

 Mountain Biking  Mountain hiking  Paragliding  Hunting and fishing  Horseback riding

Vevcani's Springs The Springs of Vevcani are 900 m above sea level. In 1997 they were declared as the monument of nature.In 2012 they were redeclared as protected area - Nature’s monument with a total surface of 1370 ha. From the center of Vevcani to the Springs the road the whole 550 meters of it are asphalted and you can get there by foot for just 7 minutes. Vevcani’s springs are featured with rich biological diversity and they are one of the most visited places In North Macedonia from domestic and foreign tourists During evening hours you can visit the springs because they are lighted even there are lights under the water, which gives a special sight to the springs. The abundance of water that is coming out of the caves is a special attraction for the tourists. The whole place around the springs is adjust as a picnic area so that tourist can sit and enjoy themselves, there are even three little churches that are open for visit at any time and very much enjoyable. The area of the springs has informational boards where tourists can get to know the biological diversity better. The area of the inside of the springs is a combination from 7 smaller springs which are merging and make the flow of Vevcani's River. The water from the spring comes from an underground path that is 100 meters long and her height difference is 10 meters high. Throughout a long period of observation it is established that an average of 1500 l per second of water flow through the spring which part of it is used for drinking water and the some part for watering the fields. This beautiful abundance of water is bigger during spring time until June or July, and during this period of time there is a special beauty in the Springs.

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The local citizens use this sight not only for relaxing and vacation but also for religious purposes

- Excursion spots Jankov Kamen

This picnic area is on the mountain Jablanica on 1300m above sea level. At the sight itself there is an artificial lake that gives the area special beauty and a chance for recreational tourism. This area is visited on a daily bases by the local citizens as from the foreign tourists as well. There is a hunting cabin at the top of the area and the Municipality is taking care of it, but anyone can rent it and use it. From the center of Vevcani to this picnic area there are 4 kilometers of an asphalted road but there are several mountain trails that will take you to Jankov Kamen for 30 – 45 minutes. There is also a biking trail for all the mountain bickers. Starza is a hill above Vevcani and it is 1100m above the sea level. It is a place that gives a wonderful view to the municipality and beyond, and to all the mountain tops, recently there was a viewpoint built there. Smolejca Smolejca is a resting point on 1000m above sea level with a viewpoint. It is a beautiful spot for resting and it is on the road to the church St. Spas and Jankov Kamen, which gives a beautiful view to the surrounding nature and villages and the Ohrid Lake. Vevcani’s golina and Loch The area of Golina is on 1800-2227 m above the sea level on the mountain of Jablanica, above Vevcani and it represents a real basis for development of several kinds of rural tourism. The area is partly with forest glades, wide endemic vegetation and on top of it there is a Glacier lake called the Vevcani’s Loch. The Loch, together with the Sheepfold are in a place called Dupka and they are very much visited by people that are passionate mountain climbers and nature lovers especially for the summer religious holidays Petrovden and Pavlovden . To get to this area there are marked trails but a local guide is strongly recommended. Mountain trails For the nature lovers, for those who love sport and recreational mountain climbing and long walks in the nature there is a mountaineering – ecological society "Cern Kamen 2257" in Vevcani that recognizes the following routes : Name of the trail: Podgorci – Podgorci’s lake – Crn kamen – Vevcani’s loch – Vevcani Location – mountain: mountain Jablanica

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Starting point: Podgorci Difficulty of the route: hard Duration of the route: 9 -10 hours Length of the route: 18km Height difference: 1347m Altitude of starting point: 940m above sea level Highest point: 2257m above sea level Altitude at the top: 910m above sea level Views and landscapes: wonderful view of Vevcani, Ohrid Lake, Struga’s field, Drimkol’s region with the Globocica’s lake.

Name of the trail: Vevcani – Gorna Belica – Cumin vrv – Tri Silka – Visni - Location: mountain Jablanica Starting point: Vevcani Difficulty of the route: very hard Duration of the route: 10 – 12 hours Length of the route: 25,3 km Height difference: 1130 m Altitude of starting point: 910m above sea level Highest point: 2040m above sea level Altitude at the top: 1075m above sea level Views and landscapes: wonderful view of Gorna Belica, Ohrid Lake, Struga and Struga’s fields.

Name of the trail: Vevcani’s springs – Crven kladenec – Jankov kamen – Vevcanski izvori Location: mountain Jablanica Starting point: Vevcani Difficulty of the route: easy Duration of the route: 2 -3 hours Length of the route: 6,6 km Height difference: 434m Altitude of starting point: 910m above sea level Highest point: 1344m above sea level Altitude at the top: 910m above sea level

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Views and landscapes: beautiful landscapes along the river and the picnic area Jankov kamen Name of the trail: Vevcani – Vajtos – Sv. Kliment - Pisanik – Jankov kamen - Vevcani Location: mountain Jablanica Starting point: Vevcani Difficulty of the route: middle Duration of the route: 5 -6 hours Length of the route: 9,6 km Height difference: 547m Altitude of starting point: 910m above sea level Highest point: 1457m above sea level Altitude at the top: 910m above sea level Views and landscapes: wonderful view of Vevcani and Struga Name of the trail: Vevcani – Sv. Spas - Vevcani Location: mountain Jablanica Starting point: Vevcani Difficulty of the route: easy Duration of the route: 2 – 3 hours Length of the route: 5,8 km Height difference: 390m Altitude of starting point: 910m above sea level Highest point: 1300m above sea level Altitude at the top: 910m above sea level Views and landscapes: beautiful landscape of Vevcani, Ohrid lake, Struga’s field, upper Drimkol region with Globocica’s lake.

Horseback riding Horseback riding is a challenge, an exciting adventure and an experience to remember. Spending time with these noble, gracious and beautiful but non the less strong animals is pure joy. You can discover the natural beauty of mountain Jablanica throughout the offer of the horseback club "St. Spas" in several relations:  The picnic area Jankov Kamen that is 1200m above sea level  The monastery St. Spas that is 1330m above sea level

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 Upper Belica that is 1420m above sea level  Vevcani’s sheepfold that is 1900m above sea level There is a beginners training before the tour starts and a full equipment for every participant. The duration of the tour depends on the relation that you choose (3 – 6 hours) Enjoy the wonderful view, the fresh air, the clean fresh water and the beautiful colors of mountain Jablanica.

Hunting and fishing The hunting association "Crn Kamen" was founded in 2010 and it manages the hunting area "Drimkol 2". The hunting area is on the territory of mountain Jablanica in about 15150 ha. The right to hunt in the hunting area have only the members of the hunting association "Cern Kamen" and guest – hunters which get a daily permission to hunt whilst enjoying the natural beauty of the mountain and its surrounding. The hunting area offers the following wild animals: wild boar, doe, wolf, fox, wild goat etc. The hunting association manages hunting cabins for recreational purposes, some of the activities of the association is to build objects such as: feeding nests, cabins etc. Mountain Jablanica features with many beauties which this association is preserving and enriching them throughout many activities. The office of this association is inside the municipality’s building. In Vevcani’s river you can find the one of a kind river trout but since that area is under protection it is forbidden to fish. You are allowed to fish in the river Crn Drim that is only 5km away from Vevcani.

7.4 MUNICIPALITY OF DEBAR

7.4.1 Attraction  Debar spa – banjiste  Debar spa – kosovrasti  Rajcica monastery  Saint jovan bigorski monastery  Shpilje lake - debar lake  “Elen Skok” bridge, close to the village of Janche.  Galicnik village  Monastery of “St. Jovan Bigorski” – trunk road Skopje – Debar.  Monastery of “St. Gjorgi Pobedonosec”, the village of Rajchica.

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 “Inkjar mosque”, Debar.

7.4.2 Expirinece - Relax -Cultural tourism -Hiking -Folklore

Galichnik Wedding Festival - Travel through tradition The Galichnik Wedding Festival is an annual festival held in the Macedonian village of Galičnik near the city of Debar in which a selected couple gets married in the traditional "Galichka" style wedding. Traditionally the wedding lasted for 5 days with the main activities on St. Peter's Day (12 July) every year. It was the only period of the year when couples got married. Today it is part of the festival "Galichko Leto" (Galicnik Summer) and it is a two-day event held on the weekend nearest to 12 July and it serves as a cultural and tourist attraction. During the wedding, men dance the Teškoto, symbolizing the suffering of the Macedonian people through the centuries. Each year, couples from all over Macedonia enter a competition run by the organisers to be the couple that gets to have a "Galichka" style wedding. Every year, a new couple gets the opportunity.39

Folklore in Lararopole. The local population has been known for years through the love and gift for the songs and folk dances. They were valued as unsurpassed in the folk dance lead. In this context, we must mention the famous folk dance, Teshkoto, which, by its beauty and difficulty, is overwhelming. With this dance, the folklore groups that existed in Lazaropole received significant awards and recognitions in almost all manifestations of this type that were held. Particularly significant is the participation of the folklore group Langolen, which is considered to be the highest level. They say, if you see a young man that easily and rhythmically dances a Macedonian folk dance, you know that he is from the Miyak region.

7.5 Municipality of Mavrovo and Rostushe

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The ecological development component is of priority importance for the entire territory of the Protected Area, especially if we take into account the fact the municipality has low employment rate. The activity of the National Park facility has recently been turned to valorization at certain points of greater importance, concentrating its resources and interventions on these sights, avoiding dispersion. Hence, designated sites, such as: Safari Park in Bunec, Sharkova Dupka, waterfalls in Duf, the bridge Ellen Skok and some other tourist attractions, which are predisposed for organized and safe visits, are marked and enriched with informative and educational boards with the aim of special display, although potentially, the attractions which are worth being put in the "foreground" and more promoted, are much more. From the point of view of the touristic offer, the park is particularly suitable to be offered as a destination for excursions at different levels. Mountain peaks, although relatively high and more difficult to reach, are still challenge for specific target groups. On the other hand, the slopes and ridges are passable for climbing with a relatively small degree of difficulty. Macro relief features are with exceptional opportunities for mountain tourism development. It is the basis for differentiation mountain tourism as a special developmental form. The structure of the relief of the mountainous sides allows to determine hiking trails. Favorable terrain for such activities are the trails: Leunovo - Sandakhtash, Mavrovo - Chavkarnik, Mavrovo - Leunovo, Trnitsa - Medenica, Trnitsa - Sentze, Žirovnica - peak Korab, Rostuše - Adžievci, Trebište - Lake Lokufer, Lazoropole (circular path around the village through Yarovskaya Voda), Lazaropole - Gurepi, Rosoki - source of the Rosocka River and others.40 The development of caving tourism involves visiting only a limited number of caves that will be open to the audience, because of the list of Priority Habitat Types (priority types of natural habitats) of the Habitats Directive include caves that are not open to visit. In this sense, arranging the caves for tourist visits should be with a limited number, disjunctively distributed in the Park's area. Mavrovo Lake and the Radika River, represent the basis for the development of lake and river tourism. Although it is a lake that has an energy function, it can still be used for sports and recreational purposes. The Radika River can be the potential for developing rafting tourism and other water sports.

7.5.1 Attraction  National park Mavrovo  Village Leunovo  Mavrovo Lake

40 http://www.moepp.gov.mk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/study-mavrovo-final-7.pdf 117

 Museum of “Partisan Printing House”, the village of Bitushe  Museum of Old Stuff, the village of Selce.  Tourist Information Point of the Mavrovo National Park, the village of Mavrovi Anovi.  Duf waterfalls, above the village of Rostushe.  Sheep houses  Caves

7.5.2 Expirience

 Mountain Biking  Mountain hiking  Paragliding  Kayaking & Canoeing  Ski & Telemark  Snowshouing  Hunting and fishing  Sherpa Horse Riding  Free ride

Mountain tourism. The macrorelevant features are with exceptional development opportunities mountain tourism. It is the basis for differentiating mountain tourism as a separate one developmental form. The structure of the relief of the mountain sides allows to determine hiking trails. Favorable terrain for such activities are the trails: Leunovo - Sandakhtash, Mavrovo - Chavkarnik, Mavrovo - Leunovo, Trnitsa - Medenica, Trnitsa - Sence, Zivinitsa - Korab, Rostushe - Adzievci, Trebishte - Lake Lokufer, Lazropole (a circular path around the village through Yaorska Voda), Lazaropole-Gurepi, Rosoki-source of Rosočka Reka and others.41 Caving tourism. Caves in NP "Mavrovo" are common. They appear to be different places in the karstic relief, and most often in the level, or the sides of the river valleys. They formed

41 http://www.balkanhikingadventure.com/2015/12/19/bistra/

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them underground currents that move along the cracks, expanding them thus creating underground channels. There are 42 major and smaller cave channels down the Radika valley. Then in the source part, south of the inflow of the Adzina River, on both sides of the river valley, close to the Torbeshki Most locality 25 cave openings are , found and studied. By its length from 500 m stands out Simka cave. A number of caves can be seen in the valleys of the Tributaries of the Radika River. In the valley of the Tresonechka River, there are caves Gorna and Dolna Alilica, in the vicinity of Lazaropole the Kalina Dupka cave, and in the vicinity of Mavrovo, in the area Sharkova Krasta is the cave Margo (Sharkova Dupka). Cave Alilica is located in the central part of Mount Bistra, 4 km east of the village Tresonche, in the valley of the same river, in the immediate vicinity of the river bed of the right valley side. The Alilica cave system consists of the underground channels of Gorna and Dolna Alicia. Significantly, in this cave there is an underground watercourse that is encountered throughout length. The total length of the cave canals is 590 m. Winter sports tourism. The presence of the Ski Center in Mavrovo, the largest in the country, which is a strong element of attraction for the regional Balkan countries in the winter period, and has the highest the concentration of hotels on the territory, is one of the main foundations for the development of the NSA sports tourism. On the territory of the Park, the sports activity of the Alpine is already practiced at the Mavrovo site skiing, which attracts thousands of fans of this sport: because the winter tourist season has already been developed, the goal is to increase attendance, and to extend the time of the stay tourists. High fields, among which stand Tony Voda, in particular, because of its favourable position, between Mavrovo and Galichnik, represent natural amphitheatres in which they can be take place sporting activities, in an environmentally friendly way, in complete harmony with nature. But there are many other winter activities that, among other things, can practice them non- professionals. For example, a walk with snowshoes does not require a big one preparedness or ability, but it is a great pleasure. Besides, with a little technical knowledge, you can practice cross-country skiing at different lengths. Other activities are: excursion and mountaineering skiing, for the purpose of which the three main mountain complexes in the protected area is perfect. Lake and river tourism. Mavrovo Lake and the Radika River, represent the basis for the development of the lake and river tourism. Although it is a lake that has an energy function, it can still to be used for sports and recreational purposes. The Radika River may be the potential for development of the rafting tourism and other water sports.

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Tourist recreation zone. The following tourist recreational zones are identified: Tourist recreation zone Mavrovo Lake: • Area Mavrovi Anovi, Banec, Mavrovo with ski slopes, Leunovo, Nikiforovo with ski resorts terrains under Sandakhtash and Kichinitsa. Tourist recreation zone Radika: • Upper Radika area with the sites Reč and Adžina Reka. • The area of Dolna Radika and Mavrovska River with the sites of Trnitsa, the monastery St. John Bigorski, Janche and Galichnik. • Area of South Shara with localities of Black Kamen and Bogdevo. • Korab area with the sites of Tanushe, Ribnica, Zuzhne and ski fields under Golem Korab and Shiloft to Lukovo Pole. • The area of Deshat with localities Zirovnica and Bitushe. Tourist recreation zone Bistra. • The area of Lazaropole. • Area Selce, Rosoki, Tresonce. Tourist places and areas for shorter tourist visits and excursions: • Small and Large Korab Gate. • Kabash with Rossi Rimnits. • Canyon Guri Vran on the Deep River. • The canyon gorge Baric. • The gorge of the Middle and Lower Radika. • Shadow rocks. • Styrian Mountain. • Gorna Radika gorge. Tourist-Recreational Zones: Tourist-Recreational Zone Mavrovsko Ezero Lake The Mavrovsko Ezero Lake tourist-recreational zone encompasses the areas of: Mavrovi Anovi, Bunetz, Mavrovo ski terrains, Leunovo, Nikiforovo with the ski terrains Sandaktash and Kichinitsa. Tourist-Recreational Zone Radika The Upper Radika Area with the localities Rech and Adzina Reka River.The Lower Radika Area and Mavrovska Reka River with the locality Trnitsa, the Monastery Sveti Jovan Bigorski (St. John the Baptist) and the villages Janche and Galichnik.Southern Shar Planina Mountain Area with the localities Tsrn Kamen and Bogdevo.Korab Mountain Area with the villages

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Tanushe, Ribnitsa, Zhuzhnje, the ski terrains bellow Golem Korab and fromShilovert to Lukovo Pole.Deshat Mountain Area with the villages Zhirovnitsa and Bitushe. Tourist-Recreational Zone Bistra  Lazaropole Area.  Seltse, Rosoki and Tresonche Area.  Touristic Sites and Landscapes for short visits and excursions  Mala and Golema Korabska Vrata Passes.  Kabash with Rosi Rimnits.  The Canyon Guri Vran on the Dlaboka Reka River.  The Canyon Barich.  The Canyons at mid and lower flow of the Radika River.  Senechki Karpi Rocks.  Shtirovichka Planina Mountain.  The Upper Radika Canyon.42

Wildlife watching is simply an activity that involves the watching of wildlife. It is normally used to refer to the watching of animals, and this distinguishes wildlife watching from other forms of wildlife-based activities, such as hunting and fishing. Watching wildlife and animals is essentially an observational activity, although in some cases it can involve interactions with the animals being watched, such as touching or feeding them. Wildlife watching tourism is then tourism that is organised and undertaken in order to watch wildlife. This type of tourism has grown dramatically in recent years, and quick searches on the Internet provides many examples of tourism companies that either market specific wildlife watching tours, or promote their products by highlighting wildlife watching as an optional activity that their clients can enjoy. The tourism industry tends to use the term ‘wildlife tourism’ rather than wildlife watching tourism. In may cases, the two terms are identical, but wildlife tourism is sometimes also used to refer to hunting or fishing tourism, and in a few cases to the viewing of captive wildlife in zoos or confined parks where the animals no longer live a wild existence .

7.6 Municipality of Centar Zupa

7.6.1 Attraction

42 https://www.cms.int/sites/default/files/document/ScC14_Inf_08_Wildlife_Watching_E_0.pdf 121

 Mt. Stogovo  Sveti Grad or Skanderbeg’s fortress, the village of Kodzadzik.  Memorial House of the father of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the village of Kodzadzik.  Wedding tradition

7.6.2 Expiriences

 Hiking  Halal tourism  Spiritual expiriences

The rural municipality of Centar Župa, which is basically a migrant municipality since more than 50% of the population is migrant workers in Western European countries, and especially in the Republic of Italy, views its development in the development of rural tourism. The beautiful nature and beautiful villages give the opportunity to work the development of this type of tourism. After We see the development of the municipality in rural tourism. Here is the village of Kodzagik, from which comes the family of Kemal Mustafa Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey. In this village settlement, the project for the memorial house of the parents of Ataturk was born, who were born here in this village With the construction of the memorial house, many tourists and admirers of the work of the great Ataturk visit this place, which abounds with the wonderful nature that God has bestowed upon. This is certainly the fact that the Museum has been visited by more than seven thousand tourists, most of them from the Republic of Turkey, among them the Turkish ambassador to our country, Tulink Erkal Kara. Kodzagic is also known for its tower or Sveti-grad, an ancient Macedonian, Roman and medieval fortified settlement. It is located northwest of the village, on a large hill that has a dominant position over the spacious territory of Zupa, with the possibility of controlling communications in it. At the very top, which has steep rocks and a flat plateau, there are remains of a fortified settlement. The defensive wall of the castle is built of large stone blocks in a drywall. The biggest battle between the Ottoman army and the Skanderbeg army, which began on 14 May 1449, was the place where this happened. After the numerous defeats of the Ottoman Empire in Albania, Sultan Murat II decided to lead a huge army that would finally defeat Skenderbeg. The main goal of the Sultan was to conquer the fortress in Sveti-Grad.

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Skanderbeg tried to resist the Sultan, but on 31 July he was forced to give up the fortress of the Turks. Kojadzik is also known for its tower or Sveti-grad, ancient Macedonian, Roman and medieval fortified settlements. It is located northwest of the village, on a large hill that has a dominant position over the spacious territory of Zupa, with the possibility of controlling communications in it. At the very top, which has steep rocks and a flat plateau, there are remains of a fortified settlement. The defensive wall of the castle is built of large stone blocks in a drywall. The biggest battle between the Ottoman army and the Skanderbeg army, which began on 14 May 1449, was the place where this happened. After the numerous defeats of the Ottoman Empire in Albania, Sultan Murat II decided to lead a huge army that would finally defeat Skenderbeg. The main goal of the Sultan was to conquer the fortress in Sveti-Grad. Skanderbeg tried to resist the Sultan, but still on July 31 he was forced to retake the fortress of the Turks. Without the Debar Turkish village of Kogadzik-Turkey, there may have been no one .These are the words of the famous poet Ilhami Emin, who on one occasion, referring to his hasty opinion, pointed out that the Republic of Turkey is an eternal debt to Macedonia, which was given to us by the creator of the Republic of Turkey, the great world leader and man Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. 43 44Turkey is one of our most popular destinations and is a world-leader in halal-friendly tourism, offering an excellent range of accommodation. Turkey offers our greatest selection of halal- friendly beach resorts with separate swimming and sunbathing areas for men and women, halal food and non-alcoholic drinks. Becouse a lot of Muslim tourists especially from Turkey come in Centar Zupa – It is ideal to have halal tourism here45. Weddings in Zupa and neighboring areas are represented as the real attraction, and for visitors and tourists it can be an unforgettable experience. The musicians playing drums called “ tapan “ and wind instrument called “ zurli, “ are the creators of this atmosphere . The band “ Majovci “ from this region is one of the best bands “ tajfa” in Europe. The people here say that no celebration in Zupa is celebrated 32 without “ Majovci “. The instruments “ zurili “ and “tapani “ are creative intensive sound euphoria and are present in almost all rituals related to the wedding. Musicians are welcome with special ceremony when the wedding begin.46

43 https://whereismacedonia.org/mustafa-kemal-ataturk-memorial-museum-in-village-kodzadzik-in-municipality-centar- zupa/ 44 https://en.halalbooking.com/halal-holidays 45 http://npmavrovo.org.mk/?page_id=1086 http://www.skimavrovo.com/node/32

46 46 http://www.merkezjupa.gov.mk/documents/naslovna-stranica/Centar%20Zupa%20-%20WEB.pdf 123

Although relatively small in area and population, individual countries provide spectacular experiences on their own. Promoting the region, beyond the country-specific promotional activities that are typically undertaken by tourism programmes, further enhances the attractiveness of Balkan countries for tourists all over the world. Such regional integration broadens and deepens the economic development impact of individual countries and associated communities and revives cross-border relationships that suffered or were severed following the breakup of the former Yugoslavia Shtegu i Hinoskës (Trail of Hinoska) All those who are interested to take a walk on Hinoska Trail, currently arranged for those leaving from Tirana in a 3 days-tour with sleep-over in tents, must know that this a trail of a moderate difficulty which would take some 7 hours of mountain landscape walk to be completed. A stopover on the way might be done at Korabi Waterfall- a natural monument. Especially in August, Hinoska highland is quite rich in raspberry, blueberries, wild strawberries, along with a rich variety of other medicinal plants. Hinoska Trail has become part of a new product of adventure tourism also known as High Scardus Trail, which has an overall length of 495 km. It connects highlands of border area between Albania, Macedonia and Kosovo, thus constituting an important perspective for development of mountainous and cross- border tourism.47 In the recent years, through investments of local villagers but also through small grants from cross-border projects or other cooperation projects, some small accommodation facilities have been built in each of the villages part of the above trail, offering hospitality to visitors; this has provided tourists of visitors with an accommodation alternative in alpine areas like barns of Gramë, Hinoskë and Qarrishtë – Shebenik. There is still need to further support such initiative in terms of promotion and development of this trail initially designed by GIZ; a valid instrument might be joint promotion and marketing of tourism operators from all three countries, which is believed to bring about an undisputable success.48 Rafting in Dibra Rivers Nature has been quire generous with Dibra region. Another interesting activity for visiting tourists is represented by exploring of rivers and canyons created by the flow along their

