MK – NI 047-1

The indicator shows the total number of foreign tourists by years at country level and by statistical regions and structure of visitors by country of origin.

• Number

Does the number of tourists in the Republic of Macedonia have development dimension?

With regard to international tourist visits, the total number of foreign tourists during the analyzed period has had development nature or a rising trend of 5.2 times in 2017 compared to 1997.

Turkey contributes significantly to the number of tourists in Macedonia with 668.635tourists during the observed period. By statistical regions, the highest number of foreign tourists was recorded in Skopje and Southwestern regions. With regard to foreign tourist arrivals by types of resorts, the highest number of tourists was recorded in Skopje amounting 1.991.328, and the lowest in spa resorts with 55.342 tourists.

Figure 1. Total number of foreign tourists

Figure 2. Total number of foreign tourists by country of origin in the reporting period

Figure 3. Countries with significant share in the number of foreign tourists

Figure 4. Foreign tourists arrivals by statistical regions

Figure 5. Foreign tourists arrivals by types of resorts in the period from 2003 to 2016

Data coverage: excel

Data source: State Statistical Office, http://www.stat.gov.mk/Default_en.aspx

Data in the Figure indicates that the Republic of Macedonia is visited by a high number of countries. Tourists from Europe, Northern America, Asia and Australia prevail. The structure of visits during the observed period is dominated by tourists from the immediate neighborhood. Leading position among the first twenty counties making significant share in the overall number of foreign tourists belongs to tourists from Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia and Montenegro, Turkey, Albania and Serbia, while the highest number of tourists from among other continents comes from United States of America. Development of attractive and receptive base of the Republic of Macedonia should enable greater presence of tourists from Western European countries having longer tourism tradition and thus higher tourist culture level.Of the Western European countries, a significant rising trend of 23 times, in 2017, compared to 1997, has seen tourists from the Malta. The number of foreign tourists has notable rising trend from 121.337 tourists in 1997 to630.594tourists in2017, which is an increase of 5.2 times. In the reporting period, Turkey has had the highest share with 11.6% or 668.635tourists, while South Africa has had the lowest share with 0.014% or 851tourist of the total number of foreign tourists in Macedonia.

According to regional distribution, Skopje region with2.288.634tourists and Southwestern region with 1.729.309 tourists area leading regional centers for tourists, representing two differentiated regions of different characteristics. Southwestern region is dominated by resource attractiveness, while Skopje region by business activity possibilities. Other regions possess alternative possibilities deriving from different environments and therefore it is important to monitor the intensity of foreign tourist visits with a view to redistribute the intensity of visits.

With reference to foreign tourists arrivals by types of resorts, Skopje has had the highest share in the total number of tourists with 40.81%, followed by lake resorts with 34,49%, other resorts with a share of 19.98%, mountain resorts with a share of 3.58% and the lowest share belongs to spa resorts with 1.13% of the total number of tourists.

• Methodology for the indicator calculation

The data on tourists have been obtained on the basis of the regular monthly reports of catering and other business entities providing services of accommodation to tourists or act as intermediaries in the provision of these services. Guest books kept by business operators as a legal obligation are sources of data.