Tourism, Albania the "champion" destination/ Year 2024 hits an indisputable record, the figures show
Tourism has undoubtedly been the headline in the last two years, as month after month it has registered new records breaking all predictions. The official figures from the "Institute of Statistics" indicate through various indicators related to both visitor arrivals, accommodation structures and even air transport, that tourism in 2024 has experienced the best historical moment and expectations are for them continue this moment.
In 2024, tourism in Albania has seen a significant increase and has continued to be a key sector for the country's economy. With a clear strategy and sustainable investments, Albania has managed to attract a record number of foreign tourists, positioning itself as an attractive destination in Europe.
Investments in infrastructure have been a key factor in the development of tourism. The construction of new hotels, the improvement of roads and the development of tourist attractions have contributed to the increase of the host capacity and the quality of services.
Albania has worked to diversify its tourist offer, promoting not only the wonderful coast of the Adriatic and the Ionian, but also the mountainous areas, historical cities and cultural attractions. Regions such as Thethi, Valbona, Gjirokastra and Berati have attracted more and more visitors, offering unique and authentic experiences.
On the other hand, improving the quality of services has been a priority as well.
Referring to the data, the summer season has been quite good, but not only, since the positive figures have reflected an extension of the summer season into autumn as well. During the January period of 2024, a total of 17 million entries were registered in Albania, where the majority belong to foreign citizens, who have recorded an increase of 9.3% compared to the same period last year.
In the month of October, about 1.4 million entries of Albanian and foreign citizens were registered in the territory of the Republic of Albania, or almost 9.6% more than in the same period of 2023.
In the tenth month of this year, nearly 1.3 million departures from the Albanian territory were also registered, with an increase of 10.8% compared to October last year.
According to the data analyzed by "Scan Intel", the number of Albanian citizens who entered the country was 620,845, with an increase of 9.9% compared to October 2023. On the other hand, there are 7611,636 foreign citizens who entered in Albania or 9.3% more than in October 2023.
If we extend the analysis to a period of time from January of this year to November, there are about 18.2 million entries in total, among which 11.04 million were foreigners. This figure also exceeds the number of foreigners who visited Albania throughout the year 2023.
At the beginning of the year, official projections spoke of a figure of 14 million entries expected throughout the year. The performance has been promising enough to achieve this record.
However, what we need to consider is the fact that we are talking about arrivals, which do not necessarily translate into tourists. A part of these entries are also transit travelers, but this does not exclude the fact that these travelers are not potential tourists of Albania in the future.
According to the "World Tourism Organization", our country was one of the tourist destinations with the best performance in increasing the flow of tourists, achieving record after record.
"Scan Intel" has analyzed in detail the data of lifetime entries by country to see which countries have visited us the most and the least. First, let's analyze the weight of foreign inflows that each country has in relation to the total. The figures show that arrivals from Kosovo and Italy account for almost half of the number, i.e. 48% of the total or about 5 million. Neighbors follow in the ranking with a weight of 7.6% for North Macedonia and 6.1% for Montenegro. Arrivals from Greece, Germany, Poland, Turkey and the United Kingdom complete the top 10 destinations.
But which countries saw the biggest growth?
From the data, we see that the highest increase in the number of arrivals in Albania during the ten months of 2024 was recorded by countries such as India, China, Estonia, France and Turkey. The annual increase in arrivals from these countries is estimated from 70% for Turkey to 135% for arrivals from India.
In ten months, inflows from Slovenia and Switzerland do not seem to have changed much, with an annual increase of 0.05% and 0.01% respectively. Meanwhile, as for the annual change from the countries with the largest share of arrivals, the figures show that arrivals from Kosovo have the lowest increase with 1.1%, while arrivals from Italy increased by 33.9% and those from North Macedonia increased by 20.4%.
Which countries visited Albania the least?
INSTAT data show that the number of entries from several countries registered a decrease, compared to the period January-October 2023. Entries from Lithuania, Moldova, Finland, Russia, Norway, Denmark, Belarus, Croatia, Luxembourg, Saudi Arabia and Israel recorded decline throughout the ten months of this year.
Let's shift the focus to accommodation structures.
During the January-September period of 2024, the number of visitors to accommodation structures was recorded at around 1.8 million, while the number of nights of stay for the same period is estimated at around 4.5 million. So in a nine-month period, we say that a visitor stayed an average of 2.4 nights in one of the accommodation structures.
In the first quarter alone, a total of 563 thousand nine stays were registered in Albania. According to the data analyzed by "Scan Intel", our country has recorded the largest increase in the number of nights spent in structures, compared to the same quarter of last year, but also compared to the period before the pandemic, if we take into account all European countries.
About 50% is the growth for Albania, compared to the first quarter of 2023, thus ensuring the first place with the highest growth. Even compared to the period before the pandemic, i.e. in 2019, Albania again leads the ranking with the highest increase in the number of overnight stays, with about 188%.
