ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE IMPACT ASSESSMENT ON TOURISM DEVELOPMENT: CASE STUDY OF GOSTIVAR & MAVROVO AND ROSTUSHE

Abstract

Gostivar region, along with the Mavrovo and Rostushe region, creates a joint spatial phenomenon with unique spatial components. This assumption is in favor of further development and expansion of the local tourism in that particular region, observed as a single accessible tourist destination. The geographical uniqueness of both municipalities shaped by distinctive geological forms, stunning natural landscapes, rich cultural and spiritual heritage, combined with the authentic local gastronomy, is the key to promoting year-round tourism and recreational activities. Tourist needs are shaped within specific spatial contexts and satisfied at locations with distinct spatial attributes. The capacity for movement within the tourism space plays a pivotal role in the development of the local tourism industry and therefore, local transportation infrastructure constitutes a central element of the tourist space, enabling mobility of people and goods within and between tourist regions/destinations, thus influencing the development and expansion of tourism-related activities. Tourism has a spatial basis, and accessibility and connectivity are essential elements within the tourism space that influence its dynamics and development. Adequate local infrastructure and accessibility are tools that help tourist destinations to reach a wider range of visitors, ultimately influencing their economic indicators and business results. By incorporating well-designed infrastructure into the local tourist offer, the region becomes more attractive and accessible to a broader spectrum of people, including those with specific needs, reduced mobility and, more generally, any tourist who values easy access, free movement and a pleasant tourist experience. Local tourism can’t be self-sustainable nor developed without the existence of a quality and functional local transport infrastructure which plays an integral part of the tourism industry, and serves as a catalyst for tourism development. Fluctuations in the volume of tourist traffic have a profound impact on the economic indicators of the local tourism sector. Adequate local road infrastructure and easy accessibility to tourist destinations in both municipalities are crucial prerequisites for travel and long-term sustainability of the local tourism in this region. In this paper, we aim to assess the impact of the road transport infrastructure on local tourism development, by analysing the residents’ assessment of this issue in both municipalities, by applying various scientific research methods, adequate to the research topic, such as conducting an on-site survey by using survey questionnaire on a small-size sample, performing Shapiro-Wilk Normality Test and the Mann Whitney U Test for two independent samples, as well as the methods of analysis and induction. As a result, conclusions were formulated based on the observation and analysis of individual indicators. Ultimately, the obtained data and performed statistical tests strongly rejected the formulated basic hypothesis and confirmed the null hypothesis which states that there is no statistically significant difference in the assessed impact of road infrastructure on municipal tourism development between the two neighboring municipalities.