Ohrid sums up tourism results: visitor numbers rise, the real benefit remains to be measured
Preliminary data show increased attendance, but the real effect will be measured through spending and removing long-standing problems.
As the end of the summer season approaches, Ohrid is gathering initial figures on attendance and tourism performance. The city this summer is filled with guests from around the world, but experts warn that the raw number of stays is not the only criterion for assessment.
More optimistic assessments come from the local government: according to preliminary figures, the city economy is recording solid growth this summer. That said, analysts remind that the key is the total spending of visitors in the destination.
Tourism experts emphasize that to sustain and strengthen this trend, urgent work on the ground is required. It is necessary to enrich and diversify the offer, but also to resolve decades-old problems that damage Ohrid’s image as a tourist center.
Initial statistical data
As a sign of a good start, pre-season data showed: in May alone Ohrid was visited by 40,269 registered tourists (10,383 domestic and 29,886 foreign), with a total of 77,347 overnight stays. These numbers are used as a basis for further estimates.
For comparison, last year, at the peak of the season (July and August), around 84,000 domestic and 67,000 foreign tourists stayed. Initial expectations are that July and August this year will surpass those figures, but how much economic benefit they will bring to the city will become clear with the official numbers in September.
The next steps proposed by business owners and experts include improving services, expanding year-round offerings and addressing infrastructural and regulatory obstacles. Only then can the increased number of guests be turned into a lasting economic effect.
Photo: press material from the event