47 http://radiotravel.al/high-scardus-trail-projekti-qe-promovon-malet-e-trojeve-shqiptare/ http://www.gazeta55.al/aktualitet/item/186956-dibra-tjeter-ajo-e-turizmit~imgId-0

48 http://www.monitor.al/high-scardus-trail-nje-produkt-ri-turistik-perspektive-per-te-rinjte/

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way.Black Drin and its tributaries cover a large surface, yet almost unknown so far for rafting experiences. Black Drin and its tributaries constitutes the longest river flow in Albania getting across a territory of 1569 km2with an overall length of 179 km of linear length.Black Drin enters Albania in Gjorica area and flows up to Fierza Lake for 57 km. Black Drin offers an abundant river flow both in winter and summer season which enables practicing of many water sports, individual and collective, canoeing with single canoes or with boats of medium and large sizes.49

Figure 54.Rafting at Black Drim

Journey through Black Drin may start at Topojani Bridge, at the river delta of New Katund, at the strait of Muhurr where it encounters Murra, at the delta of Fushë Çidhna where it meets Seta of Grama Brook at its meetings with Veleshica waters up to Skavica…All along its flow Drini river would touch ancient ruins of Grazhdani castle, Historical Tower of Murre in Hotesh, towers of Dine Hoxha in Muhurr, Sina as the place which gave birth to Kastriots, touches the Field of Kastriot and of Fushë-Çidhna where the Battle of Torviolli took place; this battles was the first among 19 victorious battles of Gjergj of Gjon Dibrani ottoman invaders; the flow would continue to the foundation of Zallë-Dardhë which is the cradle of folk Dibra songs; after, the flow would stretch narrowly between mountains of Reçi and Kalisi, which seen from far, gives the impression of a distance which could be bridged “in a single step”. Along Black Drin River bed, some investments have been made to develop river tourism; some of them worth to mention are: coffee shops, restaurants, sport facilities in some rural areas such as Potgorcë, Topojan, Gradec, Selane, Katund i Ri, Muhurr, Fushë Alie, Reç etc. Given the vicinity of these areas with other inhabited area, together with Peshkopia town, there has been an increasing trend and number of visitors attracted by river tourism or alternative forms of holidays.

49 http://dibraexpress.com/potenciali-turistik-lugines-se-drinit-te-zi/

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Black Drin and its tributaries host also a large number of fish species. This biological asset would help fishing fans to come and practice their passion. Fishing activity would be possible to practice all along the river flow. The Brook of Seta, originates from Lura Mountain, providing 19 villages with potable water along with 4 irrigation channels. Part of it is also Saponika waterfall, a nature monument of third rate, which is protected area (no constructions are allowed on it); nevertheless, this natural beauty is endangered from the construction of the fourth HEC in the area. 50 Seta has a spectacular source in Gurë-Lurë, and all along its length of 13 km up to uniting with Drin River in Arras, is the river where the daring raft practitioners might decide to adventure through a narrow canyon, so narrow that tops seem to meet…One local declared that Seta canyon, on its water flow, no one has dared to come across. Waterfalls in natural steep sides, vortexes and what locals would call “black holes”, are pretty scary and prevent many from trying to get through. If nobody has dared so far to challenge the water

Figure 55. Saponika waterfall flow, up at the ravine the Dibra masters of irrigation ways, have written heroic pages which stuns and surprises anyone who listens to these stories. Seta, represents perhaps the biggest challenge for rafting practitioners such challenge is renewed every spring where water flow is at its natural maximum, yet to feed irrigation channels. Veleshica (15 kilometers), which fills its flow from Korabi sources, is also the best combination of mountain tourism, with rafting through canyons which change shape continuously before reaching Zall-Kalis and unite with Black Drin waters. Murra (19 kilometers), which gushes from mountain of Katër Grykëve të Murrës, especially from sources of Shtrunga, where there is a chain of lakes, beautiful and little visited, has a consistent flow, which mainly after Lunara, offers opportunities to practice river sports through a stunning landscape. Zalli i Zerqanit (29 kilometers) together with Okshtuni (34 kilometers) with sources originating respectively from Vajkal of Bulqiza and Prodan of Golloborda, are touristic water trails which are also related to war resistance and popular folk culture. An old song would say that

50 https://ndertimi.info/hec-et-rrezikojne-kanionet-e-setes/

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Hajredin Pasha, a Turkish leader, at the river delta where Gjorica meets Drini River, “Perished nothing less than twelve thousand…”) Molla (18 kilometers), takes waters from Kunorë e Lurës, lakes whose name and history has gone from generation to another, descending in a magnificent landscape towards villages of Krej-Lura, Arrmolla, Gjurë Reçi, and finally meet Black Drin waters.51 Peshkopia spa Since many years, Dibra has become a destination for those suffering chronic diseases benefitting from healing effects of Dibra spa. Peshkopia spa, has sources of thermo-mining sulphidric waters, otherwise known as ‘The baths”. These sources have priceless curing and yet again touristic values. Spa is situated in Peshkopia town, in its eastern part. The curing facility of thermal waters of Peshkopia, has 44 individual cabins together with some therapeutical cabinets, which include treatment based on sulphuric mud, physiotherapy and aerosalterapy.

8. BENEFITS OF TOURISM FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES: 52

1. Sustainable income - Tourism can provide employment directly to residents, or can fund local activities through dissemination of revenue via the MPA. Revenue may come from the same sources listed previously - access fees, concessions in the MPA, etc. - and also from tourist spending outside of the MPA, such as for lodging, food and handicrafts. However, it is important that the community not become over-dependent on tourism. Overdependence can erode cultural values and will make the community vulnerable to fluctuations in tourism demand. In addition, local residents should not be led to expect unrealistic levels of employment. Sustainable tourism will generally not be an economic bonanza for an entire community, but will simply generate some jobs for a portion of the community. Many of these jobs will be part-time or seasonal. 2. Improved local services - New income from within or outside the MPA can also improve health and education services. In addition to a general increase in funding across the whole

51 http://www.bulevardionline.com/rafting-lumenjve-te-dibres-qe-sbezajne/#

52 https://nmssanctuaries.blob.core.windows.net/sanctuaries- prod/media/archive/management/pdfs/Day5_H2_BenefitsThreats.pdf 127

community, sustainable tourism activities also can be planned to fund specific local projects, such as building a new health clinic, or funding an ongoing school program. 3. Cultural empowerment and cultural exchange - Tourists enjoy meeting local people and learning from traditional cultures. Community participation adds considerable value to a sustainable tourism program, and at the same time, traditional communities often feel greater self-esteem as a result of respectful interest shown by outsiders. However, the success of such visits depends on local residents being in control of the process and the situation. Language skills will also be essential to this endeavor. 4. Local community awareness of conservation - It is common for people to not fully appreciate their surroundings, and to take what they have for granted. Often, it is outsiders who take a fresh look and add value to our resources. Although rural residents who have grown up among spectacular coastal areas generally understand the intricacies and value its role in their lives, many have little idea of the global importance of their natural and cultural resources until the arrival of international nature tourists, who are often highly enthusiastic about the local areas and communities. As a result, local communities may feel a sense of growing appreciation and pride, which often increases local conservation efforts. Many residents become motivated to protect their areas and may change their pattern of resource use. For example, litter on beaches may be cleaned up, and water quality better managed.

Best practices specific to the tourism sector The following 5 best practices have been analysed and classified from the oldest to the most recent: • Hotel Biodiversity Operational Guidelines "Biodiversity: My hotel in action": Jointly with Accor, one of the leading hotel companies in the world, IUCN has explored the contribution that hotels can make to conservation and enhancement of biodiversity through their day-to-day operations.53 • Wildlife Watching and Tourism. UNEP/CMS: A study on the benefits and risks of wildlife watching - a fast-growing tourism activity - and its impacts on species was released in 2006. • CBD Guidelines on Biodiversity and Tourism Development and user’s manual: Published by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 2003, it provides international guidelines for activities related to sustainable tourism development in vulnerable terrestrial, marine and

53 http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/iucn_hotel_guide_final.pdf 128

coastal ecosystems and habitats of major importance for biological diversity and protected areas, including fragile riparian and mountain ecosystems. • Tourism and biodiversity - Mapping Tourism's global footprint: This UNEP publication published in 2003 shows the link between biodiversity hotspots and tourism, both in terms of threats and opportunities. • Linking Communities, Tourism & Conservation: A Tourism Assessment Process. Conservation International: Conservation International presents one of the topics addressed during its participatory workshops. It has been designed for field practitioners to perform a rapid assessment and analysis of tourism potential in a destination. It was published in 2005.

9. CONDUCTING RESEARCH IN CBC –NORTH MACEDONIA AND ALBANIA

9.1. Results from the survey conducted in Municipalities of Ohrid, Struga,Vevcani,Centar Zupa,Debar and Mavrovo and Rostushe

In the period from July-October 2018 a survey was conducted in the Municipalities of Ohrid,Struga,Vevcani,Centar Zupa,Debar and Mavrovo and Rostushe, Klos,Bulquize,Mat and Diber aiming at gathering a relevant information for the Study of cultural and natural heritage in CBC - Macedonia and Albania. Respondents noted that the questions address tourism at both cultural and natural sites. While respondents experience poses different issues depending on whether a site is cultural or natural, the two types of sites have many concerns in common, including setting goals and objectives, working with stakeholders, dealing with issues of carrying capacity, and interpretation and promotional activities. Moreover, these sites, though listed as either natural or cultural, protect both types of resources. In addition to the demographic issues related to the place of residence, age and level of education of the respondents, religious affiliation, the survey also included questions through which we wanted to determine the state of the cultural and natural heritage, the knowledge of the respondents and the availability of it, to identify cultural differences as well as to analyze the natural potentials for tourism development in a cross-border context. Respondents were also asked to rate the natural/cultural tourist values of the Municipality where they live, more precisely to rate which one is the most pronounces and which one is irrelevant .It was interesting that they were asked what type of tourism corresponds to the natural potentials of the Municipality were they live /visit, and most of them answered that they

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prefer alternative tourism (tourism taking place in rural areas, showing the tradition of local cultural communities and not endangering the environment). In the part of the survey, there were questions through which we wanted to assess the current condition of the natural/cultural heritage potential that may be a factor for tourism development. There were questions to prioritize the actions to be taken to establish sustainable tourism in the cross-border region, whether its conservation and protection of natural resources, Improved social environment establishment of a mechanism for the use of modern communication, establishment of a mechanism for the use of modern communication etc. The results we received from the conducted research with a full description are given below. The survey was answered by 374 respondents, residents of the Municipalities of Ohrid,Struga,Vevcani,Centar Zupa,Debar and Mavrovo and Rostushe.The results are represented by a graph/pie . For developing tourism it is very important, local people to have solid knowledge of their local/national heritage. The international tourist expects to find someone who is knowledgeable, polite, respectful, fluent in the tourist’s language or English, and eager to help. For that reason it was decided firstly to assess the current knowledge i.e. the first question was about the people knowledge of the existence of natural and / or cultural heritage in the Municipality were they live/visit. As it is shown on fig.61, almost 90% (85.83%) answered that they are familiar with this even half of them (184 respondents) give an example. As it was expected “Ohrid Lake” dominates as example of natural heritage of the region, while as an example monasteries St.Naum, St.Sofija,St.Jovan Bigorski were the most numerous.

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Figure 56. Respondent’s knowledge of natural/cultural heritage

After that the respondents were asked what they thought were the main attractions in order to develop tourism (fig.62). In other words, the most desirable choice of the respondent (ranked # 5) has the highest weight, and their most irrelevant (which ranks at the last position) has a weight of 1. According to response “Hydrographic tourist values (glacial lakes, natural lake, artificial lakes, rivers, large springs and mineral springs)” are the most pronounce natural tourist values, while “Geomorphological tourist values (different relief forms)” are mostly irrelevant.

Figure 57.Respondent’s rates of natural tourist values

The same was made for cultural tourist values (fig.63). According to response, “Religious temples” are the most pronounce cultural tourist values, while “Manifestation tourist values (cultural-artistic, entertainment, sports, political and scientific gatherings and economic events)” are mostly irrelevant.

