Moldova recorded a 25% year-on-year increase in international tourist arrivals during the first half of 2026, according to the latest World Tourism Barometer from UN Tourism.
These figures placed Moldova among the strongest-performing European destinations in the January–June period. The same 25% growth was reported for Uzbekistan, while Greece and Ireland saw an increase in international arrivals of 15%. Europe as a whole recorded 3% growth, compared with a 0.4% global increase.
A closer look also shows solid growth: Moldova’s accommodation establishments hosted 257,300 tourists in the first half of the year, 15.8% more than during the same period in 2025. Non-resident tourists accounted for 159,600 of the total, or 62%.
Among the main accommodation categories, hotels and motels saw the most substantial increase, with visitor numbers rising by 23.9%. Tourist and agritourist guesthouses grew by 10.9%, while health and wellness facilities increased by 7.3%. It is, however, worth noting that growth was not uniform across all accommodation types: hostels, apartments and rented rooms saw a 15.9% decline, while recreation facilities fell by 9.7%.
Ukraine and Romania were the largest source markets for non-resident tourists, accounting for 39.5% and 20.8%, respectively. Together, they accounted for 60.3% of all non-resident tourists accommodated in Moldova. Overnight stays, however, rose by only 4.6%, suggesting that the increase in visitors did not translate into an equivalent rise in time spent in the country.
Moldova’s Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalisation said the results demonstrated growing interest in the country, while highlighting the need for continued investment in infrastructure, destination promotion and the development of new tourism projects.
