Ministry of Economy of the Republic of N. Macedonia Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality - Ohrid SUB-STRATEGY FOR DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL TOURISM IN THE REPUBLIC OF N. MACEDONIA November, 2019 Ordered by: Ministry of Economy of Republic of N. Macedonia Str. Yuri Gagarin, No. 15, 1000 Skopje Minister of Economy Contact person: Bekim Hadziu Sector for Tourism and Hospitality E-mail: [email protected] The Sub-Strategy was prepared by the consulting team: General researcher: Prof. Naume Marinoski, PhD Researchers: Prof. Sasho Korunovski, PhD Prof. Cvetko Andreeski, PhD Prof. Ivanka Nestoroska, PhD Ass. Prof. Michael Risteski, PhD The Sub-Strategy for rural tourism in the RN Macedonia has been prepared as part of the public offer for services No. 3-3/2019 by the Ministry of Economy of RN Macedonia, Sector for Tourism and Hospitality: “PREPARING THREE SUB-STRATEGIES FOR TOURISM – RURAL / CULTURAL / ACTIVE” 1 SUB-STRATEGY FOR DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL TOURISM IN THE REPUBLIC OF N. MACEDONIA CONTENTS ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................................... 4 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................................... 5 1. Basis for adopting the Sub-Strategy ......................................................................................................................... 6 2. Reasons for adopting the Sub-Strategy .................................................................................................................... 7 3. Methodology for preparation of the Sub-Strategy for Rural Tourism Development ................................................. 7 4. Legal and strategic framework for preparing the Sub-Strategy ................................................................................ 9 5. Situational analysis .................................................................................................................................................. 9 5.1 Analysis of tourism turnover............................................................................................................................ 10 5.1.1 Analysis of tourist visits ............................................................................................................................ 10 5.1.2 Analysis of tourist stay .............................................................................................................................. 14 5.2 Analysis of the situation and opportunities for development of rural tourism in the East Planning Region ....... 19 5.3 Analysis of the situation and opportunities for development of rural tourism in the Polog Planning Region..... 23 5.4 Analysis of the situation and opportunities for development of rural tourism in the South-east Planning Region ............................................................................................................................................................................. 29 5.5 Analysis of the situation and opportunities for development of rural tourism in the North-east Planning Region ............................................................................................................................................................................. 35 5.6 Analysis of the situation and opportunities for development of rural tourism in the Skopje Planning Region .. 40 5.7 Analysis of the situation and opportunities for development of rural tourism in the Vardar Planning Region ... 46 5.8 Analysis of the situation and opportunities for development of rural tourism in the Pelagonija Planning Region ............................................................................................................................................................................. 50 5.9 Analysis of the situation and opportunities for development of rural tourism in the South-west Planning Region ............................................................................................................................................................................. 54 5.10 Analysis of the demand for rural tourism ....................................................................................................... 59 6. Mapping of zones and centers for rural tourism .................................................................................................... 62 6.1 Existing locations in the Vardar Planning Region and narrative description with features ................................ 62 6.2 Existing locations in the East Planning Region and narrative description with features .................................... 63 6.3 Existing locations in the South-west Planning Region and narrative description with features ......................... 64 6.4 Existing locations in the South-east Planning Region and narrative description with features .......................... 65 6.5 Existing locations in the Pelagonija Planning Region and narrative description with features ........................... 66 6.6 Existing locations in the Polog Planning Region and narrative description with features .................................. 67 6.7 Existing locations in the North-east Planning Region and narrative description with features .......................... 68 6.8 Existing locations in the Skopje Planning Region and narrative description with features ................................. 69 6.9 List of new centers that have the potential for expanding and reequipping ..................................................... 70 6.10 List of existing centers that have the potential for expanding and reequipping .............................................. 71 2 6.11 Determining places and locations for marking the centers and placing signposts and info tables ................... 72 7. Determining the mission and vision for rural tourism development ....................................................................... 72 8. SWOT analysis of rural tourism in the RN Macedonia ............................................................................................ 74 9. Action plan for implementation of the Sub-Strategy for the development of rural tourism .................................... 75 REFERENCES AND SOURCES ...................................................................................................................................... 76 ANEX......................................................................................................................................................................... 78 Mapping of zones for the development of rural tourism by region ........................................................................ 78 GIS marking of the zones for the development of rural tourism in VAPR ............................................................ 78 GIS marking of the zones for the development of rural tourism in EAPR ............................................................ 85 GIS marking of the zones for the development of rural tourism in SWPR ........................................................... 99 GIS marking of the zones for the development of rural tourism in SEPR .......................................................... 111 GIS marking of the zones for the development of rural tourism in PEPR .......................................................... 114 GIS marking of the zones for the development of rural tourism in POPR.......................................................... 121 GIS marking of the zones for the development of rural tourism in NEPR .......................................................... 126 GIS marking of the zones for the development of rural tourism in SKPR .......................................................... 132 Photos for rural tourism ...................................................................................................................................... 135 3 ABSTRACT Contemporary trends in tourism development around the world show that rural tourism is one of the most prevalent types of development as a selective offer. It is a form that constantly receives new values. This is reflected both by the increase in the number of tourists engaged in this activity, by the volume of generated revenues, as well as by the emergence of new service providers and the development of economic and non-economic active actors in rural areas. Rural tourism attracts the attention of the wider demand of tourism services for new contents. The contemporary circumstances of rural tourism involves tourism the demanders of specific service and have traditional, environmental and challenging affinities. In the structure of the tourist demand, the rural preoccupation is focused on the expressive selectivity that RN Macedonia can provide in this sense. New activities and rational use of resources represent the developmental basis of this type of tourism. The interconnectedness of the stakeholders in this activity requires that the affirmed and sophisticated tourist demand in modern conditions can represent a factor for rural tourism to establish itself as a selectivity that can have a positive impact on the tourist market performances. RN Macedonia needs to follow the positive examples of the countries and regional units that, through the development of rural tourism, encourage the development of the overall economic and social relations. Therefore