SKOPJE, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The number of tourists in North Macedonia increased by more than 40 percent in the first half of 2021, according to the report published by the country's State Statistical Office (SSO) on Friday.
According to the report, the number of tourists in January-June reached 181,422, up by 42.5 percent year-on-year.
During the period, the number of domestic tourists increased by 97.8 percent, while that of foreign tourists rose by 8.3 percent.
Meanwhile, the number of nights spent during the period was 416,331, up by 54 percent year-on-year.
Despite the increasing number of daily COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks, health authorities have not announced any change regarding the entry of tourists into the country, except that all travelers arriving from India are required to go through a 14-day quarantine period.
On Friday, the Health Ministry reported 672 new cases in the last 24 hours, raising the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country to 160,571.
Starting from Aug. 16, the government will introduce new safety measures to curb the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant, including a ban on all indoor celebrations in catering facilities and other venues holding large events.
Moreover, as of Aug. 16, individuals over the age of 18 will be required to present proof of COVID-19 vaccination with at least one dose to enter any facility with a capacity of 30 people or more. Enditem
