About 45 thousand Kosovars go to Turkey for one year

Anni why the poverty rate in Kosovo is high, according to companies, such a thing is not much seen when compared with travel. But citizens say otherwise. Instead of thinking about vacations, they say they have other problems.

Agim Mehmeti says that Kosovo does not have enough income to be able to go somewhere on vacation.

They don't currently have it, they don't have big unemployment, they don't have the necessary income to exploit right at least once a year to go on vacation, in Albania or in Ulcinj, in Montenegro or in some other coastal countries... The economic situation, the blame is the economic situation, the unemployed people, they're not finding themselves, they're doing it and they're not able to find themselves, they're walking, they're wandering, they're wandering down the street”, he says.

Frustrated with the political system in the country, Hysen Hasani says there is another problem, instead of thinking about where the holiday will go.

“Fucked off, didn't see, where to get the money... all the prime ministers from 99 to today, no one's better, they're zero. They don't do employment, they take personal matters, for their own pockets, for their own interests, for their clans... they don't care about populations, or economic development”, he says.

Arben Berisha says the holiday will pass to Albania or Turkey, however, not all have the opportunity to choose where they will go because of the high cost of travel.

We're two-minded or going to Albania or Turkey, depending on how we're going to get the offers we get... They don't have all the opportunities to go because there are high travel costs, there are accommodation there, expenses, the most expensive prices are, given that Kosovo market is cheaper, but we are barely surviving”, he relates.

That is what Fahrije Krasniqi says.

They don't have all the options, who can go, who can't go... those who don't have the chance to stay home, very bad”, she said.

But travel companies in Kosovo say otherwise. According to Fidane Ymer, manager of the travel agency, Fibula Travel, the booking interest has been started since January.

We offer all destinations, depending on the client's request we all offer them, but even this year, it still remains Antalya, the most wanted destination at the moment. Antalya we offer from 299 euros means depending on the hotel they choose... The award includes accommodation at the hotel, plane ticket, airport tax, all of it. It starts with 299, then they have a choice, 300, 500, and we don't talk any further, depending on the client's pocket even on the demand he decides to accommodate”, says Ymer.

The travel agency Fibula has Egypt this year as a new offer. Ymer says the large number of trips argue the flights they have during the week.

“We have flights nine times a week, so this argues the number and requirements we have. Nine times a week, we have regular, direct flights to Antalya”, she says.

Such is said by noble Dragusha, managing director at the Vas Tour Travel, who for Kosova Prees, says they have been very active since January, to guide customers who reserve in the early concept because of the discounts they can benefit.

“The interest is enormous, now even with the arrival of the diaspora, it grows even more, because usually as we know it, I should be grateful not only for the tourism sector, but for every sector, but for the diaspora's arrival, it gives little fuel to the market, and this affects the number of reserves that normally increase. As destinations other than Albania, which has become home, Turkey remains. This year there is a tendency of various destinations' demand, but still Turkey is impossible to compete from Spain, Greece, which is still problematic because of visas or any destination like Bulgaria or Croatia”, it indicates.

According to Dragusha, during this year there is an increase of more than 100 per cent of the reservations, compared to previous years.

Kosovo has a number if we take Turkey, of 45 thousand, if we refer to last year's statistics of 42 to 45 thousand passengers. Exactly 42 thousand and 800 have been in the past year... under our company are part of about 40 percent of the amount in what we offer in the region. So far 35 per cent of the capacities have been sold, the increase in sales reserves has reached 35 per cent, something that two three years ago was 10 per cent, 15 per cent, the maximum 20 per cent. In this year, there is an increase of more than 100 per cent of the value of reservations we are used to seeing in the past”, he adds.

According to him, the economic situation in Kosovo is similar to Macedonia or Albania, but in terms of statistics, 45 thousand Kosovars in Antalya annually, Macedonians close to 22 thousand, and citizens of Albania nearly 30,000, for what it says this shows that for Kosovars is not an obstacle to their budget.