Tourism continued to perform positively in November, albeit at a slower pace due to the effects of time. Kosovo remains the main country of origin for visitors during the month. Official data from the Citizens' Movement showed that 39 percent of total arrivals were Kosovo Albanians.
In the 11th month of the year, 245 thousand citizens from Kosovo entered the country, while a year earlier, 6.4 percent less. After Kosovo, Italy held the second largest share with over 79 thousand visitors with an increase of 7.7 percent compared to a year earlier. Arrivals from Greece were over 52 thousand during November with an increase of 5.7 percent compared to November 2024, while Greeks occupy a share of 8.3 percent of the total. This share is also held by arrivals from North Macedonia, which in November were 52 thousand.
Other groups with growth are Germans with 9.5 percent, Spaniards with 38 percent, and Israel with almost 5 times more than a year ago than in November of the previous year.
Tour operators confirm that there is a growing trend of foreigners for cultural tours, something that has been driven by low-cost airline lines but also dedicated direct flights, as was the case with Israel, which was intended as a seasonal route but was postponed beyond the summer.
At the end of November, the number of foreigners entering Albania reached 11.7 million, an increase of 6.6 percent compared to the same period in 2024. Operators had expected a moderate increase this year, as it turned out, underlining that the same trend is expected next year.
Among the groups that have held the main share of visitors, patriotic tourism dominates, with arrivals from Kosovo reaching 4.4 million, an increase of 5.2 percent compared to the same period last year. Kosovo held 37.4 percent of the total number of visitors, followed by Italy with 10.1 percent of this total.
Italians continue to visit Albania, although more evenly distributed throughout the year and less so in the summer season, unlike the trend of two years ago. The increase in prices on the coast has led neighbors to no longer see a summer vacation in Albania as economical, preferring the capital for its dynamic nightlife and other cities for its cuisine and low accommodation costs.
This year, there has been an increase in arrivals from North Macedonia and Montenegro, as well as from Greece. Germans recorded a 21 percent increase compared to the first 11 months of 2024, while France recorded a 35 percent increase. Both groups are now being placed with guarantee contracts, with the French being the last to be placed in Golem for next year.
Poland recorded a decline this year of 8.6 percent compared to the first 11 months of 2024, which according to tour operators is largely due to a decrease in visitors coming individually, as guaranteed contracts have been respected and have been at higher levels. The Spanish were also down by 2.7 percent.
The Czech Republic, which also comes with warranty contracts in a good part of it, recorded a 6 percent increase this 11 months compared to the same period in 2024./Monitor.al
