Data from Albania’s Tourism Ministry show some 1.7 million Kosovars visited Albania in 2012 compared to 1.25 million in 2011, accounting for half of total foreign tourists
TIRANA, April 23 – After the display in Milan and Berlin tourism fairs, Albanian tourist destinations and cultural heritage sites were displayed in neighbouring Kosovo which accounts for around half of foreign tourists visiting Albania. Albania was represented in the tourism fair held in Prishtina from April 17 to 19 by the National Tourism Agency with a special stand featuring its best tourist destinations, cultural heritage sites and gastronomy.
Anisa Sheldija, the director of Promotion and Foreign Relations at the National Tourism Agency described the participation in the Prishtina fair as very important especially to further promote Albania’s rich cultural heritage destinations, mostly known only by students who visit Albania at weekend trips which have become more frequent after the construction of the Highway of Nations linking the two neighbouring countries in the shortest possible way.
“Considering that Kosovo Albanians are more inclined to the sun and sand tourism, we are here to introduce to them our cultural heritage which to date is more popular among students,” said Sheldija.
Cuneyd Ustaibo, Kosovo’s deputy Trade and Industry minister called on Albanian authorities to do more in promoting Kosovo destinations in Albania. The cave of Galdina, the Turbe of Sultan Murad, the Rugova Mountain and the Prizren and Rahovec towns were some of Kosovo destinations promoted in a tour with Albanian culture representatives and tour operators and travel agencies. Kosovo’s Alternative Tourism Association also asked Albanian tour operators to apply reduced tariffs for Kosovo tourists and work on compiling joint packages.
Data from Albania’s Tourism Ministry show some 1.7 million Kosovars visited Albania in 2012 compared to 1.25 million in 2011.
In its annual report, the Tourism Ministry says 4.7 million people visited Albania in 2012 of whom 3.4 million were foreigners and 1.3 million migrants, who are described as non-residents holding Albanian citizenship. Data show some 65 percent of foreign tourists come from Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro where ethnic Albanians are the majority or second largest communities with local experts often referring to this sector of the market as ‘patriotic tourism.’
The Greeks account for 7 percent, followed by Italians with 4 percent and the Germans with 2 percent.
Tourism revenue declined for the third year in a row in 2012 despite government reporting a significant boom in the number of tourists visiting Albania. Central bank data show tourism revenue in 2012 slightly dropped to 1.145 billion Euros, down Euro 24 million or 2 percent compared to 2011.
Affected by crisis, tourism revenue have been on a downward trend since 2009 when it registered its peak rate of Euro 1.3 billion. Albanians’ spending in tourist trips abroad has also considerably shrank in the past three years despite the visa free travel regime in force since December 2010. Central bank data show Albanians spent 1 billion euros in trips abroad in 2012, down from Euro 1.169 billion in 2011 and Euro 1.227 billion in 2010.
The Peaks of the Balkans
The Peaks of the Balkans, a cross border hiking trail which connects mountainous areas of Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro, has been shortlisted by prestigious London-based World Travel & Tourism Council as one of the twelve finalists for its Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.
The quite ambitious “Peaks of the Balkans” trail comprises 192 km and completes a circuit crossing the three countries. It leads through high alpine landscape up to 2300 metres above sea level in the border region in Dob쳤ol (Albania) and Milishevc (Kosovo).
