INSTAT: Albania's main tourism pillar remains Kosovo Albanians

What feeds this is the tourism of weekends from locals, but especially Kosovo Albanians. As citizens' movement figures speak of a “bum” in the country, the accommodation facilities in the Golem area say the number of visitors in general has been the same in the same period as the year before. The Kosovo market, on the other hand, has marked a decrease in figures, making the activity more challenging. The first foreign groups are expected to come in March and April.

Durres and Golemi, even though a summer-organised tourist era, are probably among the most visited destinations throughout the year, mainly at the weekend.

The mass shift of the Albanian capital, but also of other nearby regions, has influenced the growing number of hotels keeping its doors open year-on-year, even though the main pillar remains in fact the Kosovo Albanians.

Patriotic tourism is named the most important part of tourists to save the coast of this region during the year. The mild winter behind, where extreme temperatures were absent, gave the impression that the coast's attendance would also be higher thanks to good time.

The perception also relies on the statistics of citizens' movement, where 377 thousand foreign citizens were reported entering the country, nearly 94.2% more.

But while this figure may be true and this <x0m” of tourists has been distributed throughout Albania, in Durres structures it has not been reflected with any significant growth, even tourists from Kosovo have had less presence than last year.

Visitors ' figures nearly 2022

Greater accommodation facilities on the Durres coast have been active as each year in drafting and offering packages “half board” (virvation and two meals involved) for weekend visitors, a practice that has been followed for years and is particularly preferred by Kosovo Albanians. Representatives of these facilities stress that visitors' performance is the same as last year, without any visible growth.

“Dimri has been good, we can say the same numbers as last year. There are very small movements that make no difference. However, we must say that the situation has been good for the sector. At least 80% of the facilities on the coast of Golem or Durres have remained open.

Few of them have been closed”, said Blerim Norja General Director of Hotels “Royal G”. The same tendency confirms the administrator of the FAFA Group, Fatos Cherenesti, one of the largest accommodation groups in the country of 1800 beds. According to him, Kosovo Albanians have had a lower presence for two reasons.

The “Dimri has had tourists, but from what I found there is a 20-30% decline in relation to other years. I think the decline in the number of tourists from Kosovo had an impact here.

The reasons for this contraction have to do with a weaker economic situation, due to the price crisis we've all faced, businesses and individuals, but maybe some political impact and situation.

It is not too warm as a situation and fluctuations increase uncertainty, making people more cautious.

The highest presence of tourists from Kosovo has been during the November holidays, and later, the attendance has been contracting”, HINA highlights Mr. Cherenesti.

For some time, in the citizens' movements, the way the entrances from Kosovo are calculated remains unclear, since by the middle of last year, the two governments committed themselves to free passage of citizens without having to register at the customs point.

This practice, which was initially declared to be available only in the tourist season and on weekends, was actually declared to be fired throughout the year.

First foreign groups, bail contracts come in March-April in May

The arrival of spring also marks the arrival of the first teams of tourists organised in Durres, but interested in daily cultural tours in surrounding areas.

Hotels confirm that groups from Germany, Austria or Slovenia are expected to come in March and April.

The “Foreign groups now start in March-April. We expect mainly Slovenian, German, Austrian. There are groups coming to visit 2-3-day, located at the hotel in Durres, but visit places such as Berat, Kruja during the day. Slovenian tenders in these tours were present last year.

Now we expect even groups of Bulgarians to arrive for our holiday season and have reserved for Easter”, confirms Mr. Nora.

He confirms that guarantee contracts with markets such as Chekhia or Poland remain active, even Albania's interest as a destination is on the rise by a year ago, as sales reported by foreign agencies are twice as high.

Organised tourism, dedicated to the sea and sand, marks the opening of the summer season, which starts mainly in May for part of the facilities. The map of those expected to come is more or less similar to the previous years, where only Nordics make the difference that, while present, do not come with bail contracts.

We have security contracts currently with Poles and Czechs, while with Nordics, the situation remains as we have said. They've gone to a mosque and pointed out that they're only going to pay for the number of tourists they're bringing for accommodation.

However, we are happy that they have not eventually withdrawn from Albania, as it would be something really negative. They are elite tourists who make up the value of having in the group of those who visit and positively influence the country's image”, Mr. Cherenesti.

He underlines that Albania needs increased attention, to attract foreign markets and to a more elite tourist, to increase revenues. The same way the quality should be increased, as competition from other markets has become aggressive.

Tourism in January, foreigners growth 94.2%, more Albanians leave abroad

The year 2023, at least according to official figures, has started well for the tourism sector. INSTAT data suggests that 377 thousand foreign citizens entered the country in January, with a 94.2% increase compared to the same period a year ago.

Neither have the exits of Albanian citizens been missed from the country. But according to INSTAT, in January 2023, 542 thousand Albanian citizens came out of the country, with a 45.8% annual-based increase.

According to INSTAT's announcement, the entrances of Albanian and foreign citizens on Albanian territory -- in January 2023 -- are 833,450. This index results in an increase of 83.6%, compared to January 2022.

The exits of Albanian and foreign citizens from Albania's territory during January 2023 are 954.933, marking an increase of 57.2%, compared to the same period a year ago.

Access to Citizens

In January 2023, the number of Albanian citizens entering Albanian territory is 456,239. This number has increased by 75.6%, compared to January 2022. The number of foreign citizens entering Albanian territory is 377.211. This number has increased by 94.2%, compared to January 2022.

Citizen exits

The exits of Albanian citizens from Albania's territory during January 2023 are 542.113.

Compared to January 2022, this number has increased by 45.8%.

The exits of foreign citizens from Albania's territory in January 2023 are 412.820. Compared to January 2022, this number has increased by 75.3%.

In January 2023, the region with the highest number of entry of foreign citizens to Albania is Europe's region with 366.257 citizens, followed by America and East Asia/Peacekeeping, with 7.051 and 1,308 citizens respectively.