Tourism is rapidly recovering from the losses it suffered from the pandemic. INSTAT data show that the inflow of foreign nationals has increased rapidly in April, where the main impact was given by Kosovo, but still remain 41% less than in April 2019, before the pandemic crisis.
For the 4 months, the entrances of foreign citizens still remain 31% lower than the pre-crisis levels (January-April 2019), mainly affected by the reluctance of European tourists to move, while the entries of Kosovo citizens are 21% higher than the first 4 months 2019.
According to INSTAT, the entries of Albanian and foreign citizens in the Albanian territory, in April 2021, are 466,283, experiencing a significant increase of 18.5 times, compared to April 2020. The number of foreign citizens entering the Albanian territory is 241,015 or 19.8 times higher than the same month of the previous year.
Changes in citizens’ movement indicators have been affected by the pandemic measures imposed in April 2020.
Citizens’ entrances
During the first quarter of 2021, the number of foreign nationals entering Albania is 754,796, increasing by 1.3 times, compared to the same period of 2020.
Analyzing the country of origin of citizens entering Albania, Kosovo has had the largest increase by 2.1 times and Switzerland by 2 times, while the most significant decrease has been Greece by 4.4 times and England by 60.1 %, compared to the same period of 2020.
Departures of citizens
Departures of Albanian and foreign citizens from the territory of Albania, during April 2021, are 449,930, marking an increase of 18.8 times, compared to the same period a year ago. The number of Albanian citizens leaving the territory of Albania is 230,468 or 12.7 times higher than the same month of the previous year. The number of foreign nationals leaving the territory of Albania is 219,462 or 16.5 times higher, compared to the same period a year ago.
During the first quarter of 2021, the number of Albanian citizens leaving the territory of Albania is 961,573. This indicator was 1,110,928 in the same period a year ago.
Kosovo keeps tourism alive
The importance of tourism from Kosovo has increased significantly since the pandemic. According to INSTAT data, for the 4 months, the share of tourists from Kosovo has increased to 51% of the total, from 29% in January-April 2019, before the pandemic. The number of tourists from Kosovo is high every weekend, saving the hotels that once in this period waited for tourists from Poland, Nordic countries, etc./ Monitor
Source: INSTAT
Source: INSTAT
