GSTC Destination Assessment
The objective of any assessment is to evaluate the destination’s current status and to support the development of a strategic improvement plan to strengthen sustainability performance. The assessment is based on the GSTC Destination Standard, focusing on four pillars: destination policy and planning, community involvement and benefits, management of cultural assets, and management of environmental and natural resources.
Swisscontact Connection to Ohrid, North Macedonia
Swisscontact (Swiss Foundation for Technical Cooperation) is a non-profit organization that implements development projects around the world. It contributes to sustainable practices and the broader prosperity of emerging economies. Swisscontact has supported several of GSTC Sustainable Tourism Training Program over the years. As a result, it invited GSTC to Ohrid City to conduct a Destination Assessment as part of one of its projects.
Ohrid, North Macedonia
Ohrid is located just southwest of North Macedonia’s capital, Skopje, and is the country’s most well-known tourist destination due to its natural, cultural, spiritual, and historic features. Recognized for these attributes, Ohrid and Lake Ohrid have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a mixed Cultural and Natural Site.
Destination Assessment Details
Respectively, from 5 to 10 March 2018, Dr. Mihee Kang, GSTC Destination Assessor and Program Director for Asia-Pacific, carried out the assessment in Ohrid and Skopje. The assessment included interviews with several stakeholders and visits to various sites. Stakeholders from both the private and public sectors expressed strong interest in developing Ohrid as a sustainable tourism destination and demonstrated their support. They actively participated in the opening workshop and shared their views on current issues and possible solutions for Ohrid.
Commitments to continue the work
The Ohrid Mayor, Dr. Jovan Stojanoski (Јован Стојаноски) expressed his commitment towards a more sustainable tourism industry. Additionally, several Macedonian media channels have showed their interest in the GSTC Destination Assessment. The Ohrid Municipality is planning to revise the current tourism strategies based on the assessment results.
Finally, the North Macedonia Ministry of Economy is in the process of joining GSTC as a national member. They have supported the destination assessment by attending the meetings and providing relevant documents with GSTC. The GSTC will continue to support them to apply the GSTC framework to its destinations.
Media coverage in Macedonian:
