Tourist operators in Pustec see positively the change in the law on protected areas. According to them, the new law gives perspective to Prespa.

The villages of Pustec municipality are located within the Prespa National Park. According to the residents, being inside this park, they have limited the tourist development of the area. In these conditions, it has been impossible for the tourist operators to turn towards tourism and the improvement of the tourist infrastructure, including the beaches.

Kiço Ago is one of the oldest operators in the area who sees the change in the law on Protected Areas as positive, as until now it has been impossible for him to develop his business.

“We are very satisfied with the new law. The new law gives perspective to Prespa as it was completely isolated, now we hope that this God-given area will become something good. We personally have 25 years, we were not allowed to legalize the bar, now we believe in the name of the new parliamentary law, we say Prespa by fixing the infrastructure will take the right path”, says Ago.

The tourism specialist Llazo Stojan is on the same line when he says that the change in the law is expected first to create the right climate for local operators but also to attract foreign investors.

“As a resident of this community, I think that changing the law can be a green light for Prespa to attract investment flows. The residents also have this hope. With the old law as a protected area, investment from the residents themselves, or from outside, was not allowed, investments in Prespa were limited. With these changes, I think the opportunity was opened”, said Stojan.

The municipality of Pustec consists of 9 villages of 5100 inhabitants where 5 of the villages are wetted by the waters of Lake Prespa, villages which are inside the National Park. Official sources inform that there are 9 guesthouses, hotels and restaurants in these lakeside villages.