Vlatko Sulev
We live in a region that still carries the burden of the past — a fact that, unfortunately, only makes our everyday lives more difficult. In conditions where politics increasingly distance us from each other, perhaps culture and tourism are precisely the points that can unite us.
Tourism is an activity that knows no borders, no hatred, no anger. It shows us that when we sit down with someone at the same table, we quickly realize how much we have in common. For Macedonia, tourism is not only an opportunity for promotion and economic prosperity, but also an alternative that creates space for encounters, for conversations without prejudice, and for new experiences that transcend political rhetoric.
Dentists in Gevgelija don’t mind if the patient comes from Greece, just as waiters in Ohrid restaurants don’t mind if the guests are from Bulgaria, Serbia or Albania. As long as the service is paid for and the guest leaves satisfied, everyone is welcome. On the contrary, tourists are greeted with a smile and hospitality, with a sincere desire to return again.
In those everyday encounters, all stereotypes associated with certain peoples are broken down, tourism teaches us that the “other” is not a threat, but a person with similar concerns, dreams, and hopes.
Whether it is health, gastronomic, cultural, lake or mountain tourism, these forms should be systematically developed, as they represent one of the most sustainable ways to generate income. A visit to a winery in the Tikvesh region, a weekend in Krusevo, a walk through the old bazaar in Skopje or spa tourism in Katlanovo, all of these are small but significant experiences that create economic and human value.
Our gaze should be directed towards the future, towards the question of how to improve our quality of life. Instead of constantly emphasizing our differences, we should give priority to the things we have in common and that connect us with other peoples.
From an economic perspective, tourism is one of our most realistic chances. Developed tourism means work for small family businesses, employment opportunities for young people, revitalization of rural areas that must not remain empty, which is why the presence of tourists throughout the year is important, not just in the summer months.
Life is actually simple. Every person wants to live beautifully, to travel, to relax in a restaurant, to share impressions and memories of a destination, to enjoy the little things. Tourism constantly reminds us of those simple, but essential beauties of life.
The Balkans have everything it needs to be a space of rapprochement: mountains that know no borders, rivers that flow through multiple countries, cuisines that differ in finesse but not in soul. Instead of using differences as a reason for division, we can turn them into an invitation to visit, get to know and respect.
It is important for Macedonia to be an open country, because when we are open to the world and to each other, we will realize that the strongest diplomacy is not that of speakers, but that which happens between people, on the street, in a restaurant, in the host’s home.
History is not always changed by grand agreements. Sometimes it is changed by a simple dinner, by a conversation without prejudice, by the realization that life can really be simple, if we let it be. Tourism will not solve all problems, but it is our chance to get closer to our neighbors.
Vlatko Sulev is the General Manager of Balkan Prime Tours and the President of NAITM, the National Association for Incoming Tourism in Macedonia
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