Edi Rama's Sherry expelled thousands of Kosovo tourists with the road tax, Albania can feel the consequences

According to INSTAT data, in November, about 69 thousand citizens from Kosovo entered Albania, from 93 thousand in the same month of the previous year, with a significant contraction of 27%, or about 25 thousand people less. Even in October, their number had dropped by 11%, or 150,000 people fewer, that is, 400,000 fewer citizens' entry from Kosovo in just two months.

Except October and November, the influx of citizens' entry from Kosovo had been very high. For the 10 month, 1.9 million citizens from Kosovo have entered Albania, with a nearly 22% annual-based increase. While mid-September, the road tax application, 5 euros per car, which appears to have affected the curbing of the citizens' movement from Kosovo, which even in the winter period, comes for weekends in Albania, this favoured year and from relatively warm weather.

In all, for 11 months, a total of 5.6 million foreigners visited Albania, with a 16.2% annual-based increase. But in November, total foreigners' entrances dropped by 3.7% to 247 thousand people, as a result of the apparent decline of citizens' entry from Kosovo.

For 11 months, citizens from Kosovo took the top weight, with 36%, or about 2 million people, and if their departure is expected to deliver a serious blow to local tourism, especially in the Durres area, which is their main destination.

In second place are Macedonians, with 640 thousand entrances, or 11.3% of the total.

The third ranks, with 498 thousand entrances, or 8.8% of total.

In fourth place are the Italians, with 408 thousand entrances or 7.2% of the total.

Then there are Montenegrins, with 330,000 entrances, or nearly 6% of total.

2.7 million foreigners have come for tourism in the first 11 months of the year, or about 48% of the total, with an increase of 17% in proportion to the same period a year ago.

Over.

Albanian and foreign citizens leaving the country during November 2018 are 660.514, marking a 6.4 %, compared to the same period a year ago. The number of Albanian citizens out of Albania's territory during November 2018 is 431,279 compared to November 2017, which number has increased 3.0 %. The number of foreign citizens leaving Albania's territory during November 2018 is 229,235. Compared to November 2017, this number has dropped 20,1 %.

The number of Albanian citizens emerging from our country's territory in the quarter of 2018 is 4,969.039, increasing 3.8 %, compared to the same period a year ago, reports INSTAT.