Today, 6/12/2022, in the amphitheater of the University, a guest lecture was given to the students by Ljupco Janevski, director of the Agency for Promotion and Support of Tourism and Metodi Chilimanov, tour operator, as participants in the "IME" project, supported by the Swiss Embassy , and aimed at increasing employability in Macedonia. The project supports the development of innovative products and services in several economic branches, including tourism.
The present students and guests were greeted by the vice rector for teaching, prof. Dr. Mijalce Gjorgievski and the dean of the Faculty of Tourism, prof. PhD. Sashko Gramatnikovski. In his appropriate address, Vice-Chancellor Gjorgievski emphasized that the world's growing trend and interest in active tourism should also be used in our country, especially due to the specifics of the natural resources that Macedonia has at its disposal. In doing so, he emphasized that world experiences should be taken into account in the development of such a tourist offer, which could be adapted to our local conditions.
The director of the Agency for Promotion and Support of Tourism, Ljupco Janevski, presented the new slogan under which Macedonia will be promoted as a tourist destination in the future, "Taste Life". The director emphasized that he follows the needs of young people for active or experiential tourism, and that the overall support offered by the Agency for the tourism sector is aligned with the processes of the European digital agenda. The goal of the state's tourism strategy is to reach 5 million overnight stays per year by 2025 through the development of a tourist offer for all four seasons with options for everyone's taste.
Metodi Chilimanov, a tour operator for active tourism, told his personal story about how he turned his passion for mountains and winter sports into his profession. Today, he and his team collaborate with various business partners to offer attractive programs for their customers who want to experience the beauties of Shara throughout the year. They offer skiing in inaccessible places, mountain biking, wonderful traditional food and local wine and beer in the hotels they cooperate with. Guest lectures are an integral part of the work methodology of the University of Tourism and Management. Through them, students have the opportunity to become familiar with real developments and challenges in the areas in which they specialize, as a first step towards translating theory into practice.
