Moldova seeks to attract more visitors with joint tourism routes
Moldova and Romania are exploring new joint tourism routes to attract more international visitors, building on existing cross-border products and the region’s shared cultural, culinary and wine heritage.
New routes to build on shared heritage
Tour operators and representatives of Romania’s National Association of Travel Agencies recently visited the Republic of Moldova to assess opportunities for developing joint tourism products. Their itinerary included wineries, the Orheiul Vechi Cultural and Natural Reserve, Soroca Fortress and spa resorts in Cahul.
According to Moldova’s National Tourism Office (NTO), participants praised the diversity of the country’s tourism offer and the potential for joint initiatives with Romania.
“The delegation visited the most important wineries in the Republic of Moldova and cultural heritage sites,” Valentin Ceban, head of the NTO section responsible for tourism product development and infrastructure, said on Radio Moldova’s Zi de Zi programme.
Ceban said the two countries already had experience developing joint itineraries and planned to expand their cross-border cooperation.
“We already have joint trails and routes with Romania, including the Stephen the Great Route, established in 2019, and other itineraries, the most recent being the gastronomic route. In the future, we want to develop other joint cross-border tourism products, such as the Cucuteni–Trypillia route, as well as other products linking the Republic of Moldova and Romania for tourists from Asian countries and overseas,” he said.
Romania remains Moldova’s main source market
Romania ranks first among the countries of origin of visitors travelling to the Republic of Moldova, according to the source material. Gastronomy, historical and cultural heritage, wine and natural landscapes are among the country’s main attractions for international visitors.
“The Republic of Moldova still retains its authentic hospitality, nature is accessible, and some landscapes remain untouched by humans. We have very good wines. For several consecutive years, the Republic of Moldova has been named the second-best destination for wine tourism,” an NTO representative said.
The representative also highlighted the country’s cultural heritage and internationally recognised festivals, describing Moldova as a destination where foreign visitors can discover places and experiences that remain unfamiliar to them.
Domestic tourism also a priority
Authorities are seeking to boost domestic tourism through promotional campaigns, support for tourism businesses and programmes encouraging people to travel within the country. Initiatives include the Sustainable Tourism project and the Holiday Voucher scheme, launched earlier this year.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), travel agencies and tour operators served 230,100 visitors in January–June 2026, up 0.8% from the same period in 2025.
The number of non-resident visitors served by travel agencies rose 4.2% to 38,600. Romania accounted for 69.3% of foreign visitors, followed by Italy at 10.0%, Spain at 5.2% and Germany at 2.9%, according to the figures cited in the source material.
The figures cover visitors served by travel agencies and tour operators, rather than all foreign arrivals in the country.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
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