A pilot project for sports and adventure tourism, Ski resort Vodno, proposed by the UTMS starts with the realization within the joining members of the UNWTO, as a part of the segments of the tourism development projects in many parts of the world.

Membership of the University of Tourism and Management in Skopje in the affiliate members of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is being achieved through concrete results which will be of great interest for total development of tourism in Macedonia.
This conclusion arises from the official visit of the high-level delegation from the United Nations World Tourism Organization to the University of Tourism and Management in Skopje, more precisely, from the visit of the director of UNWTO Affiliate Members, Ms. Yolanda Perdomo, and Mr. Jose Gonzalez Rivera, an expert in public relations and Deputy Manager of the PR agency "Ketchum". The reason for their visit, besides regular meetings and contacts with the UTMS, was the interest in the joint development and concretization of the project of sports and adventure tourism, as well as more detailed insight of the Republic of Macedonia as a tourist destination.
Therefore, discussions with the Chancellor of the University of Tourism and Management in Skopje, Ace Milenkovski, meetings in the Government and the City of Skopje, were focused primarily on the projects Ski Center Vodno and Matka, and also on other opportunities for development of tourism in Macedonia. Guests from UNWTO, accompanied by representatives of UTMS visited locations and accepted participation in this project with pleasure and admiration, as the Chancellor Milenkovski started planning further specific activities that will take place through mutual cooperation between UTMS and UNWTO.

Welcoming the guests from UNWTO and introducing them with the leadership of UTMS

UNWTO AM director Ms. Yolanda Perdomo and Mr. Jose Gonzalez Rivera were welcomed in the traditional Macedonian way in front of the University of Tourism and Management in Skopje, then followed conversation with the Chancellor Ace Milenkovski, and the Dean of the Faculty of Tourism, Sasko Gramatnikovski.
Two potential projects "Ski center Vodno", and "Matka" were mainly discussed at the meeting. Chancellor Ace Milenkovski explained the potentials of these locations in accordance with the already agreed inclusion of Macedonia into the projects of the UNWTO Affiliate Members.
Ms. Perdomo and Mr. Rivera expressed their satisfaction that precisely those places were chosen, and they gave numerous propositions focused on the beginning of the project. Immediately after that, in the honor of excellent cooperation of UTMS with UNWTO, at the UTMS in the presence of the whole teaching staff of the University, formal session was held, where Ms. Yolanda Perdomo was assigned the title Doctor Honoris Causa, while Mr. Jose Rivera received a special thanking.

Meeting with the Mayor of Skopje

High level representatives from UNWTO, Ms. Yolanda Perdomo and Mr. Jose Rivera, accompanied by the Chancellor Ace Milenkovski and the Deans of the Faculties of Tourism and Sports Tourism at UTMS, Sasko Gramatnikovski and Sasho Popovski, had a meeting with the Mayor of Skopje, Mr. Koce Trajanovski and his team, when the project Ski Center Vodno was explained more thoroughly, the project that needs to be promoted to the world public through UTMS and UNWTO. Ms. Perdomo emphasized the importance of this project, which will be presented as a reference, the model for all future projects of this sort, which will be realized in the world under the wing of the UNWTO.
Immediately after the visit to the city of Skopje, the high delegation of the World Tourism Organization and the University of Tourism and Management in Skopje visited Vodno by the Millenium Cross with the cable car, in order to get to know the potentials of the future Ski Center Vodno on the spot.

Meeting of Ms. Perdomo and Mr. Rivera with the leadership of the MOC

Sports and adventure tourism, as one of the most modern and rapidly growing forms of tourism, as well as the projects for UTMS, were the main topic of conversation between the UNWTO guests and representatives of the Macedonian Olympic Committee. The UNWTO AM director Yolanda Perdomo and public relations expert Mr. Jose Rivera, accompanied by the Chancellor of UTMS, Ace Milenkovski, and the Dean of the Faculty of Tourism Sasko Gramatnikovski had a meeting with the President of the Macedonian Olympic Committee, Vasil Tupurkovski, secretary general of MOC Sasho Popovski, as well as with sports director, Vladimir Bogoevski.
At the meeting, the President of MOC Vasil Tupurkovski, presented the work of the Olympic Committee of the Republic of Macedonia, pointing out the particular importance of cooperation that MOC has with UTMS, through which, he said, in the future, cooperation with the UNWTO will be enabled. The representatives of the MOC expressed their support for the development of projects for Ski Center Vodno and Matka, as well as their willingness to help in its realization.

