North Macedonia’s tourism sector expanded in 2025, with overall visitor numbers rising 6% from a year earlier, driven entirely by foreign arrivals, official data showed.
Foreign tourist numbers increased 10.3% year-on-year, while domestic visitors fell 2.2%, according to the State Statistical Office. The data indicate that growth in the sector was underpinned by stronger international demand, offsetting a decline in local travel.
Total overnight stays rose 0.8% in 2025 compared with 2024. Overnight stays by foreign tourists increased 6.4%, while those by domestic visitors dropped 4.1%, suggesting that international guests not only accounted for the bulk of the growth but also stayed longer on average.
In December alone, 59,521 tourists were recorded, generating 112,001 overnight stays. Foreign visitors accounted for 63.3% of total arrivals and 57.6% of overnight stays during the month.
Turkey was the largest source market in December, with 7,303 visitors, followed by Bulgaria with 5,214, Serbia with 4,736 and Greece with 3,438.
The figures point to increasing reliance on regional and foreign markets to sustain tourism growth, while domestic demand remains under pressure.