“The presence of Turkish tourists in Skopje has become increasingly noticeable, a trend now confirmed by official tourism data,” said journalist Fazile Halili.
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Visitors interviewed in the Macedonian capital said that the monuments, cultural heritage, cuisine and hospitality were among the main reasons they had come to the city. Spending varies from one tourist to another: some had budgeted around 200 euros for several days, while others had spent mainly on food and souvenirs.
“We only arrived today, so far we have spent approximately 100 euros.”“Where are you from?”“I live in the United States, but I am Turkish-American.”
“From Italy.”“Do you often come to Skopje, or is this your first visit?”“It is our first time. We are really enjoying this place, the people are kind and the city is beautiful. We have planned to visit Matka Canyon, the main monuments and the museums.”“How much have you spent so far?”“Around 200 euros over three full days.”
“Muslim and Catholic cultures come together here. I like visiting different places each time so that I can learn more about the culture and food.”“How much money are you spending?”“Money?”“Not much. Most of it goes on food and souvenirs. We have spent approximately 4,000 Macedonian denars in about a day and a half.”
According to the Ministry of Culture, a total of 741,446 tourists visited North Macedonia during the first seven months of the year. The data also show an increase in the number of foreign visitors.
“The positive performance of the tourism sector is an incentive to continue working toward the sustainable development of this sector and the expansion of the tourism offer. During the first seven months of 2026, a total of 741,446 tourists visited Macedonia, while an increase in the number of foreign tourists was recorded. Among foreign visitors, the largest numbers came from Turkey, Germany, Serbia, Romania and Albania,” the Ministry of Culture said.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism estimates that the continuous promotion of North Macedonia, improving the quality of services, and the use of artificial intelligence and digitalization are essential for creating a more modern, sustainable and competitive tourism sector.
