The latest INSTAT data shows a significant slowdown in the entry of foreign citizens throughout 2025 compared to the previous year.
During the January-July period, over 6,5 million foreign citizens visited Albania, with an increase of 3,5% on an annual basis from 23% in 2024. The greatest impact on the decline in tourism was on Kosovo, with 121 thousand fewer citizens.
“… they are not very optimistic if we had based the basis of economic development, of Albania’s economic growth throughout 2025 mainly on tourism,” says economic expert, Klodian Muço.
“This stagnation, the fact that we do not have strong double-digit growth like in previous years, should make us think about what is wrong with our tourism,” adds his colleague, Fatos Çoçoli.
According to economic experts, some of the factors behind this phenomenon are the lack of infrastructure and high prices.
“There are issues that have been mentioned over the years in Albania: the aspect of the lack of infrastructure, which continues to leave much to be desired; waste still continues to be burned in a Spartan manner,” says Mr. Muço.
“It is inexcusable that the average prices for this summer tourist season, especially in the South, have increased by 12-20 percent. We need to look at our pricing policy. It is keeping away foreigners who come to visit us,” emphasizes expert Çoçoli.
But could the government do more in this sector?
“I have the impression that it is not the government’s fault here. The government can formalize the sector. The tourism sector is a sector that suffers from relatively high informality. For the part that is abused with prices or service, it is not the government’s fault,” says Mr. Muço.
Even for July, the figures were unpromising, with an increase of 0,3% compared to the same month a year earlier.
