International tourist arrivals in Albania are experiencing significant growth rates, accompanied by an expansion of the markets showing preference towards the destination.
In a recent report released by Albanian Institute of Statistics (INSTAT), July 2023 has witnessed an impressive upswing in the hospitality sector, with remarkable growth rates in non-resident visitors and overnight stays in accommodation establishments. The data unveiled a noteworthy 49.7% surge in the total number of visitors in July compared to the same month in 2022.
The surge in visitor numbers was more pronounced among non-resident visitors, showcasing a remarkable 76.4% increase in July. This pattern mirrored the rise in the number of overnight stays, which recorded an impressive 52.8% growth compared to June 2022. Of these, resident visitors’ overnight stays rose by 36.0%, while non-residents experienced a 60.7% increase in their overnight stays.
INSTAT’s analysis further delved into the origins of these visitors. Apart from long-standing leaders, the Kosovo Albanians, a surge in visitors from European Union countries was observed. Notably, Polish travelers took the lead from EU nations with 9.2% representation, followed closely by Italians at 8.3%. Germany and Spain followed suit, with respective contributions of 7.0% and 4.3%. A similar trend was observed for car reservations. According to data obtained from a popular marketplace for car rentals Rent From Locals, reservations rose by almost a factor of two compared to last year. However in this case italian visitors make for 21% of total reservations, followed by visitors from Poland (9%) and France (8%).
The geographical distribution of visitors in June 2023 highlighted a prominent inclination towards the southern region of the country and its coastal areas. Notably, the southern region reported a staggering 2.5-fold increase in non-resident visitors, while the coastal areas experienced a noteworthy 75.0% upswing. In specific accommodation types like hotels and similar establishments, non-resident visitor numbers saw an impressive 70.0% increase.
The regional analysis for the same period revealed that the center region held the highest number of visitors at 40.2%, followed by areas adjacent to the coast at 63.1%. Notably, hotels and similar accommodations registered a substantial 91.2% occupancy rate.
For overnight stays, the southern region emerged as a prominent choice, accounting for 43.3% of the total. Coastal areas contributed significantly as well, with 72.5% of overnight stays. The accommodation type breakdown showed that hotels and similar establishments enjoyed the highest occupancy rate at 92.0%.
Two crucial indicators, the net room utilization rate and bed utilization rate, were highlighted in the report. July 2023 demonstrated noteworthy growth in these indicators, with hotel room occupancy reaching 28.5%, compared to 22.9% in June 2022. Similarly, hotel and similar accommodation occupancy rose to 30.5% from 23.2% during the same period in the previous year.
These substantial increases in both visitor numbers and overnight stays during July 2023 highlight a promising resurgence in the travel and hospitality sector, marking positive developments and opportunities for professionals in the industry.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
