Skopje, 12 June 2025 (MIA) — Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski is happy with the recent figures released by the State Statistical Office showing that the number of foreign tourist arrivals in the first quarter of the year have increased by 20% compared to last year, he told reporters Thursday.

In response to a reporter asking him to comment on the SSO's latest press release, PM Mickoski said he expected the number to rise even higher in the second quarter of 2025.

"I am exceptionally happy as this is quality, significant data, especially for the hospitality industry," he said, adding that this was a "historical 20% rise compared to 2024."

"Also," he said, "the structure of tourists is changing. Now we see we have tourists from France, Germany and so on."

Citing travel agency sources, he also told reporters that over half a million off-season nights were planned to be spent in Ohrid, "which would mean a lot to our country," he said.

The prime minister noted that a record number of 1,2 million tourists had spent 3,5 million nights in the country last year.

"Our goal is to reach four million nights and 1.5 million tourists," he said.

Mickoski also said initial results were promising. "In the first days of April, we are seeing a 21% rise in the number of foreign visitors and a 20% rise in the number of nights," he said, adding this was good for GDP. mr/