The Fastest-Growing Tourist Destinations In Europe

Europe is known for its unique and rich cultures, many historical sites, and beautiful, untouched nature. But not every country on the continent has been able to build a successful tourism industry. Most tourists who come to Europe go to countries in Western Europe.




Most countries in southeastern and eastern Europe have had trouble getting a steady flow of tourists. Tourism in these countries hasn’t grown as much as it could because they don’t have the proper infrastructure.

This isn’t because there aren’t enough things to do there. In recent years, though, many of these countries have changed their tourist facilities and seen a sharp rise in the number of tourists visiting. Here are some of Europe’s tourism industries that are growing the fastest.

1. Armenia

Armenia is the 8th most popular place to visit in Europe, and its popularity is growing daily. Armenia is a popular tourist destination because of its rich history, unique monuments, beautiful landscapes, and friendly people.




2. Bosnia And Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina has everything a traveler could want. There is nature that hasn’t been changed, and there are a lot of historical and cultural sites.




Tourists come to this country to see Ottoman architecture, mosques from the 16th century, a lively street art scene, the beautiful waterfalls at Kravica, mountain villages, and more. It is the seventh place in Europe where the number of tourists is growing the fastest.

3. The country of Moldova.

Tourism in Moldova is still young, but every year it overgrows. Moldova has been called the least visited country in Europe for many years. But that’s about to change.




This small landlocked country in Eastern Europe is becoming more popular because its culture is returning to life, its countryside is beautiful, and its wine scene is growing.

4. Macedonia

Macedonia has a lot of natural and cultural attractions that make it an excellent place for tourists. But for years, very few people have been coming to this country.




In 2017, there were only 631,00 visitors to Macedonia. Things are changing, though, as shown by the fact that Macedonia is now the fifth fastest-growing tourist destination in Europe.

Some of the best places to visit in Macedonia are the historical sites in the capital city of Skopje, the shores of Lake Ohrid, and the country’s three national parks and 33 nature reserves.

5. Isreal

Iceland is on the top of the bucket list of millions of people worldwide because of its dramatic landscapes, including large highland lakes, tall waterfalls, and underground hot springs. Since 2010, 450 percent more tourists have come to Iceland.




The tourism industry has also taken advantage of this growth to build world-class luxury hotels, restaurants, bars, spas, and other facilities to meet the needs of tourists. In Iceland, you can do unusual things like heli-yoga on top of a volcano or meditate in glacial caves.

6. Turkey

Even though Turkey’s tourism industry has been on a roller coaster for decades due to political unrest and economic problems, it has been booming in recent years. In 2018, the country’s tourism industry grew by 24.14 percent, making it one of the fastest-growing countries in Europe for tourism. For hundreds of years, the Byzantine and Ottoman empires had their capital in Istanbul.




It has many historical and cultural places, such as the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Dolmabahce Palace, Spice Bazaar, and Grand Bazaar.

The food from Turkey is also known all over the world. Here, you can eat the accurate versions of many dishes that are popular all over the world.

7. Georgia

Georgia is the second-fastest-growing tourist destination in Europe. It is in the Caucasus region, where Western Asia and Eastern Europe meet. Travel experts aren’t surprised by this because Georgia has a lot of beautiful historical sites and is known for its fantastic food.

In Tbilisi, the country’s capital, there are also a lot of really cool hotels, restaurants, and bars that are part of the country’s new tourism infrastructure. The main things to see and do in Georgia are its cathedrals, monasteries, forts, museums, gardens, and parks.




The Gelati Monastery, Upper Svaneti, and the Historical Monuments of Mtskheta are all UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Forests cover forty percent of Georgia’s land, and 25 percent of those forests are protected as national parks.

Visitors to the country can enjoy hiking, boating, birdwatching, sport fishing, and other outdoor activities in these natural areas. Georgia is also one of the oldest places in the world to make wine, and winemaking is a big part of the country’s culture.

8. San Marino

San Marino is a medieval microstate made up of a group of mountain peaks with an area of only 61.2 square km. Italy surrounds it. In 2017, there were two visitors for every one of San Marino’s 33,000 residents. This makes it one of the few places in the world with more visitors than residents.




People who collect stamps and coins like to go to San Marino because some local ones are in high demand.

Even though San Marino is a small country, it has a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Mount Titano. Major tourist attractions at the site include the fortification towers, gates, bastions, and neoclassical basilica. The three beautiful castles in Monte Casino also draw people’s attention.

The 8 Fastest-Growing Tourist Destinations In Europe

RankCountryYear-on-year growth
1San Marino31.1%
2Georgia27.9%
3Turkey24.14%
4Iceland24.11%
5Macedonia23.5%
6The Republic of Moldova19.6%
7Bosnia and Herzegovina18.66%
8Armenia18.65%




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