Increased the subsidies for foreign tourists: government gives subsidies to tourists from Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Ukraine, Japan, United Arab Emirates, China, India, USA, England, Germany, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and other.

Tour operators will use the subsidies for tourism to attract foreign tourists to Macedonia, starting this winter. Statistics shows that mountains are the third favorite to foreign tourists who visit Macedonia so that should be used in the upcoming period.

Another advantage is that Government increased the subsidies, and starting from next year will pay tourists from Israel, Austria, Malaysia, South Korea, Italy, France and Spain, 65 euro each. At the same time increased the subsidies for tourists from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and Romania, from 25 to 35 euro each.

--This represents a great opportunity for domestic travel agencies to get to know these markets and make contacts in order to attract more tourists to Macedonia during the winter period. Having in mind that foreign tourists contribute for higher foreign exchange earnings, this is good for both travel agencies because it increases their profit, and for the general economic growth of Macedonia--stressed Government spokesperson Aleksandar Gjorgiev.

Government gives subsidies to tourists from Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Ukraine, Japan, United Arab Emirates, China, India, USA, England, Germany, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and other.

Macedonian tourism marked a steep growth in the past several years, as a result of Government's subsidies, the promotion of Macedonia as a favorable travel destination, the reduced travel VAT from 18 to 5 percent, the modernization of airports in Skopje and Ohrid, the financing of cheap flights to over 15 European metropolis and many other projects.

NUMBER OF TOURISTS AND NIGHTS SPENT BY TYPES
OF TOURIST RESORTS, NOVEMBER 2015

                            Tourists

                   Total    Domestic   Foreign

Total              41 793    16 826    24 967

Types of tourist
resorts

Skopje             15 715     1 932    13 783
Spa resorts         2 260     1 854       406
Mountain resorts    2 702     2 160       542
Other tourist      10 026     6 298     3 728
  resorts
Other resorts      11 090     4 582     6 508

                          Nights spent

                   Total    Domestic   Foreign

Total              94 736    45 428    49 308

Types of tourist
resorts

Skopje             30 453     3 811    26 642
Spa resorts        21 365    18 414     2 951
Mountain resorts    4 590     3 506     1 084
Other tourist      18 306    12 694     5 612
  resorts
Other resorts      20 022     7 003    13 019

Source: The State Statistical Office