Saranda during the summer season was dominated by foreign tourists, who preferred to stay in rented apartments.

This fact also increased the demand for purchases in supermarkets and the fruit and vegetable market.

Even foreign tourists became daily in the market, shopping themselves.

Traders explain the reasons why foreigners gravitate towards markets and away from restaurants.

“In the beginning, the season seemed a little sluggish, slow, but it warmed up at the end of July, the beginning of August. The third 10 days of August and September have reached what is called the peak for us,” said a seller.

“September is dominated by foreign families, they buy food, they want absolute quality, the price is not asked, but it is not abused, so be clear, the price is not abused as with Albanian and foreign tourists, the quality is absolute this bit too the production has been good,” she added further.

Mostly tourists from Eastern Europe are the biggest buyers of fresh vegetables, while like every year, before they leave Saranda, they take with them the medicinal plants of the area.

What do foreigners buy the most?

“Everything from fruits, from vegetables, olive oil, honey, which is very good, and finally before they go they are focused on medicinal plants, and it is very very typical for them oregano, mountain tea,” said the seller.

Most of these tourists have also bought houses in Saranda, and according to the buyers, they will return again for the end-of-year holidays, which makes traders raise their expectations.

The “low cost” tourists in Saranda brought income to the small traders, but on the other hand, they also influenced the increase in the prices of food products, putting the citizens of Saranda themselves in difficulties.