Ohrid at the height of the season — experts sound the alarm on sustainable tourism
Packed hotels, full beaches and sold-out cultural programmes highlight the need to transform a roughly 40‑day summer peak into year‑round, sustainable tourism while protecting Ohrid's UNESCO status.
Hotels and apartments are full, the old town is a river of people and beaches, bars and restaurants are packed — Ohrid is experiencing the peak of the summer season. Concerts and cultural events sell out quickly as thousands arrive to the lakeside city.
Still, experts warn that behind the lively scenes the same fundamental question resurfaces: does Ohrid benefit from mass tourism as it currently operates, and how can an intense roughly 40-day high season be stretched across all 12 months of the year? Tourism specialists are clear — quantity must finally yield to quality.
Seasonality and the UNESCO factor
Kepeska stresses that Ohrid’s future depends on safeguarding its principal asset. "The UNESCO status is crucial for the city's future," she says, and fulfilling the recommendations linked to that status must become an absolute priority for both central and local authorities.
Expectations are that Ohrid will continue to draw thousands of visitors during the summer months, but the challenge remains the same. For the city not to "gasp for air" only in July and August, an urgent strategy is needed to develop alternative forms of tourism — from cultural and religious to ecological and conference tourism.
Only with a clear plan, upgraded infrastructure and protection of natural and cultural heritage can Ohrid become a destination that provides top-level services year-round instead of a seasonally overloaded centre.
Photo: press material from the event
