Albania welcomed 12.4% more visitors in May/ The southern region marked a high increase in the number of tourists. Italians lead the way
The tourism sector in Albania continued to record positive results during May 2026. According to data published by INSTAT, the number of visitors accommodated in accommodation structures across the country increased by 12.4% compared to the same period a year earlier, confirming the continued demand for Albanian tourist destinations, both from locals and foreigners.
The growth was supported by both categories of visitors. The number of resident visitors increased by 11.4% compared to May 2025, while that of non-resident visitors recorded an even higher increase of 12.7%. This shows that Albania continues to attract interest in international markets, while at the same time remaining a favorite destination for domestic vacationers.
Overnight stays in accommodation facilities have also continued their positive trend. During May, they increased by 8% compared to the same month last year. Resident visitors increased their overnight stays by 6%, while non-resident visitors by 8.6%, indicating that foreign tourists are not only visiting Albania more, but are also choosing to stay for longer periods.
Data by region show that the central region continues to remain the area with the highest number of visitors to accommodation facilities. Meanwhile, for the first time in many months, the southern region ranked second, registering nearly 121 thousand visitors during the month of May. This development reflects the approach of the summer season and the increased interest in southern coastal destinations. On the other hand, the northern region resulted in the lowest number of visitors, unlike the first months of the year, when it had shown a better performance.
Regarding the origin of foreign tourists, Italy remains the main market for Albania, representing 19% of foreign visitors accommodated in tourist structures. It is followed by Kosovo with 11% and Germany with 10%. Visitors from France account for 9% of the total, while those from Poland 6%. The remaining part, or 45%, is represented by tourists coming from other countries, indicating an increasingly diverse base of tourist markets.
The performance of hotel capacity utilization is also positive. The occupancy rate of hotel rooms reached 29.8% in May 2026, up from 28.7% in the same month of 2025.
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