Presentation of Matka as a tourist destination of adrenaline tourism

Besides "Ski Centre Vodno", the focus of interest of high-level delegation of the UNWTO was "Matka", proposed by the UTMS as a potential destination, where projects for development of sports tourism should be conducted, especially adventure tourism which has more and more supporters in the world.
The guests had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the potentials offered by this location, but also with the sports activities that took place there and that could very successfully be developed as wild water kayaking, cycling, hiking, mountaineering and speleo tourism.
Cave "Vrelo" was presented to Ms. Perdomo and Mr. Rivera by special guides, which caused a great interest in them, especially the natural beauties of this location and possibilities for its development. During that, on the spot, once again the idea about the pilot project Ski Center Vodno and Matka was presented by the representatives of the UTMS, as a great potential for the development of sports tourism.

Executive and local authorities should support UTMS in the project - message from Perdomo

For better realization of these two projects, respectively, "Ski Center Vodno" and "Matka", the delegation of the UNWTO, accompanied by the representatives of UTMS, held a meeting with the representatives of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia. There was a discussion about these two projects, when representatives of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, Ms. Perdomo and Mr. Rivera repeated their interest, and during that they emphasized the need for closer cooperation of the local authorities and the University of Tourism and Management in Skopje, due to the effective implementation of these projects, which will take place under the sponsorship of the UNWTO Affiliate Members.
At the meeting, the representatives from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Peshevski were introduced with the work and activities of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, expressing desire and readiness for cooperation with relevant institutions in Macedonia.

The contribution of tourism in the world's total development - Lecture of Ms. Perdomo and Mr. Rivera at UTMS

Visit of the respected guests from the UNWTO, was a rare opportunity to hear new ideas and guidelines for the development of tourism in the world, from one of the most elite experts in this field. For this purpose, a lecture was organized at the UTMS.
The director of the UNWTO Affiliate Members, Ms. Yolanda Perdomo, pointed out that the year 2012 will be remembered for the first time, by the fact that the number of international tourists exceeded the number of 1 billion.
It has been proven, that tourism is a branch which, despite all the economic and political crises, and natural disasters, is constantly rising. Tourism encourages cultural interaction, mutual understanding and represents a solid basis for the establishment of world peace.
Onwards, Ms. Perdomo turned back on the World Tourism Organization and her projections for tourism development until year 2030, while Mr. Rivera spoke about the impact of today's communication, explaining the question whether is it about evolution or revolution. He also emphasized the impact of digitizing in communication, and the impact of social networks in the transmission of messages, with a particular emphasis on the role of media and public relations today.

Sightseeing of Skopje, visiting the Monument of Mother Teresa Memorial Home and Museum of the Macedonian Struggle

Besides the presentation of projects "Ski Center Vodno" and "Matka", representatives of the UNWTO, Ms. Yolanda Perdomo and Mr. Jose Rivera had the opportunity to get acquainted with the cultural and historical sights of Skopje, as well as the historical facts about the Republic of Macedonia.
Along with the Chancellor of the University of Tourism and Management in Skopje, Ace Milenkovski, they visited the House of Mother Teresa, where they were closely acquainted with the life and work of this great humanist. Also, walking through the history of Macedonia, the guests visited the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle, and had a pleasant walk through the center of Skopje.

In the end, we are pleased to say that, in the organization of UTMS, a significant and productive visit of a high-level delegation from the United Nations World Tourism Organization was successfully realized, which will have multiple benefits, not only for UTMS, but also for the Republic of Macedonia. This was only one more confirmation that our scientific and educational work gives concrete and practical results.
International engagement of UTMS and participation in the world's elite institutions in the field of tourism, such as UNWTO, does not only contribute to more successful and efficient work of UTMS, but also draws the attention of the world public to Macedonia as a tourist destination, as well as a state entirely.
Support from UNWTO for the projects Ski Center Vodno and Matka, is a confirmation that the UTMS is heading in the right direction, and according to the guests evaluation from the UNWTO, it should get the support from the central and local authorities in Macedonia, as well as from others interested in including in this global project, with which Macedonia as a tourist destination is placed on the world map of tourism.