The Western Balkans have become a primary destination for Turkish tourists. According to reports from travel agencies in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Serbia, it is citizens from the Turkish Republic who dominate among foreign guests in these countries.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama stated that "Albania is now the Balkan champion of tourism." From January to September 2024, the country was visited by 9.7 million foreign citizens, the majority of whom were from Turkey.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkish arrivals also dominate. 145,500 Turkish travelers visited this Balkan country in the past year. The main destination for tourist flow in BiH was the capital, Sarajevo. According to Haris Fazlagic, head of the BiH Tourism Association, "the number of tourists in Sarajevo has increased by 20 percent compared to last year."
North Macedonia has also seen a significant influx of tourists from Turkey. According to representatives of the tourism industry, in August alone, Turks accounted for 42% of all foreign guests in the country: among 119,600 tourists, 50,200 people were Turkish citizens. In North Macedonia, they are attracted by the capital, Skopje, and Lake Ohrid.
According to the Serbian Tourism Association, the majority of the country's foreign guests were also Turkish citizens. From January to September 2024, about 186,000 of them arrived. This is 22% higher than last year. The Culture and Tourism Directorate of the Turkish Embassy in Belgrade confirmed this information, stating that "Turks are increasingly attracted to the cultural attractions and vibrant cities of Serbia, with Belgrade being the main attraction."
The Balkan countries have welcomed a record number of tourists this year, largely due to the increased flow of guests from Turkey.
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