Ohrid, 12 July 2025 (MIA) – Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski alongside Minister of Culture and Tourism, Zoran Ljutkov, Transport Minister, Aleksandar Nikoloski, Ohrid Mayor, Kiril Pecakov, as well as MPs, attended on Saturday a launch event for the reconstructed Museum on Water, pile dwelling at Lake Ohrid's Bay of Bones. 

As was pointed out at the event, this is a large-scale construction project for a complete restoration of the site, which is one of the most profitable facilities of its kind in Ohrid and the country.

PM Mickoski stressed that he expects investments in culture to also increase with the consolidation of the situation in the country.

"It is not by coincidence that we included the tourism sector in the Ministry of Culture, and it thus became the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Because according to the research conducted, the majority of visitors, i.e. tourists who visit Macedonia as a tourist destination, this is precisely the reason why they visit, i.e. the rich cultural heritage. This site here, together with the accompanying infrastructure, is really significant for Ohrid and for the tourists who visit Ohrid," said Mickoski. 

He pointed out that good cooperation between local and central government inevitably gives results.

"We don't stop here, we continue with investments. I congratulate everyone involved in supporting the implementation of this project, the Minister, the Mayor, everyone who helped, we also have here the Minister of Transport and Deputy PM who is strongly focused on improving the infrastructure in Ohrid and the surrounding area, the MPs who are fiercely fighting for more projects for Ohrid. When we have such energy that unites the local and central government, the results and success are inevitable," PM Mickoski said. 

Culture and Tourism Minister Ljutkov mentioned the situation he found at the site when he took office, noting that it was "a devastating institution, a neglected site, which is unacceptable for such a tourist attraction".

"We immediately took measures, we made a plan on what should be done for this museum complex... Mden 15 million have been spent and funds will still be allocated for a profitable complex such as the Museum on Water. In the coming period, we will also invest in other facilities in Ohrid, as I see, the road infrastructure has also improved considerably, conditions are improving, and we will continue at the same pace," said Ljutkov. 

Ohrid Mayor Pecakov said that in the past thirty days, several important events have been marked in Ohrid directly related to the city's infrastructural development, as well as the infrastructure related to tourism.

"This is just the beginning. Expect many more investments in the coming period through the cooperation between the local government and the central government," Pecakov said. 

The reconstruction of the Museum on Water - Bay of Bones site was realized through funds provided by the National Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments and Museum - Ohrid, as part of a broader strategy to support cultural heritage and tourism development in Ohrid. 

Photo: MIA