Macedonian and Albanian Women from Prespa Develop a New Tourism Story

Every region of Macedonia has its own heroines, and today we introduce you to the heroines of Prespa who tirelessly promote the region. They live to create stories and share them with every tourist who comes here. They pass on their knowledge from their grandmothers, while also affirming themselves by introducing modern tools for the development of tourism. These women have managed to plant 5,000 mountain tea saplings in the region, and today you will get to know their story.

We spoke with Violeta Prculovska, the president of "Rural Women of Prespa," who, as she says, considers the title of president in the association to be just a word. The influence and power to act are shared responsibilities because, in this way, much more is achieved.

Violeta explains that their family of rural women consists of wives, mothers, daughters, and grandmothers, intellectuals, and pensioners, both Macedonian and Albanian, who share a love for Prespa and tirelessly work to promote this beautiful rural region by preparing traditional food. The women come from various villages in the region, but this does not stop them from promoting Prespa as a multicultural community that everyone can experience through the best Macedonian, Albanian, and Turkish specialties that they prepare.

In addition to traditional food, Prculovska says that their story is also successfully built around crafting handmade goods and collecting herbs and teas that are characteristic of this region. All of this is motivated by the fact that women can earn alongside their husbands, who are farmers.

"We promote the region by preparing traditional food characteristic of the Prespa area. Recently, we were part of many events where, through our culinary skills, we promoted the region. All of them are dear to us, but I would highlight a few, such as the Twitter event 'I Love Prespa' organized by UNDP in 2018 in Skopje," says Violeta. She adds that in 2019, they were hosts of the event 'Meet Prespa,' which lasted the entire weekend across several locations in Prespa, featuring various activities. Additionally, every year they participate in the Prespa Apple Harvest Festival, as it is a celebration for everyone in the region and marks the beginning of the apple harvest.

Thanks to the rural women, foreign tourists in the region enjoy specialties from traditional Prespa cuisine, including Prespa carp, whitefish, and cironki, as well as various greens, pitulici, and arshlama. Of course, there's also the traditional Prespa gjomleze, which is always a hit among the guests. A country salad made from homegrown vegetables is served as a starter, and to top it off, they offer fruit strudels made from fruits that grow in the Prespa region, such as the apple strudel, which is a trademark and always available.

These women have organized thematic events at the request of their guests. One memorable event took place in the village of Stenje, where they held a promotion of berry fruits and created specialties inspired by the theme of the event. They also participated in Beekeeping Days, where they prepared various honey-based dishes. 

They frequently interact with foreign tourists at the Spirit of Prespa farm. There, they take on the roles of dedicated housewives and are largely responsible for the delicious food that guests have the opportunity to enjoy. Some ambassadors are regular attendees at these events, and they have formed good friendships with the women through their shared experiences.

"Tourists appreciate the authenticity we preserve and promote. They are especially delighted when we prepare the food, like gjomleze, in front of them," says Violeta.

According to her, foreign tourists appreciate the effort and dedication of local workers, as well as their courage to showcase their skills and knowledge. These individuals stand out in their work. Their potential has been recognized by several organizations that now support and inspire them to continue their efforts. CNVP and PONT are the main sponsors, and with their assistance, they have managed to plant 5,000 mountain tea seedlings. Currently, they are focusing on cultivating tea, as there are no events or tourists to engage with. You can find these women on social media under "Rural Women of Prespa" or "Prespa Mountain Tea," and they will soon have a website that is currently under construction.