March confirms the continued growth of tourism in Albania, even in a climate influenced by geopolitical developments. Tensions and uncertainties in the Middle East appear to be steering tourists toward alternative destinations in the Mediterranean, where Albania is gaining ground.
In March, over 609,000 foreign nationals entered the country, 10.8% more than a year earlier. This indicator gave a slight boost to tourism in the first months of the year, after figures had shown a decline in foreign arrivals.
The flow remains dominated by European visitors, with Southern Europe accounting for 80% of entries. Tourists from America, Africa, and South Asia have increased arrivals to the country. Those from the Middle East are not far behind, as in this quarter they not only maintained but slightly increased their inflows.
Meanwhile, 97% of foreigners entered for personal purposes, mainly tourism and visits, while entries for business and professional motives saw a slight increase. These indicators suggest that Albania is consolidating itself as a tourist alternative in a region where movements are also being influenced by international developments.
On the other hand, more Albanians chose to travel abroad. In March, over 677,000 Albanian nationals left the country, 9% more than last year, indicating an increase in regional mobility and short seasonal trips.
And with just a few months before the start of the tourist season, with over 1.28 million total entries in March, the trend signals not only an early tourist season but also a tendency influenced by geopolitical developments in redirecting tourist flows toward markets like Albania.