Pandemia hit tourism heavily, number of foreign tourists down by 70 per cent

Kosovo Tourism Union Chairman Baki Hoti tells Kosovo that with the ease of the measures it has begun to restore a revival in the tourism sector, however, it is not the trend as it was before the pandemic.

Despite this decline, Hoti says there has started to be an increase in the number of visitors who are mainly preferring mountainous countries.

“As it would have begun to have a considerable number of visitors who are mainly preferring the countries of Kosovo that are mountainous countries. So countries such as Rugova, Decani, Yunik and in countries where mountain tourism are most developed. So, as far as Rugova is, Decani, Yunik and in countries where mountain tourism” are most developed, Hoti points out.

Chairman The UTK shows what the capital, Pristina, offers to foreign tourists and what it lacks about this sector.

According to Hoti in Pristina, cultural heritage monuments, cult objects and the National Library remain the most visited places by foreign tourists.

“Pristina in the first place and urgently needs what we are in the process of opening the tourism information office. Pristina, even the guidas mostly work with organized groups that also make especially visits to cult objects, cultural heritage monuments, such as mosques, the Ethnological Museum, national museum, then the section of the cathedral that is already visited, where Pristina is seen. Without bypassing the National Library, Newborn, and other countries. At the same time, Pristina is also noted for the life of the night”, he says.

Hoti also says that this year the number of tourists has marked a major decline compared to two years ago, in 2019.

The pandemic “does not have a significant number, we have about 70 percent decline in the number of visitors compared to 2019, but as in this time of pandemic, we have gradually begun with the promotion we have made at this time of pandemic, with meetings with the tour of international operators. The Union has made extraordinary contributions in terms of support and jointly contribute to Kosovo having as many tourists as possible because it is too important to this”, he says.

The government prioritizes the development of tourism and the appeal of international tourists, where, according to Industry, Enterprise and Trade Minister Roseta Hajdari, investments are needed, since Kosovo still does not have enough accommodation for tourists.

“In the industry, entrepreneurship and trade ministry plan is also included in the Brezovica Resort, but we will not remain alone in the Brezovica complex, we will see all the potential Kosovo has for developing tourism. We now have to be participants as we are in the unique European market, and participate in offering tourist offerings from Kosovo to European tourists and the world. What's important to mention is that we still don't have enough accommodation for tourists. We also need to do the accommodation infrastructure to invest in the infrastructure of tourist resorts, including mountain tourism, rural tourism, tourism, though not even artisans, why not join the gastronomy with the beautiful wine of Rahoveci and Suhareka that we have”, it declares Kosova Prees.

Kosovo has an area of about 11,000 square kilometers, and owns about 1,000 countries, considered attractive to visit and develop tourism.

Although, apart from mountainous countries in parts of Kosovo, attractive to foreign tourists remain cultural monuments and cult objects in Pristina.

Otherwise, Kosovo still has no law on tourism and strategy for its development. So far, no government has allocated more than 10,000 euros for tourism, until the countries of the region share millions of euros in tourism.