Deep Dive: Number of Tourists in North Macedonia Increases in 2025, Reports ESHS

North Macedonia, a landlocked Balkan nation formerly known as Macedonia until its 2019 name change to resolve a long-standing dispute with Greece, has historically relied on tourism to bolster its post-Yugoslav economy. The increase in tourist numbers in 2025, as reported by ESHS, signals potential recovery or growth in a sector vulnerable to regional instability, including past ethnic tensions and the 2020 pandemic. From a geopolitical lens, this uptick could reflect stabilizing EU accession efforts, where tourism serves as a soft power tool to attract Western investment amid competition from neighbors like Albania and Montenegro. As an international correspondent, I note cross-border implications: rising arrivals likely stem from improved connectivity via the Balkan corridor, affecting source markets in Europe, Turkey, and beyond. This boosts revenue for local hospitality but strains infrastructure in popular sites like Lake Ohrid, a UNESCO heritage area shared culturally with Albania. Key actors include the North Macedonian government, pushing tourism promotion, and ESHS tracking data to inform policy. Regionally, the intelligence view underscores cultural context: Orthodox heritage sites and Ottoman-era architecture draw cultural tourists, while adventure seekers target mountains and canyons. The 2025 increase matters as it counters brain drain narratives, providing jobs for youth in a country of 2 million facing demographic decline. Beyond the Balkans, EU states benefit from diversified travel options, reducing overtourism in hotspots like Croatia, while global chains eye expansion.