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Figure 58.Respondent’s rates of cultural tourist values One of the aims of this survey was to discover the natural/cultural attractions of the region. Therefore, a question was formulated with the offered answers where the respondents marked the best attractions of their municipality.

This region of MacedoniaFigure is of 59.Respondent’s mountainous rates nature of natural (as touristbig perce attractionsnt of the total surface are mountainous and semi-mountainous areas) so this fact is reflected in the response of question number 5 given in fig.64. The majority of respondents to this section consider that “Organized mountaineering” to be potentially best natural attraction of their municipality (25%). For some of them (21%), the “Collecting mushrooms and medicinal aromatic plants” represents an important natural attraction too. As the last developed natural attraction of the region, 7% of the respondents thinks that it is “Photo safari”.

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Figure 60.Respondent’s rates of cultural tourist attractions

The respondents satisfaction on cultural attractions was measured too. The higher level of satisfaction was found in “ethno festivals” (22%) where as lower level (6%) was found in the “Organized tours by archaeological sites”. It is presented in figure 65 . A separate question was asked for the respondents about what type of tourism correspondents to the natural potentials of the municipality. The majority of respondents (69% ) said that “alternative tourism (tourism taking place in rural areas, showing the tradition of local cultural communities and not endangering the environment)” is more suitable for their municipality, while 31% said that mass tourism is better.

Figure 61.Respondent’s preference of type of tourism

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This is good fact, because alternative tourism is becoming an increasingly important part of the global tourism market and statistics show that people are losing interest in vacation packages, preferring to fill their holidays with various unconventional activities instead(fig .66).Local people should be involved in safeguarding natural and cultural heritage in tourist hotspots. According to the manual by the UN Environment Programme, local management of wildlife and nature is the best way to protect sensitive, biodiversity-rich areas from tourism. Local people should be involved in monitoring biodiversity impact, as they are often the first to know if tourism harms wildlife. Fo that reason respondents were asked to state if the natura/ culture are wel protected. The majority of respondents, nearly 59% declaimed that natural resources and historical monuments and archeological sites are well protected, while 41% stated that they aren’t (fig.67 and 68) .Оne of the objectives of this survey was to find out how much information is available. Media are rapidly changing and growing. When well-managed, they are useful, low-cost mechanisms for the destination to distribute important messages to targeted audiences as well as engage and raise awareness of the destination among larger audiences. However, a lack of strategic thinking about social media can drain resources discourage ongoing participation with future members and audiences.

Figure 62.Respondent’s thinking of level of protection of Figure 63. Respondent’s thinking of level archeological sites protection of natural resources

The majority of survey respondents (63%) state that “there is inconsistent and poor maintenance of websites and information such as directions to specific attractions, working hours or entry tickets”, (fig.69)as well as more sophisticated online tools such as event calendars, scheduler / route generators, etc . While 37% of respondents admit that “web sites work great and natural resources and cultural and historical landmarks are appropriately represented.” (fig.70)

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Figure 64. Respondent’s thinking of availability of information on Internet about natural and cultural heritage

Despite being reserved, protected, and authentic it is important that cultural and historical monuments, monuments of nature, nature reserves and national park are accessible. According to is 65% of respondents it is stated that “cultural and historical monuments are easily accessible, only maintenance of the road to them and information boards is necessary” (fig.71). Nearly the same results are for monuments of nature, nature reserves and national park 64-% stated that they are easily accessible, while 36% that they are difficult to access.

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Figure 65.Respondent’s thinking of accessibility of natural heritage

Figure 66. Respondent’s thinking of accessibility of cultural heritage

Figure 67.Respondent’s thinking of management status of natural/cultural heritage

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It was very important to assess weather cultural and natural heritage site that attract more tourist are well managed. According to the results shown on fig.14, 84,86% stated that they are well managed (they agreed). Culture determines human behaviour and shows differences on how people do things and receive world. People are not consciously aware of their culture before they come across foreign culture. Foreign culture set situations where people feel uncomfortable which helps them to understand cultural differences. Elements generating cultural differences are such as language, religion and economics (Reisinger & Turner, 2003).54 The greater the differences between economic, cultural and social factors are between tourists and local people, the more likely the relationship will be more unequal and less balanced. Difficulty in relationship between host and guest is usually arisen from the lack of knowledge, understanding or sensitivity from tourists' side to local culture and customs (Sharpley, 1999).

ConflictsFigure 68.Respondent’s between cultures thinking happe of culturaln at the differences interpersonal between localand citizensstructural and tourist level even when tourists are hedonistic sun seeker in their environmental bubble. Conflicts are created from cultural differences that lead to differences in interactional behaviors and misunderstandings in interpretation (Reisinger & Turner, 2003).Tourists bring their own customs and habits to the destination and rarely are aware of the cultural shock they cause for the locals. Especially in poorer countries the image of Western tourists can be based on unreal tv-shows which cause expectations to be too high and result to bitterness (Dluzewska, 2008)As there are different

54 54 http://www.travel-conference.co.uk/commentries.php?paper=58 137

cultures the expectations and meanings of rules also differ across cultures. Rules that are accepted in one culture may not be in another culture. This can cause to misunderstandings and misinterpreting of the rules in other culture. This often leads to difficulties in interaction with hosts, create confusion and generate tension and conflicts. Breaking the rules in the destination is common amongst tourists either because they ignore them or they are unaware of them (Reisinger & Turner, 2003: 139). For that reason we decided to have question for cultural differences.

Figure 69.Respondent’s knowledge of natural heritage of Albania “Language barriers“have emerged the biggest obstacles.According to a the survey (fig.74) about two-thirds (61,13% ) of the respondents answers that. About 41,29 percent of respondents admitted that “Cultural differences due to different manner of entertainment, dressing, sexual orientation” are big problem, while 16,09 percent stated that there are misunderstandings due to different religions. In order to connect the tourist attractions between two countries in one tour, first it was needed to understand what the current condition is. According to the results 83% of respondents “haven’t heard about natural and cultural heritage of Albania” and “haven’t been on tour that connects Macedonia and Albania”, while 17% have heard and experienced this cross-border tourism and as an example they gived : tour from St. Naum, Bigorski to Podgradec, Tusemiste, Korcha, Moskopole, Buchise Ksamil, Durres; tour from Vevcani-Crn Kamen to Jablanica and Ohrid to Korcha (fig.75 and 76).

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Figure 70.Respondent’s experience of cross border tour

Generally, the heritage of a region consists of its physical natural and cultural environment, its natural phenomena and its cultural traditions and immaterial cultural goods. Heritage is always affiliated with a region and/or a society (or a part of a society) and it is based on the region's history. It has its origin in the past; it has been passed over from one generation to the next and maintained until the present. Cultural heritage is directly related to the region's and society's history and also natural heritage has its roots in the past. Nature as it looks at present has been formed by former vegetation and wildlife and underwent constant development and changing through geological and hydrological processes, evolution and human influence. The natural and cultural heritage of a region is the main motivation for a tourist’s visit, this is especially the case for cultural or nature tourism, or provides at least an important complementary offer for other types of tourism, e.g. congress tourism, recreation and sports tourism. The outstanding natural and cultural features of a region are those which make a place "special" - and worth a visit. For that reason it was decided to make an assessment of the current condition of natural and cultural potential that may be factor for tourism development. The respondents were asked to rate.In other words, the most desirable choice of the respondent (ranked # 5) has the highest weight, and their most irrelevant (which ranks at the last position) has a weight of 1. According to response worst rate #1 was given to the “Placed blue flag on the beaches that meet the eco criteria “ (37,74%), while the most pronounce natural tourist potential are “Underwater activities” 34,58% (fig.76).

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“Management staff of public enterprise’s for cultural heritage” wast rated as #1( 14,48%) , while 38,61% of respondents give #5 to “Religious architecture - churches, monasteries and mosques.” (fig.77).

Figure 71.Respondent’s assessment of current condition of natural heritage

Figure 72.Respondent’s assessment of current condition of cultural heritage The main priorities for having a sustainable development regarding the tourism concept means: promoting the concept and development of tourism for the support of nature cultural conservation, ,promoting the ecotourism concept and principles at the local, regional and national, promoting ecotourism as a tool for nature and cultural conservation, promoting the natural and traditional values that respect natural and cultural heritage , as tourism attract and involves local communities in tourism services and infrastructure development, promoting the ecotourism as a tool to generate income for local communities, encouraging tour operators to use local resources, developing and maintaining a quality service system in ecotourism.

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According to survey results (fig.78) priority for respondents is “Conservation and protection of natural resources (beaches, protected areas, forests, diverse and unique flora and fauna)” while “enhanced cultural and nightlife (festivals, concerts, exhibitions) “ is the last.

Figure 73. Respondent's thinking of priorities Age is one of the factors which influence tourism. The participation of the different age-groups is an important factor that promotes tourism. Of the total 374 respondents covered in the survey, a large section of the tourists (43.6%) belonged to the 25-35 age groups. The age group below 25 accounted for 25.2 percent. These two age-groups accounted for 68.8% of the total tourists surveyed. This information is an indication that majority of those who like ecotourism belonged to the below 35 age-group. Planners who are involved in promoting ecotourism must take this fact into consideration. The age-composition of the tourists who were covered in the survey is shown in fig 79.

Figure 74.Respondent's age

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It is commonly believed that gender has a major role in the movement of people. This can be true with respect to tourism also. To test this, the gender has been analysed. Gender structure of the respondents reveals that out of the 374 respondents covered in the survey, 201 were male (54%) and, 172 female (46%).The same information is presented in fig.80.

Figure 75. Respondent's gender Figure 81 shows that respondents are normally highly educated. The table shows that 49,95% of the respondents covered in the survey are high degree holders, 7,57 percent post- graduate degree holders, 1,35 percent doctorate degree holders. Despite that there are 33,51% who have finished only secondary school or 11,62% only primary school.

Figure 76.Respondent's level of education

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Occupation is the most important factor for earning money and for human well-being. Tourism also depends on the earning members and the size of earning. From the data presented in fig.23, it can be observed that only 54,01 percent of the respondents covered in the survey are employed. Of the374 respondents covered in the survey, 33 were self-employees (8,82%), 31 are still studying and 26 are retired (16.4%). From the survey it can be inferred that respondents are generally well employedBut it must be said that there is big percent of unemployed persons or 20,05%. The same information is presented in figure 82.

Figure 77.Respondent's employment status

Figure 78.Respondent's religion affiliation

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Among all respondents (fig.83) 49,86% were Muslim, 46,34% Christian, 0,27 Catolics, 1,08% belonged to other religious, and 2,44% had no religious affiliation (atheist). This is coneccted to the results presented in fig.26,where it could be seen that majority of respondents are from od Struga which is Muslim dominant Municipality (according to the 2002 census in 67,6% are muslims )

Figure 79.Respondent's place where they live As it was stressed before when respondents were analyzed by Municipality, it appears that majority of them are from Struga (31,37%),Ohrid (18,50%),Mavrovo-Rostushe (15,82%), Centar Zupa 13,94%,Debar 11,26% and the last respondents were from Vevcani (9,12%) (fig.84). COMMENTS

 Cleaning the mountains of garbage, protecting the lake coast, involving NGOs and more frequent actions  To invest more in tourism to attract foreigners  More advertisement for National Park Mavrovo for attracting tourists  More promoting to develop tourism  More advertising and research  To punish the perpetrator and to reward the person who declares the destruction of biodiversity. Only this way will protect the National Park Mavrovo

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 More employees ecologists and tourist guides  More on signs of the natural treasures and paths to them  More ecotourism projects  To invest more in the planning  Subsidizing for research from an environmental point of view  More projects  As much as possible to explore the National Park Mavrovo by environmentalists  More advertising of natural wealth for attracting tourists  Raising awareness for nature conservation  Severe penalties for cutting and igniting forests and hunters  More to be financed to maintain the natural heritage  More to protect the endangered species  More labeling and advertising of natural resources, making public awareness projects and training  More signs and posters of the natural treasures  More promotion of this region  More investment in this region because it is being destroyed more and more from day to day  A reward for the one who reports the destruction of flora and fauna  Education of biodiversity and its value must be carried out  Multiple companies, mountaineering and eco-companies must be registered  More to invest in research in this region  More to subsidize tourism and ecology  Something about cleanliness of the region must be taken  More to be financed in tourism  Whoever reported the crime to the natural treasures to be rewarded  There should be penalties for dumped garbage  A prize for anyone who reports the destruction of biodiversity. So everyone will benefit and nobody will destroy it  Lectures on natural resources are needed

