UNESCO Status Strengthens the International Recognition of Ohrid and Struga; Measures Must Be Implemented by 2030

Recognition as part of UNESCO World Heritage plays an important role in the international promotion of Ohrid and Struga. According to university professor Sasho Korunovski, the two cities are globally known for the combination of the lake, nature, history and Ohrid’s old town. He emphasizes that UNESCO status adds prestige and credibility to the destination, while for foreign tourists this status represents an important brand.

“Ohrid deserves much more than what we are giving it today, because the claim that Ohrid does not attract tourists because of its cultural and natural heritage is completely wrong. On the contrary, Ohrid is a top destination precisely because of its cultural and natural heritage, primarily for foreign tourists but also for domestic tourists,” said Sasho Korunovski, a university professor.

The Mayor of the Municipality of Ohrid, Kirill Pecakov, assesses that progress has been made in meeting UNESCO’s conditions and preserving the region’s status.

“There has been movement, and this progress has also been noted in the report itself. When we talk about the report, what is important is that on many points issues that were previously considered insignificant are now assessed at a very high level in the work between Macedonia and Albania. They are requesting the establishment of a working body that will operate, submit reports, and oversee the measures and recommendations,” stressed Kiril Pecakov, Mayor of the Municipality of Ohrid.

At the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Busan, South Korea, UNESCO decided not to include the Ohrid region on the List of World Heritage in Danger. According to reports on the July 2026 decision, North Macedonia has been given until 2030 to implement the required measures. The next progress report is expected to be submitted in early February 2027./TV21/