A total of 155 million denars of subsidies for attracting foreign tourists, introducing new direct lines with low-cost airlines to Paris, Frankfurt and Brussels with an additional assistance of 135 million denars and an expansion of the list of countries - China and India this year and the United States, Great Britain, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Azerbaijan and Germany in 2015 - from where potential tourists could be attracted, it has been announced by Deputy PM for economic affairs Vladimir Pesevski and Economy Minister Bekim Neziri.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Pesevski and Neziri said the number of employees in tourism this year according to projections will stand at 10,000 - an increase of the tourist industry in the country's GDP by 1.9%.

According to the ministers, tourism in the past few years had recorded exceptionally positive trends as a result of the set of measures, projects and activities conducted by the government.

"With all tourism-related activities included, additional 31,000 jobs have been created in Macedonia i.e. 4.5% of the total number of employments registered in 2013. Projections suggest the figure will rise this year as well, up to 32,500 jobs with expectations of 40,000 employments to be created by 2024," Neziri stated adding that tourism's participation in GDP in 2012 and 2013 had increased 1.4%. "The goal is these revenues to achieve 5% growth of the total GDP."

Last year, as many as 700,000 tourists were reported in Macedonia - a figure which was set as one of the main objectives in line with the tourism development strategy.

"Between 2006 and 2013, the number of foreign tourists is doubled by 98%. The total number of tourists, including domestic and foreign ones, registers a 40% growth in this period," stated Pesevski.

Recently, the government had taken several measure aimed at tourism development, including VAT reduction from 18% to 5% for accommodation, bed and breakfast, half board and fill board, subsidies for various tourist events and to attract foreign guests and amendments to the laws on tourist development zones and tourism industry.