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 Acting on all competent inspectorates for all illegal activities that took place along the lake coast, as well as keeping to what is left of the old Struga architecture  Implementation of the legal obligations of the institutions of the system, respecting the law, raising the awareness of the population about the significant natural and cultural heritage (that is their wealth and the generations that follow). Struga is forgotten by all institutions, domestic and foreign  The region has localities from prehistoric times to modern architecture and part of contemporary art; rarity is cave churches for which there is no sufficient affirmation, and we have more than two, as well as for other religious buildings. I will emphasis the Turkish amam that is not in use and is endangered, and is one of the few monuments of that type of remains on this territory  The questions are not for the target group  Urgent action for cleaning the garbage of the beaches, especially in the part of Eurohotel-Struga, as well as the whole of the countryside  Installation of garbage collection bins, bigger measures for the protection of the environment, the lake, the mountains, natural treasures, etc.  Inclusion of NGOs working in this field and more frequent actions  The questionnaire tends to highlight the prosperity in my environment, and at the same time, too much attention is focused on the issues of deficiencies  there are not many cultural and historical monuments in the municipality  Massively organize sporting events, marathons, mountain tours, tours with boats where the tourists themselves will roam, express sports, rock climbing, more sport for good youth and normal fun. As a cultural difference between the local and the tourists is the existence of stereotypes in the population, unfriendly and not "open mind"  I do not know what is unique biodiversity and Blue Flag

9.2. Results from the survey conducted in Municipalities Mat, Klos, Bulqize and Diber

This group is composed of representatives from tourism offices in municipalities of Mat, Klos, Bulqize and Diber, together with representatives of local associations of different dimensions

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in the tourism field. 10 questionnaires were distributed, each of them containing 15 questions, some of them designed as multiple choice:

Question 1: What is the name of the institution / organization in which you work Questionnaires addressed municipality representatives responsible for tourism as well as of associations operating in respective municipalities. Responses indicate that, apart from “Touristic Dibra: Association, the other ones are not focused only on tourism. The other associations operate on local and regional level not dealing directly with tourism activities (table 8). Table 7: Associations and municipalities covered by the study

Municipalities Municipality Diber

Municipality Klos

Municipality Bulqize

Municipality Mat

Associations “Diber” Association

“Touristic Dibra” Association

“Beekeepers Association” Bulqize

Education Office, Klos

“Greening Association”, Suc, Klos

“Women Forum”, Burrel

Question 2: Which is your position in the Municipality/Organization Representatives of municipalities were mainly specialists of tourism offices, whereas associations were represented by their chairmen. The composition of this stakeholders’ group was as follows: 40% of them were heads of local associations, while the rest were representatives of municipalities dealing with tourism.

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The turist specilaist 1 Resources human specialist in… 1

1 The library inspector The art specialist and cultural… 1

Executive director of organization 4

Director of turistic information Diber 1

Coordinator of european project in… 1

01234

Figure 80: Result of question: Which is your position in the Municipality/Organization

Question 3: Do you think that the protection of natural resources, cultural heritage and development of tourism in the border region can be compatible?

The majority of the respondents (90%) declare that there must be an accordance of tourism development in both regions of Albania and Macedonia. As shown in the chart, there is a dominating idea that protection of resources in both countries, might be possible thanks to a coordinated cross-border cooperation. Only 10% of them remains skeptical in this fact. .

10%

I agree I don't agree I don't know 90%

Figure 81.Result of question: Do you think that the protection of natural resources, cultural heritage and development of tourism in the border region can be compatible?

Question 4: Do you think that well-managed tourist attractions attract more tourists?

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100 % of the interviewees are of the opinion that e better tourism management and organization, would attract more tourism in the area. This represents a basis to start developing a coordinated development of sustainable tourism in the project area.

0% 0%

I agree I don't agree I don't know 100%

Figue 82: Results of question: Do you think that well-managed tourist attractions attract more tourists?

Question 5: Do you think that the community will benefit from the development of sustainable tourism?

As indicated by the Chart No. 4, 100% of those interviewed among tourism responsible people in the municipalities and association representatives, believe that developing a sustainable tourism would be beneficial for the area’s communities.

I agree I don't agree I don't know 100%

Figure 83.Result of question: Do you think that the community will benefit from the development of sustainable tourism?

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Question 6: Assess how effective policies and activities are for preserving and promoting natural and cultural heritage in the direction of sustainable tourism

Regarding the use of natural and cultural heritage, some 50% of people interviewed believe that national Tourism Strategy needs improvement, whereas 30% of them believe that there is need for emergency interventions due to poor quality. 40% of interviewees believe that development of sustainable tourism is done on a satisfactory manner by National Parks, while 30% of them think that thare is need for immediate interventions. Again, 40% of them maintain that tourism is planned properly in protected regions and Parks with heritage assets, whereas 305 believe there is need for urgent interventions in these protected areas. 70 % of people interviewed, think that homogenous touristic destinations in their administrative units are properly defined, and only 20% believe that there is need for partial improvement.. 40% of the group believe that influence of tourism in the environment is statisfactory, while 30% say there is room for specific improvement. Only 40% of those interviwed admit that there are tourism products/services, well-managed and connected to cultural and natural heritage in the region. (Tab.9).

Table 8: Results of Question 6: Assesment of effectiveness of policies and activities for protection of natural and cultural heritage

Area of Improvem May Appears to be Area of No particular ent benefit satisfactory – apparent information need/oppo required – from some maintain strength – available to rtunity – should improveme may provide answer the highest also be nt – but an example question priority considere less current to others /This could for d for need for not be action/inte interventi interventio assessed rvention on/support n Do the priorities of the National 30% 50% 10% 10 Strategy for Tourism and Regional Development Strategy cover optimal use of natural and cultural heritage in function of tourism growth?

Is sustainable tourism being part of the 30% 20% 10% 40% National parks management plans?

Is tourism being effectively planned 30% 10% 10% 40% 10% and managed in National parks and other natural and cultural heritage areas and sites?

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Are homogeneous tourist destinations 10% 20% 70% / regions comprised of several municipalities grouped around natural resources (eg Ohrid Lake, Mavrovo) being defined in the region?

Is tourism included in specific 20% 10% 30% 40% policies and actions to plan and protect the Ohrid Lake coastal zone?

Is there a well-established tourism 30% 10% 40% 10% 10% product/offer related to natural heritage in the country?

Question 7: Assess the extent to which tourism development respects sustainability

Concerning the definition of development level, some 50% of people interviewed maintain that there is need for further improvement while another 30% believe that when preparing local ecological plans, limitations for a sustainable use were not taken into account. The issue of the conflict between development and preservation of physical parameters of water, earth and air, the interviewees were divided in 3 equally respkonding groups of 30% each: a) there is need for immediate interventions, b) there is need for interventions and further improvement, and c) current situation is satisfactory. With regard to land exploitation related to individual tourism development, 305 responded not to have information on the point, whereas 20% believe on the need for improvement and a final 20% are happy with the current situation. 30% of the interviewees admit that when developing tourism, recommandations from Strategic Evaluation Reports and Standards for Protection of Living Environment are not implemented effectively; 20% of them say there is need for further improvement. Some 70% of people believe that economic instruments must be used to stimulate sustainability of tourism in the region while 10% have no information on their use. Yet, 30% of peoplewhen asked about protection or threats on natural resourses because of tourism development, say that this is a field where all requirements are implemented, against 20% which believe that no criteria are respected and there is need for interventions.

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Table 9.Results of question: Assess the extent to which tourism development respects sustainability

Area of Improvement May Appears Area of No particul required – benefit to be appare informat ar should also from satisfacto nt ion need/op be considered some ry – strengt available portunit for improve maintain h – may to y – intervention/s ment – provide answer highest upport but less an the priority current exampl question for need for e to /This action/in interventi others could not terventio on be n assessed Are sustainability issues, including 30% 50% 10% resource constraints, taken into account in municipalities Local Environmental Action Plans?

In general, is there considered to be a 30% 10% 30% 30% problem with the tourism growth and condition of the environmental mediums (water,air,soil)?

Are individual tourism developments 20% 20% 20% 10% 30% controlled by effective land use planning processes?

Are recommendations from Strategic 30% 20% 20% 10% 20% Environmental Assessment and Reports for environmental protection effectively applied to tourism developments?

Are economic instruments used to 10% 70% 10% 10% influence the sustainability of tourism developments?

Overall, are the country’s natural 20% 10% 10% 20% 30% 10% resources supported by tourism or threatened by it?

Question 8: Assess the extent to which tourism operations meet sustainability standards

40% of those interviewed, are happy with the sustainability of services, whereas 30% of them believe that providers of tourism services must intervene to improve sustainability of their services. Only 10% have no information on this regard. Same as above, 40% of stakeholder’s group representatives, declare that tourism operators take into account sustainability of products they promote whereas 30% think that there is great need for a drastic improvement.

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50% of people, when asked about alternative sustainable transport options to the touristic destinations, believe ugent measure would neen to be taken, while 20% of them believe there is need for some improvement. 40% of those interviewed maintain they have no information on the use of certification schemes (European Ecolabel System) for identification of businesses according to standards on sustainability. This demands urgent interventions. “There is need for specific improvement”- said 40% of people when asked whether or not capacities were strengthened and whether consultancy was used from tourist businesses to improve their performance. 20% would like to see immediate measures taken whereas another 20% admit having not infoation on this matter. “Organization of activities to raise awareness of tourists on tourism sustainability” –are currently poor and in great need for urgent interventions- says 40% of the respondents, while 30% of them are happy with the present situation.

Table 10: Result of question: Assess the extent to which tourism operations meet sustainability standards

Area of Improvement May benefit Appear Area of No particular required – from some s to be apparent informat need/opportunit should also be improvement satisfact strength – ion y – highest considered for – but less ory – may availabl priority for intervention/su current need maintai provide an e to action/interventi pport for n example to answer on intervention others the question /This could not be assessed In general, are tourism 30% 20% 40% 10% service providers taking steps to improve the sustainability of their operations?

Are tour operators taking 30% 20% 40% 10% account of sustainability issues in the products they promote and information they provide? Are economic instruments 30% 30% 10% 30% being used to influence the sustainability of tourism operations?

Is there an offer for 50% 20% 20% 10% alternative sustainable transport to tourist destinations?

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Are certification schemes 30% 20% 10% 40% (European Ecolabel system) being used to identify businesses complying with sustainability standards?

Is capacity building and 20% 10% 40% 10% 20% advice being provided and promoted to tourism businesses on enhancing the sustainability of their operations?

Have actions been taken to 40% 10% 30% 20% make tourists aware of sustainability issues in the country and to influence their activities?

Does sustainable tourism 30% 30% 20% 20% offer opportunities for new jobs for local tourism service providers, individual entrepreneurs, etc.?

Question 9: What do you think are the important activities that need to be taken to realize the potential for sustainable tourism? (multiple answers allowed)

60% of representatives interviewed believe that the most important activities aiming at increase of sustainable tourism, are related to “Increase of range and quality of hotel services”. The second alternative is represented by “Sustainable use of biological diversity for tourism needs” (50%) as well as “Creation of platform for further investment and generation of new job places” (another 50%). The obtaining of Ecolabel is considered at the level of 40%.

70% 60% 60% 50% 50% 50% 40% 40% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 0%

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Figure 84: Results of question: Activities to be organized to realize sustainable development Question 10: What measures should be taken so that the local population is motivated to develop sustainable tourism? (multiple answers allowed)

80% of those interviewed believe that 2 measures need to be taken in order to motivate local population, notably: i) Raising awareness of the highly skilled and talented youngsters about business opportunities in the tourism field and regional development, ii) Organization of forums, seminars and trainings. Yet, a considerable number (some 50%) believe in integrated offers for protection of natural and cultural resources.

