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In the first eight months, over 8 million tourists. There were 3.5 million travelers in Tirana airport in June-August (+46%), including many Italians. But the price increases also angered the prime minister who said that "this is suicide" for Albania.
Albania closes the summer season with another record number of foreign tourists, especially from the beaches in the south of the country. But the significant increase in the prices of services offered in some areas - up to 90% compared to a year ago - has had many consequences on the length of stay, overall expenses and the chosen holiday locations. So much so that more than one insider talks about the risk of making "the same post-Covid mistakes as Italy, Croatia and Greece", when prices rose well above the rate of inflation, discouraging thousands of tourists. This is a first Corriere assessment combining official data, numbers of operators in the sector and those collected.
The boom in low-cost flights
The boom in low-cost flights - thanks to Wizz Air and Ryanair - has "stolen" passengers on ferries between Italy and Durrës. If, in fact, in the June-August period port travelers were slightly lower than those of the previous year, 3.5 million passengers passed through the international airport of Tirana, 45.8% more than the quarter of 2023.
Of these, 1.35 million flew between Italy and Albania, an increase of 47% compared to the previous year", Piervittorio Farabbi, chief operating officer and responsible manager of the Albanian airport, explains to Corriere.
"From January 1 to September 10, we had 7.6 million passengers - Farabbi calculates - we have already exceeded the figures for the entire year 2023 and we expect to close the year with 10.5 million".
charges
In the country of eagles, price increases were equal to those in Italy, with increases ranging from 5 to 90%, especially in the areas of Ksamil, Saranda, Vlora, Himara, Dhërmi, Velipoja, areas "occupied" by the Italians since in 2023. This has angered the Albanians themselves who found themselves paying unheard of sums for a tent, a lunch or a hotel room. And this prompted Prime Minister Edi Rama to raise his voice in July.
"In the south we are seeing an absurd increase - he said -. This is suicide, price increases will have consequences in the summer of 2025. And it is a shame that this is happening when we have entered the Champions League of Mediterranean tourism".
comparison
Local observers are the ones doing the math, raising the alarm just south. At 60 euros a night in the south, the apartments are more affordable - which last year were 25-30 euros - in the two-month period July-August they increased to 40-45 euros, up to 100-120 euros. Not to mention the hotel rooms that have reached 500 euros.
'consequences'
The first consequence, although still with record numbers, was observed in July when - according to the Ministry of Tourism - 1.8 million foreign tourists entered Albania, 2.7% more than in July 2023, less than the +25% of 2024. in August another 2.2 million arrived (bringing the first eight months to 8.5 million), 4.7% of the same month of 2023. This is also because the number of Kosovars who this year, thanks to agreements with the EU, has decreased , have started traveling more in Europe after visiting Albania for years. Therefore, it was up to the Italians to understand that, compared to 2023, vacations across the Adriatic have become more expensive in the South and have thus favored the rest of the country.
Where do tourists go?
Tourists from Central Europe (Poland, Slovakia) this year preferred the beaches of Durrës and Golem, explains Farabbi.
"We noticed a significant increase in visitors going on walking or cycling excursions in the north and in general many go all over the country, not just in the south"./ Corriere della Sera
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