Growth in the number of online procurement, the value of the goods purchased

Analysts of the E-commerce agency have determined that there was a 45.4 percent increase in online purchases. But the average amount Macedonians spend on online orders has dropped to 38.6 euros. Simply put, the total volume of online trade as a way of trading the citizens of Macedonia is on the rise, but the value of the goods purchased in online trade is in decline (cheaper goods are being purchased online)

The latest data from the National Bank for Internet Shopping has shown that our fellow citizens significantly more products and services purchase and book through various internet platforms. Last year over 284 million euros were spent on products and services purchased online.
Analysts of the E-commerce agency have determined that there was a 45.4 percent increase in online purchases. But what is interesting is the fact that despite the increase in the total amount, the average amount that Macedonians spend on online orders has dropped to 38.6 euros. Simply put, the total volume of online trade as a way of trading is on the rise, but the value of the goods purchased in online trade is in decline (cheaper goods are being purchased online).
Most of the purchases were made in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hungary, the United States, Greece, Luxembourg, Lithuania and Germany. The insiders point out that this is understandable given that the countries mentioned are the seats of Buking, Netflix and Uber for Europe (Netherlands), Assos, Amazon Uk, while the highest number of Macedonian transactions in Ireland, as well as a 58.7 percent increase.
-Online shopping towards foreign platforms, whether it’s products or for hotels, aircraft or social media reservations, can also have a positive effect on domestic e-commerce, as it is about changing habits and increasing use of online shopping in general. On the other hand, increased demand will stimulate domestic traders to increase and promote the offer and overall online experience for customers – says AetsM President Nina Angelovska.
But can we take advantage of that advantage for developing a domestic offer, to increase the supply of domestic products on the Internet and to increase exports through the advantages of the Internet?

Foreign holders on payment cards in 2024 were more shopping with Macedonian e-commerce

National Bank (NBRM) data show that foreign payment card holders for purchasing Macedonian e-commerce products and services in 2024 spent 37.2 million euros, which compared to last year is an increase of 38.7 percent.
-E-commerce provides purchases of products and services from any end of the world. The annual increase of 39 percent of the value of e-transactions made by foreigners to domestic e-commerce and the € 37.2 million realized that Macedonian e-commeres should use this potential even more-says Angelovska.
However, she clarifies that the most online transactions made by foreign payment card holders, both by number and in value, are made from countries where there are Macedonian expatriates, referring to the assumption that is the basis for further research that our expatriates are increasingly using this channel to buy products and services to their close Macedonian e-shops.
According to her, it can be expected in the future to continue the growth of the value and the number of realized online transactions from abroad, which is also a contribution to the development of Macedonian e-commerce.

Traps of online trade

With the growth of online trading, unfortunately, the fraud of citizens, who receive products that do not correspond to what they ordered or are left without a product. Numerous complaints of citizens, who indicate that they have not received the requested product or have not received a product at all.
In one year, the number of fraud made in card transactions increased by 80.15 percent. The damage caused in 2024 reached 693,000 euros and is higher by a serious 135.27 percent, compared to the total amount of 2023. Citizens are often the impact, and most of the frauds are the rights through e-commerce.
By comparison, in 2023 there was 5,774 fraudulent transactions, which reached 294.6 thousand euros. ER

Great benefits for the tourism sector through online reservations

E-tourism, smart tourism… but essential is the service to be quality

Domestic hoteliers say they are ready to collaborate with all platforms and patterns to attract tourists, but point out that only online platforms are not enough for a larger influx of tourists.
– Attracting tourists and capacity filling are looking for constant work, not only before the start of the season, but much earlier. The Covid has destroyed these traditions, but the old users are slowly returning. To have more tourists, activities are needed in every field, through fairs, advertisements, media presence, but also through the availability of various online reservation platforms – says an experienced Hotelier from Ohrid.
Tourismologists also add that e-tourism, as an integrated approach to creating a common tourist offer, is necessary in today’s conditions of technological development to attract tourists globally.
-Smart tourism implies a connection of catering facilities with tourist attractions and carriers, and further access to the Internet and promotion of global tourist platforms. This requires an integrated website with data on the tourist offer and possible tourist routes that will be available to potential tourists-says our interlocutor.

Great growth of reservations through short -term platforms

The latest data of Eurostat, the European tourism sector, show that last year the EU had 854.1 million nights, through the platforms for short-term rent or accommodation, ie through Air Bi-BBC, Buking, Expidia Group or Tripedweus.
« This is an increase of 18.8 percent compared to 2023, when 719 million nights were made, » the Eurostat analysis said.
With the exception of April, every month in 2024 a number of nights in short stay was observed compared to the same month in 2023.
The most popular accommodation regions for short -term rent reserved through online platforms in the third quarter of 2024 were Adriatic Croatia in Croatia, where 25.2 million nights were reserved, with 6 % growth compared to the same quarter in 2023. There has also been a lot of Andalusia in Spain with 17.2 million nights and 23.1 percent growth. ER