A Service of Leibniz-Informationszentrum econstor Wirtschaft Leibniz Information Centre Make Your Publications Visible. zbw for Economics Pavlov, Kole; Milenkovski, Ace; Pavlovski, Gjorgi Article The geographical factors in function of viniculture and wine tourism development in the Tikvesh Basin UTMS Journal of Economics Provided in Cooperation with: University of Tourism and Management, Skopje Suggested Citation: Pavlov, Kole; Milenkovski, Ace; Pavlovski, Gjorgi (2014) : The geographical factors in function of viniculture and wine tourism development in the Tikvesh Basin, UTMS Journal of Economics, ISSN 1857-6982, University of Tourism and Management, Skopje, Vol. 5, Iss. 1, pp. 89-102 This Version is available at: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/105323 Standard-Nutzungsbedingungen: Terms of use: Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Documents in EconStor may be saved and copied for your Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden. personal and scholarly purposes. 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Analysis of the geographical factors in function of viniculture and vine tourism development in the Tikvesh Basin. UTMS Journal of Economics 5 (1): 89–102. Preliminary communication (accepted December 10, 2013) THE GEOGRAPHICAL FACTORS IN FUNCTION OF VINICULTURE AND WINE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN THE TIKVESH BASIN Kole Pavlov1 Ace Milenkovski Gjorgi Pavlovski Abstract: In this effort an attempt was made to analyse the geographical factors i.e. their objective impact on viniculture and wine tourism in the renowned Tikvesh Basin, which represents a symbol of this type of activities in the Republic of Macedonia. The need of such analysis resulted from the fact that this region comprises 8 % of the Republic’s territory and has established itself as an influential agricultural and economic region in the wider vicinity as well. For this purpose adequate methods were utilised such as: mathematical-statistical, cartographic, climatological, touristic, etc. One of the pillars of these research activities, which support the essential postulates of the effort, was the long-lasting terrain exploration. It all points to the final conclusion that the Tikvesh Basin features quite favourable natural and socio-geographical factors which enhance development of vine-growing, winery and wine tourism, whose outstanding potential has only modestly been utilised so far. Keywords: Tikvesh Basin, Viniculture, Wine Tourism. Jel Classification: L83 INTRODUCTION Vine-growing as a separate agricultural branch means growing, care-taking and utilising of grapevines. As such, these activities in the Tikvesh Basin have been performed since before the new age (BC). The synonym Viniculture-Winery Region, the Tikvesh Basin has acquired long ago, and its culmination was reached in the year of 1 Kole Pavlov, Ph.D., Josip Broz Tito High School, Skopje; Ace Milenkovski, Ph.D., Full Professor, University of Tourism and Management, Skopje; Gjorgi Pavlovski, Ph.D., Faculty of Pedagogy, Stip, Macedonia. 89 Pavlov, Kole, Ace Milenkovski, and Gjorgi Pavlovski. 2014. Analysis of the geographical factors in function of viniculture and vine tourism development in the Tikvesh Basin. UTMS Journal of Economics 5 (1): 89–102. 1991 with its record of 10,334 hectares of vine plants (Pavlovski 1993). A phenomenon, different from the distinguished vine-growing and winery, is the wine tourism, which has been introducing visible socio-geographic transformations just lately. Wine tourism as a type appeared only recently and that is the reason why there is no unified definition of it. Generally, this tourism refers to travelling to and visiting viniculture regions and wine facilities as well to degustation of wines and meeting new people and cultures. Wine tourism is world-widely considered a growing concept with two-sided economic impact. The first impact refers to the increase of number of tourist, whereas the second one refers to the increased productivity of the wineries. Wine tourism as a modern type of tourism not only attracts visitors, increases overnight stays and adds to the overall tourist overturn but also is characterised by an educational dimension, because it helps degustation visitors to change their attitude towards wine as a product. The phenomenon-wine tourism can be the basic course of economic and social development of rural environments, which compensate their lack of natural- geographic attractions with the traditions and customs of the local population. Having this in mind, below in the text an endeavor is made to evaluate the impact of the more significant geographical factors, both as a basis and a determinant of viniculture and wine tourism development of the Tikvesh. TOURIST-GEOGRAPHIC POSITION The Tikvesh Basin stretches in the central and southern parts of the Republic of Macedonia. The basin was described by J. Cvijic (1906) as a large and low basin in the Middle Vardarian Stream which, with its geo-morphological, climate, bio-geographical and antropo-geographical features, represents a rounded geographic entirety, different from the neighbouring valleys. The northernmost point of the valley with irregular circular shape is Ilangja, 664 metres above the sea level and inclination of 41043'38'' N. The southernmost point is at the very Macedonian-Greek border, on Kozjak Mountain, 1814 meters above the sea level and inclination of 41005'30'' N. The westernmost point is a no name elevation, at 841 metres above the sea level and inclination of 21047' Е. The most protruded point in the east is White Stone, 1182 metres above the sea level and inclination of 22019' Е. The wavy region of Tikvesh comprises: the middle confluence of the river Vardar, the lower flows of the rivers Bregalnica and Crna Reka as well as the full flow of the rivers Boshava and Luda Mara. The basin frame extends along tall, middle-height and low-height mountains and hills, which are broken through with river valleys on all sides (map 1). 90 Pavlov, Kole, Ace Milenkovski, and Gjorgi Pavlovski. 2014. Analysis of the geographical factors in function of viniculture and vine tourism development in the Tikvesh Basin. UTMS Journal of Economics 5 (1): 89–102. TIKVEŠ Map 1. Geographical position of the Tikvesh Basin in the Republic of Macedonia The size of the Tikvesh Basin in its natural borders is an area of 2,060.54 square kilometers, which represents 8% of the territory of the Republic of Macedonia. Traffic and functional connections of the Tikvesh Basin with the neighbouring regions play a significant role in the economic development and strategic directing of the same region. Spanning in the wide and easily passable Vardar valley, the Tikvesh Region is traditionally considered a focus of the trade and traffic connections. So, in the ancient times, the most exploited Vardarian road led from Solun and Pela in the south towards Skopje in the north. Until the end of the 19th century along stream the river Vardar busy river traffic with ferries loaded with leather, wheat and timber took place (Pavlovski 1993). In 1873 the railroad from Solun to Skopje was launched, which meant a new economic impetus and an important strategic strengthening of the region. For strengthening of road traffic in the postwar period of special regional and international significance became the motorway E-75 that follows the flow of the river Vardar in the northwestern and southeastern directions. It was completely set through Tikvesh in the period from 1960-1964. Today it is broadened into a first class motorway. In parallel direction to this international toll road the following regional roads are attached: Negotino-Lakavica-Shtip and Negotino-Lakavica-Radovish towards eastern parts, as well as Negotino-Kavadarci-Prilep and Gradsko-Prilep towards the western parts of the country. From traffic point of view the Tikvesh Basin has generally favourable geographic position because it is the centre of frequent passage and trade connections with the adjacent regions within the Republic and exterritorialy, all this based on its economic influence in the wider region. GEOLOGICAL COMPOSITION The Tikvesh Basin from geological aspect is a complex mosaic of magmatic, metamorphic and sediment rocks of different age: they range from Precambrian to earliest Holocene forms. In general, in the eastern part, on the right side of the river Vardar Neogene sands, clays and Quarter volcanic formations prevail. All these, from 91 Pavlov, Kole, Ace Milenkovski, and Gjorgi Pavlovski. 2014. Analysis of the geographical factors in function of viniculture and vine tourism development in the Tikvesh Basin. UTMS Journal of Economics 5 (1): 89–102. hydrogeological point of view,