Almost 5 billion euros. That's how much money foreign tourists spent visiting Albania last year. Data from the Bank of Albania shows that compared to 2023, foreign vacationers' spending increased by 769 million euros or 19 percent.
"We are all witnesses to the influx of foreign tourists entering Albania," tourism expert Blerina Ago told A2 CNN.
Last year, 11.7 million foreign tourists visited the country. On average, each tourist spent around 427 euros, including travel and accommodation, thus repeating the paradox of the “cheap holiday boom”.
"Albania should not be oriented to numbers. The report we want is that of spending. We need tourists who spend. There are many studies that show that there are categories of tourists who spend up to 58 percent of their income on vacation. We need these people," Ago added.
The tempting story of " low-cost vacations in Albania " is also accepted by Polish Janika, who has come to Tirana for vacation.
" Coming to Albania is mostly a curiosity. We found cheap tickets and thought we would come. Also, the prices of houses for rent are cheap. Around 40 euros a day is enough. Even food is not very expensive. We don't go to restaurants, because it costs a lot there ," Polish tourist Janika told A2 CNN.
In a similar line to the spending of foreign tourists, those of Albanian vacationers who preferred to spend their days off work abroad have also gone. Data from the Central Bank show that last year, Albanians spent 2.7 billion euros on vacations abroad. Compared to 2023, the figure increased by 379 million euros.
" Albanians are desirable vacationers because they are spenders. They are not frugal like some tourists who come to Albania, " the head of the Albanian Tourist Union, Rrahman Kasa, told A2 CNN.
However, data from the Bank of Albania shows that on average, an Albanian who goes abroad for vacation spends 342 euros. This figure is about 85 euros less than what foreign tourists spend on average when coming to Albania. (A2 Televizion)
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