Potentials for development of shopping tourism in Republic of North Macedonia

Shopping is an act of buying goods, and motives for shopping can be pleasure, entertainment, reduced prices, search for brands, use of free time or cultural motives. Shopping tourism is a trip outside one's permanent place of residence for the purpose of shopping. The relevant literature in tourism makes a distinction between two significant segments related to shopping and tourism, namely: tourist shopping (shopping that tourists do during the trip) and shopping tourism in the classical sense of the word (travel motivated by the need for shopping). The aim of the paper is to cover the basic aspects of shopping tourism by defining this type of tourism and analyzing the demand for shopping tourism. For the purpose of the paper, a research methodology of secondary data sources related to the potential for shopping tourism in North Macedonia was used. Data analysis related to shopping centers, free shops, souvenirs, bazaars, supermarkets and markets in the country are presented in tabular and descriptive form in the research.