Albanians will spend their summer holidays at home

TIRANA, April 19ؔourism agencies in Albania are pessimistic regarding Albanians spending their holidays abroad this summer.
The economic crisis that has affected the world and the parliamentary election set on June 28th are two factors that will affect Albanians’ demand to spend their holidays abroad.
“In a situation where revenues have diminished, tourism, being a matter of luxury, will be one of the first alternative to be sacrificed,” said a director from one of the biggest tourist agencies operating in Albania.
According to data from “Mother Theresa” Airport, 12 charter flights per week were used to send Albanian tourists to destinations such as Turkey, Egypt, and Tunisia last year. A total of 8,400 Albanians visited these countries last summer.
In addition, another 7,000 Albanian tourist flew to the same destinations by common flight routes. All in all, 15,000 Albanians spent their summer holidays in those three destinations. Chances that the same numbers will be repeated this year are slim.
Despite the huge number of agencies offering tourism packages toward foreign destinations, only seven of them have planned charter flights for this season. Now, agencies work together to reserve charters and share seats according to their market share and the reservations they have.
According to Bank of Albania, Albanians spent 900 million EUR holidaying abroad in 2008, 200 million EUR more than in 2007, or an increase of 30%.
Albanian Society of Tourism (SHSHT) announced that a family of four spent an average of 2,000 EUR for a 10 day package.
“The average amount spent by two people choosing to holiday abroad during 2008 was 1,500 EUR, and a family of four spent an average 2,000 EUR,” said head of SHSHT, Genc Pasko.
Interestingly, data shows that expenses made by Albanian tourists abroad are a lot higher when compared to average GDP per capita in Albania.
The Ministry of Finance reported GDP per capita to be 4,200 USD at the end of 2008. That is just 22 % of the average GDP per capita in the EU.
However, Albanians won’t be alone spending their holidays at home. Numbers of foreign tourists in Albania are also expected to suffer this year with individuals all over the globe reflecting more spending cautiousness in a time of global economic crisis.