It is always a good time for visiting Krusevo. Winter or summer. On a snowy or hot day. It is especially desirable to escape the summer heat to higher areas as Krusevo.
The streets of Krusevo are empty in the middle of summer. You will see the only motion on hillsides of Meckin Kamen for paragliding, on monuments in area Gumenje, in the church and at the monasteries Sveto Preobrazenie or Sveti Spas. There are guests from all over Macedonia, foreigners, researchers, curious people.
Tourism both summer and winter is the main advantage for Krusevo development. Inhabitants of Krusevo including city authorities will answer you this. We had coffee with them in the bazaar, accompanied by calming view of St. Nikola church and relaxing sight of Krusevo.
A coffee-chat kicks off with the question: What is living in Krusevo like?
Krusevo mayor Gjorgji Damceski immediately defines the situation: "Krusevo is attractive tourist city, but we are struggling to face with economic challenges."
In order to explain the matters, Kosta Mickoski, Head of the Department for Local Economic Development, joins in the conversation immediately.
We have fully directed ourselves to develop the tourism. Both in winter and in summer and also to offer activities for other “dead’ periods in the spring and autumn. Currently we have 45.000 overnight stays annually and around 120.000 daily visits during the year. We also attend fairs aimed at strengthening the position of Krusevo as an attractive tourist destination. Nights spent by foreign tourists increase. This is due to "adrenaline tourism", especially paragliding, because Meckin Kamen is one of the most attractive paragliding take off places in Europe, and Krusevo is on the list of the top 10 world paragliding destinations. July and August are months of championships, both domestic, European and World. Aimed at enriching the tourist offer, we plan to build two climbing walls, to mark bike and pedestrian lanes at length of 40 km, including new advertising printed materials, which will be presented at fairs. The accommodation capacities are expanding, which is most important. Three locations for mini-hotels have been sold near the lake, domestic investor has bought Panorama Hotel and the construction of Ilinden Hotel will be completed, Mickoski said.
But what happens in the economic plan. Is there work for the Krusevo people, for the young people? Twelve companies do not exist for more than two decades. Krusevo is in the so-called "passive regions" in Macedonia. With a population of 3.500 inhabitants, 1.400 are unemployed.
The first steps for economic revival are being made for the past three years, Damceski said, adding that three companies, two Greek, one American will open over 400 jobs.
The Greek textile manufacturer Falco actively works, Greek company Seke buys out and processes tobacco, while American company Mak North America for production of medical cannabis plans to open plant. It will alleviate but will not fully solve unemployment, Damceski said.
Young people from Krusevo said that it is not a job for them, but for the elderly. They are looking for projects financed by European funds, attractive opportunities to foster young people who have already gone to Bitola, Skopje, and abroad.
There is still a trend of emigration. Young people are not sufficiently included at local decision making. This needs to be changed and to consider their ideas and needs. The message is to create a better business environment, an opportunity for self-employment of young people, more European funds for financing projects, Metodija Stojceski from the Youth Union of Krusevo, said.
In order to attract tourists and businessmen, the infrastructure and the water supply system is important. Krusevo is being supplied, mainly from its own sources from the Busava mountain, the local water supply network is reconstructed to reduce water losses in the system.
The walk through Krusevo is refreshing in the summer heat. There are people at Gumenje where the Museum of Tose Proeski and Makedonium monument are located. Krusevo is the city of seven museums (Museum of the Ilinden uprising, Nikola Martinoski Gallery, Icon Gallery in the church “Sveti Jovan”, the Museum of the National Liberation War are still attractive).
Near Makedonium monument we met Adriana Palmer from Slovakia, whose specialty is historical monuments, touring Balkan, Macedonian and Krusevo monuments.
The impression of the city, and all monuments is special and wonderful. They are beautiful, they fascinate although they need to be restored. And, I will recommend Krusevo to my friends, said twenty-five years old Adriana Palmer.
The paragliding championship, Krusevo-ethno city, “10 Days Krusevo Republic” manifestation and celebration of Ilinden are to be held in Krusevo in the next two months. It is good that the tourist offer is being enriched even in all months. Krusevo natives say the tourist city is attractive, but it needs economic recovery.
Elizabeta Mitreska
