More Albanians spend year-end holidays abroad

TIRANA, Jan. 8 – The number of Albanians spending their year-end holidays in regional countries registered a slight increase in 2012, according to data published by the Albanian Union of Tour Operators. Sadik Malaj, the head of the Association tells local media the number of Albanians choosing regional countries such as Macedonia, Montenegro, Croatia and Greece to spend Christmas and New Year holidays grew by 15 percent compared to 2011. However, tourist trips to other European Union destinations are reported to have dropped by 13 percent. The Association also reports a considerable number of Albanians travelling to Dubai. The launch of Prishtina-Dubai direct airlines has lowered the tourist package to United Arab Emirates by 30 percent. Paris, Venice, Rome, Vienna, Amsterdam and Prague top the list of the most favourite destinations for Albanians.
Hit by crisis impacts and on a saving trend, Albanians spent less in tourist trip abroad during the first nine months of 2012, according to central bank data. In the first three quarters of 2012, Albanians spent Euro 747 million, down from Euro 864 million during the same period in the previous year. Boosted by the visa-free travel regime in the Schengen area in force since mid-December 2010, Albanians spent more in trips abroad in 2011 but yet less than in 2009 when they were required visas to travel abroad. Bank of Albania data show travel expenditure in 2011 rose by 8.7 percent to 1.12 billion euros, but was down 12 million euros compared to 2009 when the global crisis started being felt in Albania.