80% 80% 80% 70% 60% 50% 50% 40% 30% 20% 20% 10% 10% 0%

Figure 85: Results of question: What measures should be taken so that the local population is motivated to develop sustainable tourism

Question 11: What marketing tools should be used for greater access to tourism markets and increasing market share? (choose three of the offered five answers )

Participation in the tourism fairs (80%) together with creation of contemporary touristic services for independent travelers such as cellphone dynamis applications aiming at promotion of natural and cultural resources (70%), represent 2 options selected by the majority of the interviewees as marketing instruments to extend touristic markets. They are followed by the following tools (40% of support): A more intensive economic propaganda (TV and radio programs, preparation/distribution of leaflets and newspapers), together with innovative webpages dedicated to touristic offer.

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Participation in tourism fairs 70%

Creation of modern digital services for independent… 80%

Strengthening the digital 30% communications and social… An innovative web site with a 40% regional tourist offer, mobile…

Increased economic 40% propaganda (TV and radio…

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Figure 86: Results of question: What marketing tools should be used for greater access to tourism markets and increasing market share?

Question 12: Do you think that in addition to improving the overall physical condition of the environment should be improved interpretation (with the inclusion of some modern technological solutions, mobile applications and more) to improve the overall experience of visitors?

Use and involvement of new technological solutions, was considered by 100% of people interviewed, as a valid alternative to improve the overall experience of the visitors, apart from improvements to be introduced to the physical condition of environment. 0%

Yes 100% No

Figure 87: Results of question: Do you think that in addition to improving the overall physical condition of the environment should be improved interpretation (with the inclusion of some modern technological solutions, mobile applications and more) to improve the overall experience of visitors.

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Question 13: How should cooperation be encouraged in creating a joint Program for the development of sustainable tourism in the cross-border region? (multiple answers allowed)

70% of thiose interviewed believe that in order to increase tourism opportunities in the cross- border area, there is great need of joint functional institutions, and jointly managed webpages; 80% of them maintain that continuous exchange of experiences and information in tourism field through joint forums, represent the most appropriate alternatives for tourism development between the two countries. Organization of joint tours in both countries together with formalization of agreements through meetings between respective mayors, are appreciated by 50% of people interviewed.

• Establishment of a plan action in the 40% further development of the …

• Organizing more frequent meetings, 80% forums, workshops for constant …

• Establish a joint institution and 70% website to increase the attention of … Series1

• To prepare tourist initiatives in both 50% countries, which will lead to the …

∙ All mayors from this cross‐border 50% region to sign a Memorandum of…

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Figure 88: Results of question: How should cooperation be encouraged in creating a joint Program for the development of sustainable tourism in the cross-border region? (multiple answers allowed) Question 14: . Have you ever visited a sustainable tourism workshop and would you like to be part of training capacity building training to support the development of sustainable tourism in the cross-border region of Macedonia and Albania?

60% of people interviewed from the municipality/association target group, have undergone trainings on tourism, but they would like to become part of trainings on capacity building themes in support to sustainable tourism in the cross-border area. $0% of them would like to be part of such training initiatives, without having undergone any similar experience.

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Table 11: Results of question: Have you undergone any training of sustainable tourism?

Yes, I have been, but I would like to attend again 60% Yes, I have been and would not like to attend again 0% No, I haven’t been, but I would like to attend 40% Yes, I haven’t been and would not like to attend 0%

Question 15: Please feel free to leave any additional comment, recommendation or information you think would be valuable in project implementation

Free opinion: People in Dibra suggest to raise the current cooperation through a better coordination of tour operators and institutions of both countries.

 A higher attention viasavis cultural tourism

 Increase capacities for all those involved in this field

 Creation and promotion in the future of certified goods

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10 . RECOMMENDATION

10.1 Steps towards effective cross‐border cooperation in natural and cultural heritage protection

The exploitation of cultural and natural heritage for tourism development and recreation is increasing rapidly. This can be both an advantage in terms of boosting an opportunity for cross border regions to benefit from their cultural and natural heritage potential for local economic development, job creation and branding, and a challenge in ensuring proper conservation of this fragile heritage.

Finding this balance requires high level of awareness among citizens and policy makers of the vulnerability of the assets and the careful approach which goes with it.  Pressures caused by tourism Tourism is often associated with different environmental and social pressures at the tourist destinations. These include the production of waste, environmental impact caused by transport, etc. Careful management at local and regional level are needed to prevent and manage these pressures including minimisation of resource use, proper waste management, introduction of sustainable forms of transport, etc. Social improvements may include the improvement of the quality of tourism-related jobs, safety of local communities, etc.  Conservation Cultural heritage is a valuable regional asset which is often in need of proper conservation, preservation and restoration. There is know-how which exists around conservation and which needs to be available to regional authorities. Conservation requires skilled professionals who are able to evaluate the state of the cultural heritage and are able to deploy state-of-the-art techniques.  Awareness and long-term thinking There is limited awareness of the negative impacts of intensive tourism and inadequate promotion and awareness of innovative offers including cultural heritage tourism, as well as accessibility of those offers. The issue requires targeted efforts on behalf of cultural and natural heritage specialists as well as regional and local authorities. Better awareness would also lead

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to longer term strategic thinking and anchoring of cultural and natural heritage tourism in regional development strategies.  Digitalisation There is no sufficient ICT uptake in the area of cultural and natural heritage. The fact that most natural, cultural and historical heritage has not been digitalised yet hampers the access of the general public and tourists55.

The importance of cross-boundary cooperation (fig.94) in these areas is widely acknowledged. Through such cooperation, effective conservation of large-scale landscapes is achieved as well as routes for migratory species. A clear transboundary agreement also leads to a better control of cross-border problems such as pest or fire control, and contributes to the economic development of disadvantaged borderlands. Fundamentally, transboundary cooperation promotes international peace and understanding.

Figure 89. Croos-border cooperation

The Programme of Work on Protected Areas of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) calls for “strengthening collaboration between countries for trans-boundary protected areas conservation” (Target 1.3). During the last decade, guidelines have been developed to

55 Policy bief: Sustainable tourism: an opportunity for regions to benefit from their cultural and natural heritage 160

recommend appropriate approaches for trans-boundary cooperation in different protected area categories, for example, UNESCO’s MAB Programme and the Ramsar Convention. Both have their own guidelines. Good practice guidelines on trans-boundary cooperation were issued by IUCN in 2001 to provide guidance for use in times of peace between the countries involved Cooperation in Europe is an effective and widely recognized means to tackle common conservation and other trans-boundary challenges. The quality of the cooperation is based on EUROPARC’s criteria and indicators. The network of certified TBPAs, TransParcNet, forms an innovative platform for further development of European trans-boundary management cooperation, for safeguarding cross border biodiversity ecosystem services and cultural landscape as well as inspiring and encouraging people for better understanding of the importance of trans-boundary cooperation. The TransParcNet has been established to strengthen the relationship between certified TBPAs with the wider EUROPARC network as well as to function as a forum for active interactions, including joint projects and expertise exchange among the members of the network. TransParcNet supports the development of European TBPA cooperation by promoting the concept of the EUROPARC “Trans-boundary Parks – Following Nature’s Design” certificate as an effective tool in improved trans-boundary management and by encouraging potential TBPAs to apply EUROPARC’s certificate and subsequently to join the TransParcNet. National park Mavrovo is part of EUROPARC . TransParcNet aims at better understanding of the importance of trans-boundary cooperation among politicians and other policy makers but also by the general public. Successful trans- boundary cooperation should become an instrument for implementing cross border peace, understanding and cooperation as a whole.

Part of the recommendation and acion araise from European Tourism and Biodiversity Charter DRAFT January 2012.

RECOMMENDATION 1” Upgrading eco-label standards for sustainable tourism taking into account biodiversity conservation The EU eco-label scheme is part of the Community’s sustainable consumption and production policy, which aims to reduce the negative impact of consumption and production on the environment, health, climate and natural resources. Today, the EU eco-label covers a wide range of products and services, including cleaning products, appliances, paper products, textile

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and home and garden products, lubricants and services such as tourist accommodation. Regulation (EC) No. 66/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council intend the EU eco-label’s criteria to take into account the most significant environmental impacts, in particular the impact on climate change, the impact on nature and biodiversity, energy and resource consumption, generation of waste, emissions to all environmental media, pollution through physical effects, and the use and release of hazardous substances. Within this framework, the criteria of the EU eco-label should be upgraded to take into account biodiversity protection. Moreover, the EU should establish a recognizable symbol (common within the EU) for sustainable tourism activities that take into account biodiversity conservation, because generally eco-labels are very important and their implementation has a significant environmental impact.

Action plan related to the 1st recommendation → The creation and promotion of a common label in CBC region’s touristic areas regarding biodiversity conservation, e.g. a green flag. This label should be developed based on the regulation of the organic farming and PDO labelling systems. → The creation of a prize (e.g. a medal, free advertising) among tourist companies regarding the actions they undertake for biodiversity conservation, e.g. enhancement of the existing ‘prize’, EDEN (European Destinations of Excellence), which promotes social, cultural and environmental sustainability in tourism sectors by upgrading the value of ‘biodiversity’ criteria (such as giving higher ‘scores’ to destinations where the tourism practices and organization directly respect biodiversity). → Training courses and seminars on biodiversity conservation and cultural heritage for operators in the tourist industry.

2rd RECOMMENDATION Informing and raising awareness among tourism stakeholders (sector professionals, elected representatives, tourists, local communities) on biodiversity preservation and cultural heritage conservation Tourists and professionals should improve their behaviour with respect to biodiversity conservation and cultural heritage conservation. Actions that inform and raise awareness among tourism stakeholders would help that improvement Action plan related to the 3rd recommendation

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→ Examine consumers’ attitude towards eco-tourism and interest in rural tourism by looking for existing accurate surveys (like the survey for market segmentation) → Organise awareness campaigns (e.g. Nature Days, Eco-festivals, European Tourism and cultural diversity Week, Culture Days etc) to make tourists understand the importance of conserving natural and cultural heritage in order to inform them how to be more respectful → Support training of tourism stakeholders on how to be biodiversity-friendly by highlighting the benefits of biodiversity to the tourism sector (e.g. using endemic species in green surroundings of the tourism facilities) as well as to be careful while build facilities near archaeological site . → Emphasize that the implementation of biodiversity-friendly techniques in the tourist business will help to keep the sector profitable in the medium-term. → Enrich the existing website www.visiteurope.com with examples of biodiversity-friendly destinations (e.g. green European map) and education of tourists on biodiversity-friendly behaviour. 3th RECOMMENDATION Development and improvement of tourism management systems and tools At EU level, the Commission has introduced a number of tools to facilitate sound environmental management for businesses, such as the ETIS. Action plan related to the 3th recommendation → Promote the implementation of the ETIS within protected areas. → Include biodiversity experts and archaeologists in the networking of the tourism sector. → Carry out environmental impact assessments. → Create and promote guidelines in order to develop management tools to regulate the flow of tourists in major touristic areas, in order to respect local biodiversity and cultural heritage 4th RECOMMENDATION Promotion of tourism activities that contribute to biodiversity conservation Biodiversity is a vital asset to the tourism industry. Tourists often take advantage of natural landscapes, including national parks, coastal environments and mountainous regions – all of which harbour significant biodiversity. A clean environment is every tourist’s expectation and many tourists will not return to polluted or spoiled destinations. As tourism consists of a crucial pillar for the local economy, it is important to achieve a balance between the benefits that could be derived from the development of tourism and biodiversity protection. Therefore, tourism activities that have the least negative impact on biodiversity conservation, as well as activities that contribute positively to biodiversity, should be promoted within the EU. Moreover, the

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European Charter for Sustainable and Responsible Tourism should contribute to reinforcing the ethical values of the European citizenship.

Figure 90. Tea tasting tour in Bali Action plan related to the 4th recommendation → Support the types of rural tourism that contribute to the development of biodiversity in agro- ecosystems (e.g. farms with landraces and local breeds, tea tour (fig.95) beekeeping tours, etc.). → Develop well managed wild-life watching tours and eco-tourist activities (e.g. deer- watching, bear watching, and bird watching), that enable the general public to increase their awareness of biodiversity. → Ensure that a percentage of income originating from tourism activities will finance biodiversity protection. → Tourism should contribute to income generation for protected areas and other attractions, through entry fees, permits, concessions, etc., which can be invested in capacity building programmes for local communities to manage protected areas and protect biodiversity. This way, the direct income derived from visitor spending will be transformed into tangible economic value that tourism brings to natural and cultural resources.

