Moldova outlines main tourism priorities for 2025-2026 - EXCLUSIVE

The Ministry of Culture of Moldova has outlined its strategic priorities for the tourism sector in 2025–2026, emphasizing international promotion, rural and cultural tourism development, and infrastructure improvements to enhance visitor experiences.

The Ministry said this in an exclusive interview to CE Report.

According to the Ministry, raising Moldova’s international profile as an authentic and competitive tourist destination is a top priority. To achieve this, the country plans to participate in nine major international tourism fairs and exhibitions throughout 2026, each featuring a national stand to showcase Moldova’s tourism offerings and facilitate engagement with foreign markets.

Moldova’s accession to the European Route of Ceramics, certified by the Council of Europe, is also highlighted as a key initiative. This step is expected to attract culturally-minded visitors, promote traditional crafts, and strengthen the country’s image as a destination for authentic cultural experiences.

Additionally, the Ministry is finalizing regulations for the organization and operation of tourist information centers. These centers are intended to professionalize tourist services, provide multilingual promotional materials, and serve as hubs for cultural, rural, wine, and event tourism. They will also collect data on visitor flows and preferences to guide public policy and support regional tourism development.

Enhancing infrastructure and service quality

Infrastructure and service improvements are central to Moldova’s tourism strategy. The Single Programming Document (SPD) for 2025–2027 includes 95 regional and local development projects, covering business infrastructure, tourism activities, and urban revitalization. These projects aim to modernize local roads, improve access to attractions, develop public spaces and socio-cultural infrastructure, and strengthen connectivity between tourist areas and urban centers.

Supporting rural, cultural, and wine tourism

To develop rural, cultural, and wine tourism, the Ministry supports several initiatives focused on sustainable cultural and natural heritage. Among them is the “Eco App for Sustainable Tourism in the Republic of Moldova,” implemented by the National Tourism Office with support from the Human Doc Foundation and co-financing from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Running from 2024 to 2026, the project focuses on marking tourist routes, producing guides, involving local communities, and promoting accessibility.

The recently launched Cross-Border Gastronomic Route Romania–Moldova highlights local culinary traditions and authentic products. Spanning the entire country, the route includes restaurants, wineries, guesthouses, thematic museums, monasteries, nature reserves, and other cultural sites. The Ministry is also drafting regulations for Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) to coordinate public authorities, businesses, and stakeholders, ensuring improved service quality, stronger destination branding, and greater international competitiveness.

Strengthening partnerships and European visibility

Moldova is seeking closer cooperation with regional and European tourism organizations, especially the Council of Europe. From November 2025 to May 2026, the country will hold the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. In this context, the Ministry, together with the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes, will organize the international seminar “Republic of Moldova in the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe.” The seminar will enhance Moldova’s visibility within European cultural networks, foster dialogue among authorities, cultural institutions, and tourism operators, and promote competitive cultural tourism products.

Tourism sector performance and trends

The Ministry monitors tourism performance using official data. Between January and September 2025, total visitors reached 480.7 thousand, up 6.5% from the same period in 2024. Inbound tourism rose 28.8%, domestic tourism increased 21.2%, and outbound tourism slightly increased 0.3%. Travel agency and tour operator revenue reached 4.2 billion lei, a 10.3% increase. Inbound tourism revenue grew 33.3%, domestic tourism revenue 9.6%, and the average length of stay increased from 3.9 to 4.6 days.

“These results highlight steady growth in both international and domestic tourism, reflecting the effectiveness of our promotion and development strategies,” the Ministry concluded.

This interview was prepared by Laura Hoffman