Struga, 30 August 2023 (MIA) - Hotel sector representatives held a meeting with Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi in Struga on Wednesday, calling for correction of subsidies, i.e. part of the subsidies in the tourism sector be allocated to hotels, and part to domestic tourists.

President of the Hotel Association of Macedonia (HOTAM), Krste Blazheski, said that corrections are only needed in terms of the 2010 subsidy decision.

A proposal has been made that part of those subsidies be allocated to hotels, and the other part to domestic tourists at specific times of the year, and continue to subsidize foreign guests as well. Tour operators who bring foreign guests should receive their part, with a few corrections to the funds, which were given as an example of the Dutch, German, Polish markets, Blazheski said.

Those funds, he stressed, should be used to correct salaries, improve conditions for welcoming guests and services.

Bekteshi pointed out the Ministry has already started working on new programs with the aim of helping hotel managers across the country improve their conditions and satisfy more tourists who would, in turn, stay even longer.

"We can do this through the law on financial support for investments, where one of the possibilities is to include the catering and hospitality sector in the form of grants for additional investments, improve conditions and the like. Of course, we could also try amending and adding to the existing regulation on subsidies where part of the funds meant for government institutions would be allocated directly to hotel managers, and those funds could be used for additional investments," Bekteshi added.

He mentioned that data from the State Statistical Office show that within the first six months of 2023 the number of tourists rose over 40 percent.

"According to the data we received today from the hotel managers in the Ohrid-Struga region, the number of tourists will most likely keep increasing," the Minister noted.

HOTAM representatives also requested that the fees paid to the state for seasonal workers, aged 16-17, be subsidized by the state and salary contributions be returned to the person who paid. The head of HOTAM noted that the number of people wanting to spend a few days on the Ohrid-Struga coast rose higher than in 2022, and that September and October are already busy months. ssh/nn/

Photo: MIA