{"id":60917,"date":"2023-10-03T11:07:41","date_gmt":"2023-10-03T09:07:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/euronews.al\/en\/?p=60917"},"modified":"2023-10-03T11:07:41","modified_gmt":"2023-10-03T09:07:41","slug":"660000-italians-came-to-albania-by-the-end-of-august-raking-second-after-kosovo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/euronews.al\/en\/660000-italians-came-to-albania-by-the-end-of-august-raking-second-after-kosovo\/","title":{"rendered":"660,000 Italians came to Albania by the end of August, raking second after Kosovo"},"content":{"rendered":"

Italian tourists have emerged as the second-largest group of visitors to Albania this year, with around 660,000 arrivals recorded by the end of August.<\/p>\n

In comparison to the previous year, the number of Italian tourists exploring Albania surged by 50% from January to August, constituting 9.1% of the overall visitors.<\/p>\n

Official data from the Ministry of Tourism reveals that only neighboring Kosovo surpasses Italians in terms of visitor numbers to Albania. Kosovar visitors accounted for 40% of the total tourists in August, with a figure of 2.93 million, marking a 17% increase compared to the previous year.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, historically popular tourist groups, such as Greeks, North Macedonians, and Montenegrins, including emigrants or Albanians from these regions, follow Italians.<\/p>\n

More specifically, 511,000 visitors arrived from North Macedonia until August, marking an 8% increase compared to the previous year. The rate for Greek visitors during the first eight months of 2023 increased by 39%. At least 450,000 citizens entered from Greece.<\/p>\n

Significant increases in tourist numbers were observed among Germans, Spaniards, and also from Turkey.<\/p>\n

The uptick in Spanish tourist numbers coincides with a rise in organized tourism, primarily facilitated through brand structures undertaking various projects in the country. Meanwhile, Germans, Nordic tourists, and other Western Europeans opted for Albania due to its affordability.<\/p>\n

Polish tourists, the largest group of organized tourism, increased by 27% in the first eight months compared to the previous year. However, there was a 5% decline when comparing August 2023 to August 2022. Tour operators anticipate this year to be a historic high for tourism in the country.<\/p>\n

Tourism statistics<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Ministry of Tourism and Environment reported that in August 2023, the number of foreign nationals entering Albanian territory exceeded 2 million.<\/p>\n

This number increased by 18.3% compared to August 2022. During the eight months of 2023, the number of foreign nationals entering Albanian territory reached 7.19 million. This number increased by 26.9% compared to the same period in 2022.<\/p>\n

In August 2023, the entries of Albanian and foreign nationals into Albanian territory totaled 2.8 million. This figure represents a 16.9% increase compared to August 2022.<\/p>\n

For both foreign and Albanian visitors entering Albania in August 2023, the land route remains the most popular choice:<\/p>\n