North Macedonia reaches 2026 tourism targets ahead of schedule

North Macedonia has reached its government-set tourism targets for 2026 several months ahead of schedule. According to data from the State Statistical Office and comments from Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, the country recorded approximately 980,000 tourists and 2.73 million overnight stays as of August 2026.

August saw a significant surge in activity, with foreign tourists increasing by 11.1% and overnight stays rising by more than 20% compared to the same month last year. The Prime Minister attributed this growth to government promotion efforts and new agreements with travel agencies. Additionally, airport passenger traffic has increased by 30% compared to the previous year.

While the growth is notable, some analysts point out that the year-on-year growth rate for the first eight months—3% for tourists and 3.7% for overnight stays—is more moderate than the 6.8% growth seen during the same period in 2025. Discussions continue regarding how to convert these increased visitor numbers into higher economic value and longer stays.