In the first quarter of 2024, there were 452.6 million overnight stays in tourist accommodation across the European Union, marking an increase of 7% compared to the same quarter of 2023. Foreign visitors accounted for approximately 45% of all overnight stays in three the first months of 2024, with large differences between EU countries. The largest share of foreign overnight stays at the beginning of the year was recorded in Malta with 91%, Cyprus with 87%, Luxembourg with 82% and Austria with 78%.
But which countries followed Albania with the highest increase in the number of overnight stays? According to the data of the "European Statistics Agency", Estonia is the second country with the highest growth, followed by Luxembourg and Cyprus, compared to the first quarter of 2023. Meanwhile, countries such as Montenegro and Iceland show a decline with 10.1% and 3.9% respectively.
If we analyze the change with 2019, we see that our country is followed by Serbia, Croatia and Montenegro as the countries with the highest increase in the number of overnight stays.
Even the classic three months of summer saw a significant increase both in arrivals and in the indicators of accommodation structures.
Increases were also recorded in nine stays according to the type of structure, where the highest number was recorded by hotels and similar accommodations.
However, what seems interesting in recent years in Albania is the development of camping as an accommodation structure. According to the data of the accommodation structures, published by INSTAT, in May of this year it was found that the greatest increase in total visitors is observed in spaces for camping, for parks, for tents or caravans, even though hotels had the highest number of visitors.
But why this increase in overnight stays at campsites in our country? According to an article published in May by the camping portal, "camping.info", which is one of the main European sources of information about camping holidays, it turns out that Albania is the cheapest in Europe. The average price of camping in our country for one night's stay reaches up to 13.5 euros.
Let's get back to the success of the summer season. "Scan Intel", as before, will bring the numbers differently by analyzing the number of entries and exits to our country during June, July and August. The data from INSTAT this year have shown that the exits from the territory of Albania were also very numerous. During the three months of summer, the total number of departures, from local and foreign countries, is recorded at around 7.1 million, or 9% more than last year.
If we focus only on the exits of Albanian citizens, the data show that in the three months of summer, about 2.2 million citizens left the territory. If we do a simple calculation, without considering the number of immigrants, we can say that only during the summer the number of people leaving Albania is almost 90% of the total number of the population according to the latest Census results.
It is worth mentioning that many Albanians have chosen to spend their holidays abroad and this is due to the influence of the euro. Tourist packages are usually in euros and the fall of the currency has made these packages cheaper for Albanians.
In the meantime, let's do another calculation considering not only the number of exits, but also the number of entries in the June-August period. According to the data analyzed earlier by "Scan Intel", taking into account the length of stay, if we add the total arrivals of the summer months to the resident population and remove the departures, then it turns out that approximately in Albania on any day period had about 2.9 million inhabitants.
"Low cost" lines have played an important role in the growth of tourism in Albania. These low-cost airlines have made Albania more accessible to international tourists, positively influencing the increase in the number of visitors.
Meanwhile, on the other hand, the number of passengers who have traveled on airlines have also reached a record figure.
Referring to the data on the official website of the "Mother Teresa" International Airport, during the January-November period of this year, around 9.97 million passengers traveled by airline, with an annual increase of 51%. Only in October there are about 717 thousand, with an increase of 16%. These figures support the fact that tourism in Albania has experienced a continuous growth month after month.
If we do a simple calculation, we can say that in each month of this year, on average, about 925 thousand passengers traveled on airlines.
But what does the data say about the number of flights?
"Scan Intel" has analyzed EUROSTAT data to see how the increase in the number of flights varies in our country, the region and Europe.
The numbers speak of about 58 thousand commercial flights during the ten months of the current year in our country. The figures of the "European Statistics Agency" on the number of commercial flights by European countries show that Albania is the second to have recorded the highest increase in this indicator for ten months, compared to a year ago.
The data indicate that the number of flights in our country has increased by about 46.6%, compared to the same period of 2023. Albania, together with Iceland, leads with the largest increase, while the number of flights in the European Union is increased by 6%, compared to 2023.
Countries in the region also report an increase in the number of flights, but without being able to surpass Albania. According to the figures, growth in Montenegro is estimated at 15.6%, in Bosnia and Herzegovina at 9.2%, in North Macedonia at 10.6% and in Serbia at 9.1%.
However, the achievements of tourism in Albania have not remained only within the borders, as many international media have written about our country. According to a publication by "Skift Research", Albania is considered a budget-friendly destination.
A 2024 travel trends report by Mastercard showed increased air traffic and longer layovers in some cheaper destinations.
Albania is an outstanding budget-friendly destination. The country has seen a 141% increase in daily flight traffic since 2019. For this summer, the Albanian capital of Tirana, which is located near several beach hotels, is witnessing an increase in the percentage of flight bookings from pre-pandemic levels . The report calls it one of this year's trending summer destinations.
