News about Tourism

The Chisinau city government announced the creation of a new department within City Hall dedicated to tourism development and the promotion of the capital.

The Yerevan City Hall has decided to celebrate Vardavar in grand style—the famous Armenian holiday during which the entire city turns into a massive “water frenzy” and passersby are doused with water en masse. A total of 199.5 million drams (more than $500,000) has been allocated to organize the festivities.

On June 19, the National Tourism Office announced the launch of a new phase of grant funding for projects under the National “Sustainable Tourism” Program. The program is funded from the state budget as part of the Growth Plan for Moldova for 2025–2027 and is aimed at developing tourism.

Spain will direct tourists to less-visited regions to ease the strain on popular resorts. The country expects tourist arrivals to reach 100 million during the 2026 season.

Venice authorities plan to raise the entry fee for tourists to 50 euros on days of peak visitor numbers, a move that has already sparked a strong political and public backlash.

The world’s most-visited museum is facing major challenges that could require investments exceeding 1 billion euros. This was stated by the museum’s new president, Christophe Leribo, while speaking at a hearing in the French Senate.

The Investment Agency is launching the Republic of Moldova’s official digital platform: www.moldova.md. Designed as a modern showcase for the country, the platform offers a structured and user-friendly presentation of the Republic of Moldova for an international audience, as well as for the country’s citizens and the diaspora.

Almost all of Europe’s beaches, lakes, and rivers remain safe for swimming. According to a new report by the European Environment Agency (EEA), 96% of the tested bathing areas in EU countries meet the established water quality standards, while only 1.5% of water bodies have unsatisfactory results.

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is organizing the eighth session of its “Sharing Session on Women and IP” series, titled “Closing the Gender Gap in IP: Women in Sports and IP.”

For several months, the rotunda of the Paris Stock Exchange was transformed into a giant cloud of fog. Japanese artist Fujiko Nakaya presented her famous fog sculpture “Cloud No. 07156” in the rotunda, which became the centerpiece of the Clair-obscur exhibition, dedicated to the exploration of light, shadow, and the perception of space. The installation will be open to visitors until September 14.

The National LEADER Network for Rural Development of the Republic of Moldova (RNDRL) announces the launch of a new phase of the national “Ecotourism Compass” program. The initiative is aimed at training small entrepreneurs in rural areas who seek to develop sustainable, innovative tourism services linked to the natural environment, culture, and traditions of local communities.

More than 30 museums from various European countries have been shortlisted for the 2026 European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA)—one of the most prestigious European awards in the museum sector.

The international network Radical Storage has released a ranking of the world’s most disappointing tourist attractions. The top three spots went to Alton Towers amusement park in the UK, the Georgia Aquarium in the US, and the Horseshoe Casino in the US state of Louisiana.

The World Cup, which kicks off on June 11, may boost demand in certain segments of the German retail sector, but retailers do not expect a significant increase in consumption across the entire industry. This conclusion is contained in a study by the German Retail Association (HDE) published on Wednesday.

International tourism remains inaccessible to much of the world’s population: new data highlight significant differences in overseas travel experiences between major economies.

The Republic of Moldova and Turkey seek to enhance cooperation in the fields of culture, heritage and tourism by launching joint projects aimed at bringing the two societies closer together.

Turkish resorts are forced to cut prices and launch large-scale discount offers amid a noticeable drop in tourist demand. Hoteliers are trying in this way to keep the load at the peak of the season, while, according to market participants, the country may lose about 8-10 million dollars daily due to the reduction in tourist traffic.

In Latgale – one of the historical and cultural regions of Latvia, located in the east of the country and attracting travelers, 86% of travel companies have faced cancellation of reservations. Moreover, they are canceled not only for the coming weeks, but for the whole summer.

Romanian railway operator CFR Călători resumes direct international connections from Bucharest to Varna, Sofia and Istanbul from June. The new seasonal routes may become an additional transportation alternative for Moldovans, especially against the background of high demand for summer trips to Bulgaria and Turkey.

Bulgaria’s tourism sector recorded a surge in early bookings following reports of the country winning the Eurovision contest and being awarded the right to host the 2027 competition.