Tourist numbers outlook for the summer season remain optimistic.
Zak Topuzi, Chairman of the Albanian Tourism and Hospitality Association, attributes the recent dip primarily to the dynamics of the election campaign, emphasizing that it does not signal a long-term trend for the sector.
“We’ve seen a drop of around 2.5 percent for this period, but we believe the main factor is the electoral effect. In any country holding elections, there’s typically a decline in movement. The quarterly data shows that about 360,000 more Albanians traveled abroad than foreign visitors entered the country. This is largely due to the liberalization of air travel and reduced ticket prices at Rinas Airport,” Topuzi explained.
He noted that Albania stands on the brink of a major tourism boom.
From 2025 to 2040, the number of tourists visiting Albania is expected to double, underscoring the urgent need to expand accommodation capacities to meet the rising demand.
“Europe is the heart of global tourism. Although it accounts for only 7–8% of the world’s landmass, it handles 53% of all global tourists. This is a key indicator, and Europe is home to three of the world’s top tourist destinations—France, Spain, and Italy. The Mediterranean is the epicenter of tourism, and we have a real opportunity to become one of its most attractive destinations,” said Topuzi.
Meanwhile, INSTAT data for the first quarter of 2025 reveals that 19 airlines operated in Albania’s air transport sector—18 of them foreign and only one domestic.
This highlights the growing international interest in the Albanian market and the increasing potential of air travel as a driver of tourism growth.
