Kosovo tourist number increases

The Republic of Kosovo has enough resources for the development of certain types of tourism, which can be used as tourist attractive countries, both local and international, say connoisseurs.

Recently, they say, a larger trend of urban tourists visiting different Kosovo cities has been observed, but this is due to the commitment and promotion of private tourist agencies and not the promotion of competent authorities.

From research conducted by various nongovernmental organisations, Kosovo, with an area of over 10,000 square miles, has 1,000 countries, considered attractive to visit.

Zeqe Ceku, tourism field expert and leader of the Tourism Association in Kosovo, tells Radio Free Europe that an increase in the number of tourists, especially of climbers from Albania, Turkey, France and other regional countries passing through Kosovo, has been observed.

According to him, Kosovo's involvement in the natural tourism project “Via Dinarica” has greatly influenced the movement of foreign tourists.

“Via Dinarica” is the platform, which serves to promote cultural heritage and the development of many tourism sectors, whether at the national or international level.

“At the beginning of this year, Kosovo is involved in the HINA Via Dinarica (Visa) project, which stretches from Slovenia to Greece. Then, we are at the start of the Sharr Bees project, which is a project similar to the cross-border Balkan MCH project Kosovo, Montenegro, and Albania”, Ceku says.

The Balkan “Majories project” in its composition has identified and developed the 192km mountain path, connecting mountainous villages from all three countries (Kosovo, Albania, Montenegro).

Pristina's central tourist region, the Albanian Alps, the tourist region of Sharr, Mitrovica and Anamorawa are considered the five main tourist regions in Kosovo.

However, Ceku says that in addition to the number of local residents, a large number of visitors make up the citizens, as well as Kosovo's, who live in different parts of the world, and who come on vacation.

Mountain tourism is a positive trend and awareness, especially during the summer when citizens from the diaspora arrive, as they are the main funders for travel. But there is a positive trend of local interest in visiting natural tourist spots”, Ceku points out.

Even some citizens say of Radio Free Europe that with interest they visit different tourist sites in Kosovo, but that, according to them, more investments are needed.

Adnan Shaqiri from Pristina, studies at the Economic Faculty at Pristina University. He says Kosovo has many tourist sites.

There's enough tourist options. For the summer season is Rugova, Prevala and others, for the winter season mainly Brezovica. I don't visit them very often, because it depends on the time”, he says.

And Sara Buyup says he likes places like Prizren, where it often goes, though he prefers to have more investments.

There are tourist spots in Kosovo, but they are not developed. The city of Prizren I love, and I think it's quite popular, as since I've been there, I meet many people from different regions. But I think more has to be invested”, says Sara Buyup.

Otherwise, Kosovo Government officials have sometimes indicated that efforts are continuing for the tourism sector to be even more attractive to visitors. Several plans considered advancing for the development of tourism in Kosovo have also been drafted.

According to hotel statistics published by the Kosovo Statistics Agency, it is said that in 2016, the number of visitors has been around 200 thousand, of which 131,000 have been foreign visitors, and over 62 thousand local visitors.

In the first quarter of this year, the number of visitors has been more than 24 thousand visitors, of whom it is estimated that 68 percent were foreigners, and 31 percent were local.