But the success of tourism is also reflected in the figures of the "Bank of Albania". During the third three months of 2024, tourists have spent about 1.9 billion euros in Albania, thus confirming the very positive trend of the sector, which started two years ago. The figures of the third quarter of the year signal an absolute historical record. The previous record for this time period was recorded a year ago, with around 1.6 billion euros, which means that the record has been exceeded by 246 million euros, or by 15%. If they consider the first nine months of the year, the latest official data from the "Bank of Albania" show that foreigners in Albania have spent a record figure of 3.85 billion euros.
According to other INSTAT data, in the first nine months of the current year, the number of foreign citizens who entered the Albanian territory is 9.7 million. Thus, according to the figures of the "Bank of Albania", we can find how much a foreign tourist has spent on average in Albania. According to the calculations, the average expenditure per person was about 400 euros.
We remind you that during the year 2023 as a whole, according to the "Bank of Albania", tourists spent around 4.1 billion euros in the country. Meanwhile, the net income of the Albanian economy from tourism last year reached the value of 1.8 billion euros, setting a historical record, with a big difference from other years. The figures suggest that this year's performance could significantly break the 2023 level.
However, record levels of spending are also reported by Albanians abroad, with 878 million euros in the third quarter of 2024. However, the net balance between spending by tourists in Albania and Albanians abroad is fixed at around 1 billion euros, which is the highest level of ever recorded for the third quarter of the year.
On the other hand, if we refer to the nine-month period, we see that the expenses of Albanians abroad are estimated at around 2 billion euros, while the net balance is recorded at 1.8 billion euros.
These figures confirm that the money spent by tourists this year is undoubtedly an inherent reason that can affect the devaluation of the euro and that increases the fear of a further decline of the common European currency.
But it wasn't just the number of entries that surpassed any record. Even the number of Albanians who have chosen to rest abroad has increased significantly.
Encouraged more and more by "low-cost" flights and by the devaluation of the euro, Albanians who vacationed abroad during the summer season spent approximately 878 million euros.
The data published by INSTAT, cross-referenced with the latest data from the Bank of Albania, show a clear trend of increased spending, which is closely related to the new opportunities offered by low-priced air tickets and the rate of weakening of the euro against the lek.
According to statistics, an Albanian citizen spent an average of €380 on holidays abroad or on other services.
Compared to the same period last year, Albanians spent about €16 more on holidays and other services abroad.
Another fact worth noting is that 878 million euros spent during the third quarter of this year also constitute the highest figure ever recorded by the data of the "Bank of Albania".
This is a strong indicator of the increase in demand for travel abroad and the stability of the Albanian economy, which enables greater spending by citizens.
But what is expected to bring the year 2025 for the tourism sector?
The figures indicate that the upward trend of arrivals or even overnight stays may continue in 2025. Tourism this year is showing two main characteristics, which we predict will be even more emphasized in 2025. First, it is the extent in time and second is the extent in the territory. For the first nine months of the year, protected areas were visited by 4.5 million domestic and foreign visitors (a figure that exceeds the entire year 2023), while cultural sites reached a record 1.1 million visitors.
The 2025 draft budget for tourism, compared to the 2024 draft budget, has an increase of 7.9% or 306 million ALL, this as a result of the increase in wages based on government policies and internal investments of 173 million ALL. The planned fund for current expenses for the year 2025 is 49 million lek more and this increase has all gone to the National Agency of Protected Areas to cover expenses in the good administration of protected areas.
Poll
How many minutes and internet do Albanians spend? AKEP: Average monthly consumption falls in the third quarter
Albanians spent less internet, outgoing minutes and SMS during the third quarter of 2024. The latest data from the Electronic and Postal Communications......
Floating TECs, waste treatment tender/ High standards of safety and environmental protection
The Albanian Electroenergetic Corporation (KESH) has announced the opening of the tender for the benefit of the hydrocarbon waste evacuation service for the......
The "green light" for the "Blue Corridor" opens/ The government approves the concession contracts for three segments
The Council of Ministers has approved at the last meeting of 2024 the concession contracts / public private partnership for the design, construction,......
Olive and vineyard cadastre is created/ Information on 13 thousand olive grove units in Fier and Berat districts
Albania will have a special cadastre for olive trees and vineyards. In the official report of the Ministry of Agriculture, on the work done during this year,......
Property tax "passes" in 2025/ Calculation based on market value. Currently, only about 797,000 properties are taxed
The government anticipates that in 2025, it will adopt the law on the taxation of real estate based on the market value, a tax which will be applied from......
Difficult start of the year for European consumers/ Experts predict higher gas prices
Gas prices in Europe have risen by around 45% this year, adding to the burden on households and industry as they struggle to recover from the worst......
OpenAI needs more capital/ Company's board presents plan to become profitable
The company OpenAI announced that, in order to move towards a new for-profit structure in 2025, it will create a public benefit corporation to oversee......
Costliest climate disasters of 2024 / Killed 2,000 people and caused $229 billion in damages
The world's 10 costliest climate disasters of 2024 caused $229 billion in damage and killed 2,000 people, the latest annual analysis of insurance payouts has......
