Opportunities for development of spa tourism in Macedonia

Spa tourism is one of the oldest organized forms of tourism, as evidenced by the many archaeological remains from the ancient period. This means that people have long ago realized the healing properties of thermo-mineral springs and built spas in those places, similar to the areas of Macedonia, such as: Katlanovo Spa, Bansko Spa, Debar Spas, Kosovrsti Spa, Spa near Kochani and many others. The Romans and the Turks have given the greatest importance to the baths, from whose time the largest number of baths in Europe date, such as the Katlanovo bath near Skopje. Today, these are tourist places of great importance and realize a very large tourist turnover. Health tourism has always been an escape from everyday life in search of health and happiness. While in the past, such trips had bourn attributes of prestige and luxury, the accessibility and affordability to the average man in tourism is becoming a mass phenomenon. Numerous reasons have contributed to it; namely, the increasing necessity for spa rehabilitation due to the changed mannerism in working and lifestyle of modern man and the awareness of people about taking care of their own health (Alfieri, 1994). Spa tourism in many countries in the world is very highly developed and in some places it is also a carrier of the tourism economy. Every year, European health resorts and spas generate a turnover of around 20 billion euros and employ more than 500,000 people. Highly developed spa tourism has Hungary, Czech Republic, Belgium, France, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, etc. Unfortunately, in Macedonia it is only partially developed despite the great opportunities for its smooth development, given the great wealth of thermo-mineral and mineral waters. In the past, the visit to the baths was characteristic only for the older generation of the population, ie the so- called "over 60", but today this structure of visitors has changed significantly, so that today the younger generations enjoy the beauties of the baths. Baths and air conditioning are an indispensable part of the health system, cultural heritage and an important economic factor in European countries, similar to Macedonia. Due to which it is necessary to research systematically, systematically and in the long run and to valorize them in the right way