Aleksova Maleva: Travel agencies provide citizens with greater security

Ana Marija Aleksova Maleva, President of the National Association of Travel Agencies of North Macedonia, emphasized that booking holidays through travel agencies provides travelers with greater security and protection against potential problems.

Speaking to Kosovo Online, she said that although there are now numerous accommodation booking platforms, direct online payments—particularly by credit card or through reservations made without adequate safeguards—carry certain risks.

"It often happens that people traveling with small children or elderly family members arrive at their destination only to discover that the accommodation has already been sold out, that there has been an overbooking, or that some other unpleasant situation has occurred. In such cases, they have no contract, no legal protection in the country they have traveled to, and they have to resolve the problem on their own," Aleksova Maleva said.

According to her, precisely these situations are one of the main reasons why citizens continue to place their trust in travel agencies.

"A travel agency, as a licensed legal entity, has a responsibility toward its clients. If a problem arises, travelers know whom to contact—they have a point of contact and the assurance that someone will respond. Of course, overbooking or other unforeseen circumstances can occur, but when a traveler has a contract with a travel agency, the agency is obliged to provide suitable accommodation that is at least equivalent to—or better than—the accommodation originally booked," she emphasized.

Aleksova Maleva believes that today's travelers can no longer be described as adventurers because the way people plan their trips has changed with the development of the internet and digital platforms.

"Everything that was once available exclusively through travel agencies can now also be found online. Just as people used to go to stores to buy certain products, today many shop online. Travel agencies are likewise working to improve their digital platforms in order to make reservations and online payments simpler and more convenient," she said.

She added that for many people, a summer holiday or vacation is an event they plan only once a year, which is why it is important for them to feel confident about where they are investing their money and where they will spend their holiday.

"Safety is the most important thing. When you have a person and a company standing behind you—in other words, a travel agency licensed by the competent ministry—you have an additional level of security and confidence," Aleksova Maleva said.

Speaking about destination choices, she pointed out that people today can travel almost anywhere in the world, but that for independent travel it is essential to check flight availability and connections in advance.

"When we talk about organized holidays offered by travel agencies in North Macedonia, the most common destinations are neighboring countries such as Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, and Montenegro. However, there are also numerous long-haul destinations served by charter flights during the summer season. These primarily include Egypt, Tunisia, Antalya, and Bodrum, where regular flights are available, as well as certain destinations in Italy and Spain that are also offered through travel agencies," Aleksova Maleva concluded.