This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.

Overview

The tourism sector offers export and investment opportunities and has significant potential for future development.  The country’s geographical location, mild climate, and historic and religious sites provide favorable conditions for the development of the tourism industry.  North Macedonia offers a full range of accommodations in 280 licensed hotels.  North Macedonia has many tourist attractions, including three natural lakes (Lake Ohrid, Lake Prespa, and Lake Dojran), and high mountains suitable for camping, hiking, and winter sports.  The most popular tourist destination, which accounts for almost 80 percent of North Macedonia’s tourist revenues, is Lake Ohrid.  The town of Ohrid is a UNESCO historical and cultural heritage site.  Tourists primarily come from Turkey, Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Albania, and Germany.

U.S. franchise hotels Holiday Inn, Best Western, Marriott and Hilton are present in Skopje.  Marriott is planning to open a second property in Skopje, a Courtyard by Marriott, in the coming years.  DoubleTree by Hilton opened in Skopje January 1, 2019.

Leading Sub-Sectors

Since there has been very limited investment in tourism, legacy hotels need repair and upgrading.  There has been an increase in the construction of smaller hotels, more suitable to the market in North Macedonia, primarily in Skopje and in areas around Lake Ohrid.  There are no golf courses in North Macedonia, nor do the three largest lakes, Ohrid, Prespa, and Dojran, have any significant watersport centers.

Opportunities

In order to attract visitors, the Value Added Tax (VAT) on tourism has been reduced from 18 percent to 5 percent.  Investors in priority projects receive special benefits, such as zero percent personal income tax and zero percent VAT in the first 10 years of operation.  USAID has supported the development of adventure tourism products in North Macedonia, such as hiking, biking, and paragliding.

Web Resources

The Ministry of Economy
The Association of Hotels, Restaurants, Cafes and Camps - HOTAM
Agency for Promotion and Support of Tourism
 

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