Moldova Has Europe's Highest Percentage Increase in International Visitors
A new report by UN Tourism identified the most-visited international destinations in the first half of 2026.
The Eastern European country recorded the largest increase in international arrivals for the first half of 2026, achieving a 25 percent increase from January to June. Sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine, Moldova has fewer than 3 million residents, and the country’s claim to fame is its winemaking heritage. It is one of the oldest wine-producing countries in the world and boasts the Guinness World Record for the largest wine cellar by number of bottles. More than 1.5 million bottles of wine are stored in 34 miles of underground tunnels in Mileștii Mici, just south of the capital.
The country, along with Ukraine and Romania, is also home to an important archaeological complex that once covered over 77,000 square miles. Related to the Cucuteni-Trypillia civilization and dating back as far as 5,000 BC, UNESCO describes the site as “the most important cultural phenomenon of European prehistory.”
Following Moldova was Malta, which welcomed 18 percent more international visitors in the first half of 2026 compared to the same time period last year. Greece, Armenia, and Ireland were next, each seeing a 15 percent uptick in incoming international travel.
Globally, New Caledonia (a French territory comprising dozens of islands in the South Pacific)
saw the largest increase in international arrivals at 41 percent.
