The delegation from UTMS and FTS Travel, during the period from 30.01 to 02.02.2013, in Madrid, at meetings with high officials of UNWTO, also visiting the tourism fair FITUR.

The strategic goal of the University of Tourism and Management in Skopje for expanding the international cooperation in order to reach the top standards in the educational process, as well as promoting the tourism potentials of Macedonia, was confirmed practically, as so many times before. This time in Madrid through meetings and discussions with heads of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) which were not only formal, more precisely, specific projects which involve UTMS were discussed. This, among other things, is an affirmation of the credibility of UTMS within the world's most important international institution for tourism. The official meetings of the delegation were led by the Chancellor of UTMS, Prof. Ace Milenkovski, PhD, the Dean of the Faculty of Tourism Assoc. Prof. Saso Gramatnikovski, PhD, Ljupco Nakev, MA, where discussions were held with the Secretary General of the UNWTO, Taleb Rifai, CEO Marcia Favilia, the director of the associated state members Yolanda Perdomo, the Director of the Knowledge Network Programme Eundzhi Tae, as well as many others, and this was used for determining further activities of UTMS within this institution, as well as identifying forms of continuous support that UNWTO could provide for our University. The representatives from FTS Travel, Angela Milenkovska, Meri Nichkova, Goran Apostolovski and Andrea Machkik, at the Tourism Fair of Madrid (FITUR), explored collaboration opportunities with colleagues from several companies and countries that were also attending the fair, and they were also exposed to the current trends of the tourist offer and innovations in the tourism business.
The delegation of the University of Tourism and Management in Skopje, headed by the Chancellor Ace Milenkovski, at the headquarters of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in Madrid, had a meeting with the head of the institution, the Secretary-General Taleb Rifai, the CEO Marcia Favilia, and the Director of the Knowledge Network Programme Eundzhi Tae. Moreover, the Chancellor Milenkovski introduced them with the activities of UTMS within UNWTO, current and future co-operation, areas of interest and specific projects which include our University. Mr. Rifai expressed satisfaction that UTMS is an active participant and part of the supporting members of the UNWTO, stressing the importance of cooperation of scientific institutions in the interest of the development of global tourism. In a friendly and cordial atmosphere, since this is not the first meeting between the representatives of UTMS and the heads of UNWTO, there was a discussion about the opportunities and tourism potentials of Macedonia, where Mr. Rifai was pleased to accept the invitation from the Chancellor Milenkovski to visit Macedonia. It has been preliminary agreed that Mr. Taleb Rifai in the middle of this year, is about to come to Macedonia, and the specific date will be further determined.

UTMS is the project leader for the associated members of the UNWTO Tourism Sports and adrenaline, and precisely the determination of future activities related to this prototype were the main topic of the working meeting of the delegation of UTMS and the director of associated state members Yolanda Perdomo, held at the stand of UNWTO, at the Tourism Fair in Madrid. This is a project that should raise awareness of the importance of one of the fastest growing segments of tourism, sports, which is a great potential for addressing their specific destination. The goal is to design a prototype sports tourism which will include science, business, government and local authorities, which would achieve positive economic and social effects. Thus, a particular destination would be positioned on the global tourist map. On the proposal by UTMS, the destination of the prototype will be the ski resort Kozuf in Macedonia. In the work program of the associated members of the UNWTO, it has been anticipated that the activities related to the project Kozuf will start in June and will last until the end of 2014. In this regard, the Chancellor Milenkovski and Mrs. Perdomo arranged initial activities. It has been agreed that by the end of February Yolanda Perdomo will arrive in Macedonia, where she is going to visit the Ski Resort Kozuf and will be a guest at UTMS. At the end of the project in 2014, it has been anticipated that a seminar will be held in Skopje, where the prototype for sports tourism will be presented. Meanwhile, UTMS as the project leader will cooperate with other related programs of UNWTO. Eventually, at the meeting between the delegation of UTMS and Yolanda Perdomo, intensifying cooperation with other top universities that are part of the supporting members of the UNWTO was discussed as well.
At the UNWTO headquarters in Madrid, the delegation of UTMS had a meeting with the director of the Knowledge Network Programme, Eundzhi Tae. In focus were three key issues: 1. UTMS to become a member of the global network of knowledge, 2. The procedure through which UTMS will be given a TedQual certificate, and 3. UTMS to be a regional partner for animation, and other scientific and educational institutions to join this network within the UNWTO. The Chancellor Milenkovski and the Dean Gramatnikovski informed Mrs. Tae that UTMS will immediately begin with the procedure for joining the Knowledge Network Programme and asked for support in order to establish new forms of cooperation with other universities that are members of this network. They also informed that UTMS is interested in acquiring a TedQual certificate, which provides quality assurance and compliance programs with other top universities, which in turn opens up the possibility of a series of other benefits for the students and the teaching staff of UTMS. Mrs. Eundzhi Tae expressed readiness to assist in the realization of these goals of UTMS, citing that the Knowledge Network now counts 130 members from 40 countries, who share research, studies and strategies for innovative development of tourism. The goal is, as Tae said, these papers not to end up only in the form of materials, but through various forms of activity, to reflect in state policies and to find application in the work of companies that deal with tourism. In a nutshell, to implement in practice.
On 01.02.2013, the delegation of UTMS attended the meeting of the Board of the associated states of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, which, among other things, adopted a draft work plan in 2013. This plan is especially interesting for UTMS mainly because it integrates the sports tourism project which will take place in the year of 2014. Opening remarks at the meeting were given by the Secretary General of the UNWTO, Taleb Rifai, who spoke about the fast development of tourism in the world, highlighting the fact that in the last year were registered over a billion tourists worldwide. Growth was observed on all continents, with the greatest increase in tourism in China and Russia, said Rifai. According to Mr. Rifai, the main challenges facing the tourism currently are the following: visa policy, the connection of destinations, especially air transport and regulation, ie, protection of consumers and companies. Further on, the Board members of UNWTO, debated for visa facilitation strategy in the states that would stimulate the economic growth through the growth of tourism. In a special study of this subject, it has been concluded that in those countries with a visa regime, it would be best if visas are issued on arrival or electronically, which would greatly facilitate traveling. The current crisis was addressed as a tourism problem today, which hit some airlines and their decisions to abolish some destinations.
The attendance at this meeting was an opportunity for the delegation of UTMS, not only to monitor the work of the board of the associated members of the UNWTO, but also to meet and talk with them and establish new friendships.

UTMS and FTS Travel at the Tourism Fair in Madrid

The International Tourism Fair in Madrid, FITUR, each year gathers around 9,000 exhibitors from over 160 countries or regions, and is visited by over 100,000 people. It was a great opportunity, especially for the representatives of FTS Travel, in the days of the fair from 30.01. to 02/02/2013, to have more discussions with the exhibitors, gain new contacts and learn about the new trends in tourism offer. Special sphere of interest were the destinations that could be interesting for a scientific research Practicum that could be arranged for the students of UTMS, and recovery of the tourism offer in Macedonia.
Finally, we can conclude that another very useful and practical visit to Madrid was organized, in the days of the International Tourism Fair, and also, in the days of the important meetings of UNWTO, which undoubtedly includes the University of Tourism and Management in Skopje within the elite institutions in this area, but also among the factors that have a concrete stake in the global policy making within the hospitality industry, as a singular institution from the Republic of Macedonia.

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