The steady increase in arrivals from abroad marks a noticeable upgrade that Albania has noticed in recent years as a tourist destination, from the neighboring states of the Western Balkans, where the Albanian element is strong (Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro), and from others ( most EU states).
The temporary decrease in flows from abroad due to the pandemic is accompanied by a general decrease in the tourism sector, where many losses have been recorded due to the restrictive measures applied to movements and crossings borderline, but then there was an impressive recovery.
As stated in a special study on Tourism in Albania prepared by the Office of Economic and Commercial Affairs, of the Greek Embassy in Tirana, from the available data, the tourism sector has recovered within a short period of time and already from 2021 arrival double (115). , 3%) compared to last year, while the upward trajectory is confirmed in 2022 (increase of 33.9%) and in 2023 (increase of 35%). In fact, it was pointed out that Albania recorded the fourth largest increase in foreign arrivals (53%) in 2023 compared to 2019, after Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turks and Caicos Islands.
According to INSTAT data, many of the registered tourists from abroad are Albanian immigrants from neighboring countries (Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Greece) who visit their country of origin for holidays. and registered as foreign tourists, because they have passports. and other countries.
2023 will be the most successful year for the tourism industry in Albania, because according to INSTAT data, foreign arrivals reached 10.1 million, surpassing last year’s record (7.5 million). The euphoric climate continues for 2024 due to the ever-increasing flow. In the period January-May 2024, foreign arrivals in Albania reached 3.3 million, compared to 2.4 in the corresponding period of 2023.
This upward trend is due to a combination of factors, such as the proper promotion of the country abroad, the creation of an attractive business-investment climate, the relatively low cost of vacations, as well as the reorientation of foreign tourists’ preferences to new ones. and “unknown” destinations after the pandemic.
In particular, it has been observed that today the arrivals in Albania are not only from neighboring Balkan countries, but also from other European countries (eg Poland, Czech Republic, Scandinavian countries, etc.), which usually attracted by the spectacular mountain. landscape , the natural beauty of the Adriatic and Ionian coasts and a prosperous capital city, Tirana, which aroused their curiosity to get to know them up close.
This indicates, based on the relevant data of INSTAT, that among the criteria that bring foreign nationals to visit the country in 2023, an overwhelming majority (85%) is recreation, with a large difference compared to other reasons (professional, cultural, health, etc.). The increased interest in getting to know the country and its culture is also reflected in the increase in the length of stay in the country by an average of 3.7 days, compared to 2.6
days in 2022.
In addition, in 2023 overnight stays in tourist accommodation in Albania increased significantly compared to 2022 (56.8%) and 2019 (84.7%), i.e. before the start of the pandemic restrictions. This element is particularly important, because in the EU member states the corresponding change is only 6.1% compared to 2022 and 2019 (1.4%).
It should also be noted that in the same year Albania was in first place (81.7%) in terms of overnight stays by foreign visitors, and in second place (90.3%) in terms of
overnight stay of local visitors after Iceland (109.3%).
At this point it should be emphasized, however, that a significant development will not only occur in terms of tourist routes from abroad to Albania, but also vice versa. Indicatively, the departures of Albanian citizens abroad in the first half of 2023 reached a total of 3,024,102, i.e. 20.0% more than in the same period last year. This element, therefore, suggests that the “opening” of the Albanian international tourism market is not only about the flow to the country, but also vice versa, as well as the ever-growing interest on the part of locals to visit other countries.
From which countries they travel to Albania for tourism
According to the data of the Albanian Ministry of Tourism and Environment about the countries of origin of arrivals from abroad in 2023, Kosovo tops the list with 4.4 million and 43% of the total, which can be attributed to national and cultural relations between. the two countries, as shown by their cooperation in a wide range of fields (eg politics, economy, education, etc.). This case is further strengthened if we consider that the number of Kosovars visiting Albania has significantly increased (67%) in 2023 compared to 2022.
In addition, according to the same data, the second place is Italy, with approximately 1 million tourists and 9% of the total, followed by two other countries that traditionally have close ties in the economy and politics of Albania, North Macedonia and Greece, which are in third and fourth place, with an increase in visitors of 10% and 38% respectively compared to 2022.
It is also worth noting that in fifth place in the relevant list is Montenegro, another neighboring country, the arrivals of which will increase by 44% in 2023, while Germany follows in sixth place with 312,000 and 3% of all arrivals, marking an impressive increase (66%). Also, it should be emphasized that in 2023, among the countries with the biggest increase in terms of their citizens entering Albania are China (177%), Turkey (110%) and Finland (105 %). Finally, regarding the origin of arrivals on the continent, 9,727,538 were recorded from Europe (about 91%), 240,985 from America (5%), 122,459 from Asia (3%), 11,120 from Africa% ) and 2,617 from Oceania (1%) .
In conclusion, it is clear that the tourism industry in Albania has shown resilience during the pandemic and quickly overcame the challenges it faced, recovered in a short time and achieved remarkable growth in the last three years (2021 -2023). In addition, the impressive increase in foreign arrivals also creates many prospects for the upgrading of the country as an investment destination, as entrepreneurs operating in the sector are always looking for a friendly environment with favorable economic returns and added value, elements that can be produced in Albania. it will undoubtedly be offered based on its strategic advantages (geographic location, mild climate, low labor costs, political stability, etc.).