North Macedonia is experiencing a surge in foreign tourism, with a 21.6% increase in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism anticipates this trend will continue, potentially reaching 1.5 million foreign tourists by the end of the year.

The Ministry emphasizes the need for strategic investments to capitalize on this growth. Infrastructure improvements, strengthened tourism capacities, sustainable tourism development, and balanced regional development are crucial to maintaining the current momentum and maximizing benefits.

Turkish tourists remain the largest group, comprising 42% of foreign visitors. Serbia is also demonstrating significant growth, with a 20-30% increase in tourism, particularly in Skopje and Ohrid. Germany, Greece, Croatia, and Romania continue to be among the top 10 markets showing growth.

According to the Ministry, Bulgaria, Albania, and Slovenia have stable tourism numbers. Kosovo, the USA, Italy, and the Netherlands are not experiencing significant changes in tourist arrivals.

The projected increase in tourism could generate up to 500 million euros in revenue. The Ministry is implementing reforms to build an effective tourism system and create a functional structure that addresses the needs of the tourism sector.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism is currently taking over the Agency for Promotion and Support of Tourism and staffing the tourism sector within the ministry. This move aims to centralize the tourism industry’s management under the Ministry.