Early Forms of Tourism in the Republic of Macedonia: Ottoman Period, Bitola and Skopje Vilayet

The survey covers the last two centuries of the Ottoman Empire with special reference to the Bitola (Monastir) and the Kosovo (Skopje) vilayet. They identified beginnings, names, and conditions of work and stay of the guests in the caravanserai, the first hotels, and restaurants in both vilayets. The survey is based on primary and secondary data sources for a longer period of time. In this research we use a qualitative analysis based on the relevant sources (archival documents and published books) and secondary sources (historical and contemporary written sources and scientific publications). The main tourism development unit is the number of caravanserai, inn, and hotels that received passengers, as well as the number of restaurants and tourist arrivals. The study explores two areas of hotels and catering that have contributed to the beginning of early forms of tourism in the Republic of Macedonia, in area of Bitola and Skopje Vilayet, the economically most developed areas in that part of the Ottoman Empire. Keywords: history of tourism, caravanserai, inns (khan), hotels, restaurants, vilayet