COVID-19 restrictions and their influence on the tourism industry as Albania looks forward to a successful summer season are among the topics discussed tonight on Ilva Now.

This year, the tourist season is expected to be more relieved amid a stabilized epidemiological situation.

Among the measures to be taken by the government is supplying rapid tests to health clinics located along the coastline for the fast detection of suspected cases, said deputy minister of tourism Ornela Çuçi.

“Measures to help tourism are already in place with 4.000 vaccinated tourist operators and 28 health clinics that will remain open 24/7 as well as offer rapid tests to those fearing they might have contracted the virus”, said Çuçi.

Flora Xhemani-Baba, an expert on tourism, estimated that the number of tourists arriving in Albania will be twice more than last year.

“The situation will be without a doubt better than last year. If last year we were at 30-35% of our general capacities, this year we will work at 70%, if we compare it with 2019. Reservations are usually done a short notice”, declared Xhemani-Baba.

In addition, she informed that the first tourists from Ukraine and Poland have already started coming.

The chairman of the Kosovo Tourism Association, Baki Hoti, predicts a significantly high number of Albanian Kosovars choosing Adriatic and Ionian beaches.

At the same time, he points out that Kosovo also is keen on Albania’s cultural tourism.

“The scope of this activities is to deepen cooperation and look at opportunities to have a joint tourism package. There’s been an influx of Albanians visiting Kosovo”, said Hoti.

Holidaymaker Tatjana Bajraktari who has been working with Ukrainian tourists gave elaborate information on the average amount of their expenditures.

She said that a couple might spend an average of €800 in a week, without including expenses when visiting cultural sites or entertainment and shopping.

“The package being sold in Ukraine starts at €800 per couple, but we don’t only propose all-inclusive hotel accommodations but also apartments where meals are not included”, Bajraktari.

Matilda Naço, from the Albanian Tourist Association, said that a foreign tourist spends around $390 in a week.

According to Bajraktari, people visiting Albania are not only motivated by its coastline but also like to purchase souvenirs and traditional Albanian beverages, while in the last years the number of tourists coming from Ukraine has more than doubled.

“In 2015, there was a single flight operating in 10 days, this year we have 20 flights in a week departing from Ukraine only”, Bajraktari said.