North Macedonia urged to promote natural tourism for economic growth

European Parliament rapporteur Thomas Weiss has urged North Macedonia to better promote its natural beauty to the world to drive economic growth through tourism. Speaking at the EU–North Macedonia Mixed Parliamentary Committee session on the environment, Weiss highlighted locations such as Pelister, Galichica, Mavrovo, and Shara as evidence of the country’s significant potential for natural tourism development.

Weiss emphasized that protecting nature and fostering economic development are not mutually exclusive goals. He pointed to the tourism successes in Albania and Montenegro as models for the region. He noted that developing tourism could provide vital opportunities for local communities in sectors such as hospitality, mountain guiding, and local products.

Addressing the urgent reality of climate change, Weiss warned that the global community has already surpassed the 1.5 degree Celsius threshold established in the Paris Agreement. He stressed the need for societies, cities, and agriculture to adapt to increasing heatwaves and extreme weather to avoid high costs. He also noted that environmental issues, including air pollution and waste management, remain critical challenges for the region.