5th RECOMMENDATION Promotion of tourism activities that contribute to conservation of the cultural heritage Cultural heritage is the base of the tourism industry. Tourists usually take advantage of visiting the cultural heritage, including historical buildings, archaeological sites and museums. A clean

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sites and buildings and its surroundings is every tourist’s expectation and many tourists will not return to polluted destinations. Also as tourism consists of a crucial pillar for the local economy, it is important to achieve a balance between the benefits that could be derived from the development of tourism and cultural heritage protection. Therefore, tourism activities that have the least negative impact on cultural heritage conservation, as well as activities that contribute positively to the cultural heritage, should be promoted within the EU. Moreover, the European Charter for Sustainable and Responsible Tourism should contribute to reinforcing the ethic values of the European citizenship.

Action plan related to the 5th recommendation → Support the types of cultural tourism that contribute to the development of cultural heritage (e.g. cultural-historical monuments, archaeological sites, etc.). → Develop well managed cultural tourism and tourist activities (e.g. museum tours, cultural- historical and archaeological site tours), that enable the general public to increase their awareness of cultural heritage. → Ensure that a percentage of income originating from tourism activities will finance cultural heritage protection. → Tourism should contribute to income generation for protected areas and other attractions, through entry fees, permits, concessions, etc., which can be invested in capacity building programmes for local communities to manage and to protect cultural heritage. This way, the direct income derived from visitor spending will be transformed into tangible economic value that tourism brings to cultural resources.

6th RECOMMENDATION Development and improvement of tourism offer for activities and expiriences While there is significant potential, there has been limited development of experiences that gear specifically towards the two different priority segments, including opportunities to engage in core experiences (such as hiking/ biking for organized and independent active tourists) as well as opportunities for supporting and supplemental experiences (such as but not limited to cultural events, demonstrations of celebrations and traditions, dancing or signing lessons, etc.) Action plan related to the 6 th recommendation → Investment in the designing and installation of infrastructure that enables hiking and biking: investments around the lakes of Ohrid,Globocica ad Mavrovo, as well as in Galicica and Mavrovo National Park, Jablanica and Stogovo Mountainas that improve and enhance the current trails, development of biking trails that enable biking trips throughout the destination.

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In addition there is a need to install more visitor infrastructure around Lakes and rivers that enables pedaling, kayaking, and other water-based experiences. →installation of equipment and instagrammable infrastructure

Figure 91. Instagramablle places in Bali,Qatar and Poland Invest in the development of markets and local capacity to produce better and more souvenirs, which are authentic and relevant to traveler experience. The purchase of locally produced crafts, souvenirs, food items can generate more economicbottles of wine or rakia, jars with aivar or fruit jams, traditional herbs and spices, etc.)Ensuring that attractions and sites are rehabilitated to a condition that meets visitor expectations: Most public attractions in the destination need to be improved and refreshed to match contemporary expectations for experience. Focus should be placed on the overall state of visited places (such as the amphitheater), removal of undesirable or poorly designed elements, improvement of the state or installation of new visitor infrastructure, installation of signage (as per earlier intervention). Good example is implementing wooden swing in nature on mt. Galichica witch is nice viewing point (Koritski Rid) like Tourky has with “view of clouds” (fig.97)

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Figure 92. Touristic attraction -Swing

Furthermore, it is more than clear that lovers of birds, ornithologists of amateurs, are the most numerous ecological tourists at European and world level, and more importantly, it is one of the most demanding groups in terms of the need for relevant data. Hence for providing any kind of ecological tourism based on the quality of the natural values in the park, the birds occupy it its great importance and without insufficient knowledge of the ornithological composition, this type of tourism, almost impossible or unrealistic. This is so much more important for birds every season in the year is significant and with a one-season visit, it would only affect the interest of this group of tourists, from visiting the space in another season when there are other types or visits to another site.Hence, the relevant research provided for in this document was undertaken for the birds in order to provide preconditions for the development of ecological tourism, and above all creation of conditions for adequate protection of this significant group of vertebrates.

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All previously confirms the great significance of NP Galichica and NP Mavrovo regarding heir ornithological composition, ie their large percentage of species with high protection interest in European and world level. Given the role of birds in the development of ecological tourism, they should be pay particular attention to the fact that it is a unique group that can provide adequate revenue for the Park's management (by providing ORNIT holidays), and for the local population (through the system of local guide service, which we recommend).

10.2 How to bring cultural and natural heritage and sustainable tourism together: challenges at regional level

The exploitation of cultural and natural heritage for tourism development and recreation is increasing rapidly. This can be both an advantage in terms of boosting potential for local economic development, job creation and branding, and a challenge in ensuring proper conservation of this fragile heritage. Balance between economic benefits and pressure One of the main challenges for developing sustainable tourism around cultural and natural heritage assets is striking the right balance between engaging into profitable activities and at the same time not damaging the assets at stake. Finding this balance requires high level of awareness among citizens and policy makers of the vulnerability of the assets and the careful approach which goes with it. Pressures caused by tourism Tourism is often associated with different environmental and social pressures at the tourist destinations. These include the production of waste, environmental impact caused by transport, etc. Careful management at local and regional level are needed to prevent and manage these pressures including minimisation of resource use, proper waste management, introduction of sustainable forms of transport, etc. Social improvements may include the improvement of the quality of tourism-related jobs, safety of local communities, etc. Conservation Cultural heritage is a valuable regional asset which is often in need of proper conservation, preservation and restoration. There is know-how which exists around conservation and which needs to be available to regional authorities. Conservation requires skilled professionals who are able to evaluate the state of the cultural heritage and are able to deploy state-of-the-art techniques. Awareness and long-term thinking

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There is limited awareness of the negative impacts of intensive tourism and inadequate promotion and awareness of innovative offers including cultural heritage tourism, as well as accessibility of those offers. The issue requires targeted efforts on behalf of cultural and natural heritage specialists as well as regional and local authorities. Better awareness would also lead to longer term strategic thinking and anchoring of cultural and natural heritage tourism in regional development strategies. Digitalisation There is no sufficient ICT uptake in the area of cultural and natural heritage. The fact that most natural, cultural and historical heritage has not been digitalised yet hampers the access of the general public and tourists56.

11.CONCLUSION

56 https://www.interregeurope.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/tx_tevprojects/library/guia2014_ingles.pdf

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History, culture, rural and social heritage capital diversity of this region- should be supported as a common and unique value and assessed as the strongest economic guideline, highlighting the value of holistic life. All agents of the tourism activity should be actively involved in the preservation of this capital, namely:

• Local authorities to monitor the quality of the supplied tourism product and to intervene where necessary. • The businessmen to make the most of the available resources and to highlight the strong points of the supplied tourism product and the border region • Individuals to maintain the capital of the region and make the stay of tourist’s pleasant, offering them alternative experiences.

In this region can be organized a working structure that can be called THINK AND ACTION TANK based on the horizontal collaborative creation and material exchange between actors on both site of the border. This particular model can also serve as a good practice in improving citizens' access to the knowledge society and the strengthening of the Social Development Partnerships for the sustainable development of the economy in relation to the natural and cultural heritage of intervention each area. This model encourages:

• Link the agricultural production with rural tourism Kilometric 0. • Achieve integrated development in the rural areas based on the rich natural resources by promote quality products and services in both sectors agriculture and tourism building biological farms that offer hotel and restaurants where guest can enjoy nature, food, history, sleep but at the same time can work voluntary. • Raise awareness of farmers and the rural population about economic importance and opportunities that come from the rural tourism development by the extension of services in terms of giving information related to rural tourism and training. For this set up training centers for rural tourism with low cost or relevant government institutions could provide such trainings directly on the field. • Recommends in investing in road infrastructure in rural areas would make them easily accessible by visitors and tourists that would boost rural tourism development.

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These initiatives combining touristic, natural, historical and cultural potentials may very well be transformed into very attractive touristic packages, not only for domestic, but also for foreign tourists.

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12. REFERENCES : 1. http://ipacbc-mk-al.net/actions-implemented-in-the-municipalities-in-cbc- area/beyond-borders-%E2%80%93-introducing-smart-tourism-and-sharing- economy.html 2. http://www.ohrid.gov.mk/pdf/LEAP%20za%20opstina%20Ohrid-finalen- 27.01.2012.pdf 3. http://www.southwestregion.mk/media/24018/giz_jugozapadenregion_razvojnaprogra ma_vnatresni_makedonski_posledna.pdf 4. http://www.southwestregion.mk/media/24018/giz_jugozapadenregion_razvojnaprogra ma_vnatresni_makedonski_posledna.pdf 5. European Tourism and Biodiversity Charter Reverse Project 6. MEDITERRANEAN EXPERIENCE OF ECOTOURISM A survey of ecotourism best practices in the world ENPI-CBC MED Project “Mediterranean Experience of Eco-Tourism” 7. Smart Tourism: Achieving Sustainable Development 2017, 22s 8. IPA CBC PROGRAMME THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA - REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA ADOPTED ON 11/12/2014 9. SCOPING STUDY ON THE REVIEW OF LINKS AND COMPLEMENTARY BETWEEN NATURA 2000 AND CULTURAL SITES 10. Cross-border Tourism -Potential and Perspectives in Black Sea region 11. Cross-border tourism development: A case study of the Öresund Region 12. TOURISM COOPERATION PROJECTS IN THE CROSS BORDER ROMANIAN- UKRAINIAN MARAMURES. VECTORS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT? 13. MAKING TOURISM MORE SUSTAINABLE A Guide for Policy Makers 14. Handbook to Tourism Projects in the Hungary-Croatia IPA Cross-border Co- operation Programme 2007-2013 Approved 15. En vi ron men tal impacts of tou ri sm. In : Camarda D . (ed.), Grassin i L. (ed.). Local resources and global trades: Environments and agriculture in the Mediterranean region. Bari : CIHEAM, 2 003. p. 2 63-2 7 0 (Option s Méditerran éen n es : Série A. Sémin aires Méditerran éen s; n . 57 ) 16. Hopkins, J.J.; Allison, H.M.; Walmsley, C.A.; Gaywood, M.; Thurgate, G. 2007. Conserving biodiversity in a changing climate: guidance on building capacity to adapt. Defra on behalf of the UK Biodiversity Partnership 17. IACCF (2010) Biodiversity and Climate Change in the UK. (Eds. Procter, D.A., Baxter, J.M., Crick, H.P.Q., Mortimer, D., Mulholland, F Walmsley, C.A.). JNCC, Peterborough. pp.16. 18. MoEPP (2008) Second National Report on climate change - sector "Biodiversity" 19. Hydrobiological Institute Ohrid (Macedonia) And Centre for Water Research University of WesternAustralia (Australia) Safeguarding Lake Ohrid Against The Impact of Climate Change And Land Use Changes SUMMARY PROPOSAL 20. W F Vincent (2009) Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada Effects of Climate Change on Lakes Elsevier Inc. 21. Blinkova M. et al. (2012 )Blue-green Algae, the Janus of Nature, In: Proceedings of the 5th International Scientific Conference BALWOIS 2012, 28 May-2 June 2012, Ohrid 22. Melovski L. et al. (2013) .National Circumstances related to climate change vulnerability in Biodiversity Sector. “Third National Report to UNFCCC” Project report Climate change vulnerability in Biodiversity sector

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23. Koshanin, N., 1926: New species from Macedonia. Bull Acad R Serbe Sci Et Arts4: 9 24. Sustainable Tourism for Development Guidebook (2013) First edition: 2013 25. Krisztina BOROS.2017 Sustainable tourism actions under EU Tourism Policy Funding opportunities. 26. Ilona LELONEK HUSTING (2013)The EU tourism policy and actions to enhance sustainable tourism 8 th European Charter in Protected Areas Network Meeting and Charter Awards 2013 Brussels, 6th November 2013 27. Sustainable Tourism and European Policies The European Agenda 21 for Tourism Report of the NGO-Workshop, Isle of Vilm, 24th -26th of March 2003 28. Strategic Plan for Tourism 2017-2022 29. “The International Guidelines for Biological diversity and sustainable tourism – Challenges for the implementation in Europe” 30. https://www.cbd.int/doc/programmes/tourism/tourism-manual-en.pdf 31. Integrated Ecosystem Approach for the Lake Ohrid Basin as a Tool for Conservation and Protection of Natural Resources .IPA PROJECT: BLACK & GRAY VS BLUES & GREEN 32. Aref, Fariborz. 2011. Sense of Community and Participation for Tourism Development. Life Science Journal, 8 (1), pp 20-25. 33. Aref, F., Ma’rof, R., & Sarjit, S. G. 2010. Community Capacity Building: A Review of its Implication in Tourism Development. Journal of American Science, 6(1), 172-180. 34. Arnstein, Sherry R. 1969. A Ladder of Citizen Participation. JAIP, Vol. 35, No. 4, July 1969. pp. 216-224. 35. Chapman, M., & Kirk, K. 2001. Lessons for Community Capacity Building: A summary of the research evidence. Retrieved 2, October, 2007, from http://www.scothomes. gov.uk/pdfs/pubs/260.pdf 36. K.Sangkakorn & S.Suwannarat .2013. Local People Participation in Tourism Development: The Case Study of Chiang Mai. “The 2nd Conference on Asian Economic Development” 37. WOLFRAM H. DRESSLER.1999.Master thesis.Nature-based Tourism and Sustainability in the Beaufort-Delta Region: An Analysis of Stakeholder Perspectives 38. Archaeological map of R.Macedonia, 2002, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts-MANU; 39. Macedonian Cultural Heritage Ohrid World Heritage Site, Pro Point, P.Kuzman, Skopje, 2001 (MCHOWHS); 40. Bitrakova- Grozdanova, V., Monuments from the Hellenistic period in SR Macedonia, 1987 41. Bitrakova- Grozdanova, V., Old Christian Monuments of the Ohrid Region, 1975 42. Koco, D., Pile dwellings on the Ohrid Lake in Struga, GZFF 3, 1951 43. Study on the tourist potentials of the South-west Planning Region, November 2013, Center for development of SWPR 44. Management Plan for the natural and cultural heritage of the Ohrid region-Ministry of Culture of the R. Macedonia and Ministry of Environment of the R. Macedonia, 2014 45. Protection-conservational bases for the spatial plan of the Ohrid- Prespa region, Institute and Museum Ohrid, 46. National Registry of material and spiritual heritage-Ministry of Culture of the R. Macedonia

Websites:

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1. http://tourismmacedonia.gov.mk/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=0&tabid=1354 2. https://lrcp.mk/mk/%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0 3. http://www.stat.gov.mk 4. http://www.ohrid.gov.mk 5. http://www.struga.gov.mk/mk 6. http://www.vevcani.gov.mk/mk/index.asp 7. https://www.booking.com/hotel/mk/ 8. http://www.moepp.gov.mk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/NACRT_STRATEGIJA_- ZA_ZASTITA_PRIRODA.pdf 9. http://www.moepp.gov.mk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/ICR-3-Lakes-Main- Report.pdf 10. https://www.interregeurope.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/plp_uploads/policy_briefs/TO6 ___April_2018_Policy_brief_on_cultural_heritage_and_sustainable_tourism.pdf 11. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/management/pdf/Nature-and- Culture-leaflet-web.pdf 12. https://whc.unesco.org/uploads/activities/documents/activity-669-7.pdf 13. https://whc.unesco.org/uploads/activities/documents/activity-669-6.pdf 14. http://www.akzm.gov.al/us/protected-areas/national-park/item/154-lura-national-park 15. http://cf.cdn.unwto.org/sites/all/files/docpdf/tourisminsids.pdf 16. https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2151/DMOworkbook_130318.pd f 17. https://www.theseus.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/70910/THESIS_Kafle_Nabin.pdf?seq uence=1 18. https://www.gesis.org/fileadmin/upload/forschung/publikationen/gesis_reihen/gesis_a rbeitsberichte/Working_Paper_2010_11_online.pdf 19. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235805067_Rural_Tourism_and_Ecotouris m_- _the_Main_Priorities_in_Sustainable_Development_Orientations_of_Rural_Local_C ommunities_in_Romania [accessed Nov 20 2018]. 20. Morachat, C. (2003). A Study Of Destination Attractiveness Through Tourists' Perspectives : A Focus On Chiang Mai, Thailand. Retrieved from https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1504 21. http://www.southwestregion.mk/home.aspx 22. https://www.discoveringmacedonia.com/destinations/vevchani/ 23. https://www.bungy.co.nz/queenstown/nevis/nevis-swing/

12. ANNEX Annex 1. Questionnaire

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Dear all, We invite you to participate in the research on the needs of the "Study on cultural and natural heritage in the cross-border region of the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Albania". Please take 15 minutes of your valuable time for this survey which is part of the IPA project for cross-border cooperation between Macedonia and Albania titled "Introducing the smart tourism and shared economy". The questionnaire is anonymous. All data from this survey will be analyzed and presented exclusively for the project. The research aims to determine the state of the cultural and natural heritage, the knowledge of the respondents and the availability of it, to identify cultural differences as well as to analyze the natural potentials for tourism development in a cross-border context.

Thank you in advance!

QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE IN THE CROSS BOARD REGION OF MK/AL

1. Are you familiar with or have you heard about the existence of natural and / or cultural heritage in your municipality?

 Yes  No

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 If yes give example

2. Rate the natural tourist values of the Municipality where you live: (1 irrelevant ‐ 5 most pronounces )

 Geomorphological tourist values (different relief forms)  Climate tourist values (air temperature, insolation, relative humidity, winds and snowfall)  Hydrographic tourist values (glacial lakes, natural lake, artificial lakes, rivers, large springs and mineral springs)  Biological tourist values (flora and fauna)  Landscape tourist values (specificities in relief, hydrography, flora and fauna)

3. Rate the cultural tourist values of the Municipality where you live: (1 irrelevant ‐ 5 most pronounces )

 Ethno-social tourism values (material and spiritual culture, costumes, folklore)  Cultural - historical tourist values (objects from painting, architecture and the so)  Manifestation tourist values (cultural-artistic, entertainment, sports, political and scientific gatherings and economic events.)  Gastronomic tourist values (traditional food)  Religious tourist values (religious temples)

4. Mark which of the natural attractions your Municipality have: (multiple answers allowed)

 Organized mountaineering  Bike paths and cycling  Photo safari  Correct rowing on the plank  Paragliding  Alpine climbing  Winter sports  Diving  Observation of birds  Collect mushrooms and medicinal aromatic plants

5. Mark which of the cultural attractions your Municipality have: (multiple answers allowed)

 Ethno-Festivals  Traditional dance classes and singing  Carnival  Organized tours by archaeological sites  Museums and collections  Religious architecture - churches, monasteries and mosques  local crafts, souvenirs making courses

6. What type of tourism corresponds to the natural potentials of your Municipality?

 Mass tourism (tourism organized for many people who go on holiday in the same place, which contributes to the economy but at the same time may destroy the environment)

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 Alternative tourism (tourism taking place in rural areas, showing the tradition of local cultural communities and not endangering the environment)

7. Do you think that the natural resources of your Municipality are well protected, including the protection of protected areas?

 Yes  No

8. Do you consider that the historical monuments and archaeological sites in your Municipality are well protected?

 Yes  No

How much information is available on the Internet for natural and cultural heritage in your Municipality?

 There is inconsistent and poor maintenance of websites and information such as directions to specific attractions, working hours or entry tickets, as well as more sophisticated online tools such as event calendars, scheduler / route generators, etc  Web sites work great and natural resources and cultural and historical landmarks are appropriately represented

10. In your opinion, what is the access to cultural and historical monuments in your Municipality?

 Easily accessible, only maintenance of the road to them and information boards is necessary  Difficult to access, there is no appropriate path for them, and there are no information boards for them

11. In your opinion, what is the access to the monuments of nature, nature reserves and national parks in the region?

12. Do you consider well‐managed sites with natural and / or cultural heritage attract more tourists?

 I agree  I don’t agree  I don’t know

13. Which of the cultural differences between you (local people) and tourists is most prominent in your Municipality?

 Misunderstandings due to language barriers  Misunderstandings due to different religions  Cultural differences due to different manner of entertainment, dressing, sexual orientation  Different traffic culture

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 Different nutrition  Other (fill if other opinion)

14. Have you heard about the natural and cultural heritage in the municipalities of Mat, Diber, Bulchise and Klos and located in the cross‐border region of Albania?

 Yes  No

15. Have you been on a tour that connects the natural and cultural landmarks of the municipalities of the Republic of Macedonia (Ohrid, Struga, Vevcani, Debar, Centar Zupa, or Mavrovo and Rostuse) with the municipalities of the Republic of Albania (Mat, Diber, Bulchise or Klos)?

 Yes  No  If yes give example

16. ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT CONDITION OF THE NATURAL POTENTIAL THAT MAY BE A FACTOR FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

Pastures 1 2 3 4 5 Mountain paths 1 2 3 4 5 Adventure and sports offers 1 2 3 4 5 Access to natural rarities 1 2 3 4 5 Look‐outs 1 2 3 4 5 Protection of the biodiversity uniqueness 1 2 3 4 5 Walking paths along the lake shore 1 2 3 4 5 Water sports 1 2 3 4 5 Underwater activities 1 2 3 4 5 Decorating the swamp areas as tourist attractions 1 2 3 4 5 Bird watching structures 1 2 3 4 5 Picking medicinal herbs 1 2 3 4 5 fishing 1 2 3 4 5 Promotion of locally picked tea 1 2 3 4 5 Placement of information boards for the natural rarities 1 2 3 4 5 Mountain houses 1 2 3 4 5 Recreational and green areas 1 2 3 4 5 Management staff of public enterprise’s 1 2 3 4 5 Placed blue flag on the beaches that meet the eco criteria 1 2 3 4 5 1 worst condition 5 best condition

17. ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT CONDITION OF THE CULTURAL HERITAGE THAT MAY BE A FACTOR FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

Religious architecture - churches, monasteries and mosques 1 2 3 4 5 Prehistoric monuments 1 2 3 4 5 Antique and Roman monuments 1 2 3 4 5 Old Christian and Byzantine monuments 1 2 3 4 5 Ottoman monuments 1 2 3 4 5 Old Traditional Architecture 1 2 3 4 5 Ambient Old Town streets 1 2 3 4 5 Rural entities 1 2 3 4 5 Historical landmarks 1 2 3 4 5 Monuments of freedom, fraternity and unity 1 2 3 4 5

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Promotion of exhibitions 1 2 3 4 5 Museums and collections 1 2 3 4 5 Folklore and ethno-musicals 1 2 3 4 5 Ethno music and ethno festivals 1 2 3 4 5 Settlement of localities and museums 1 2 3 4 5 Information boards set up 1 2 3 4 5 Management staff of public enterprise’s 1 2 3 4 5 1 worst condition 5 best condition

18. Prioritize the actions to be taken to establish sustainable tourism in the cross-border region: (1- last priority action 10-most priority action)

 Conservation and protection of natural resources (beaches, protected areas, forests, diverse and unique flora and fauna)  Enhanced access (roads, airport and port)  Various offer of accommodation facilities (hotels, hostels, private apartments, etc.)

 Enhanced cultural and nightlife (festivals, concerts, exhibitions)  Improved political and economic factors (political stability, economic development, security, low crime rates and low prices)  Cleaner environment, arranged parks, appropriate waste management, medium traffic jams etc.  Improved social environment (hospitality and friendship of local residents, non-selective service and lack of language barriers)  Improving the attractiveness of the destination (improving the reputation of Trip advisor and Booking)  Establishment of a mechanism for the use of modern communication, promotional and navigational means, in order to create sustainable and smart tourism in the region  Employment and involvement of the local population in the decision making process for tourist offers

19. In which municipality do you live?

 Ohrid  Struga  Center Zupa  Debar  Mavrovo-Rostushe  Vevcani

20. Gender :

 Male  Female

21. In which age group you belong?

 - 18  19-30  31-40  41-50

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 51-60  61-

22. Highest level of education you have acquired:

 Primary  Secondary  High  Ms  PhD

23. What is your employment status:

 Unemployed person  Employee  Self-employed person  A student  Other (fill if other)

24. What is your religious affiliation?

 Orthodox Christian  Catholic  Muslim  Atheist  Other

25. Please feel free to leave any additional comment, recommendation or information you think would be valuable in project implementation

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