Albania’s tourism sector is facing unexpected challenges this year, as nearly 150,000 fewer tourists from Kosovo visited the country—a drop of around 5% compared to 2024. Overall tourism growth is sluggish, rising just 3.5%, far below the double-digit increases seen in previous years.
Economic experts warn that the combination of high prices, weak infrastructure, and informal pricing practices is discouraging visitors, particularly from Kosovo. Coastal resorts in the south have seen prices rise 12–20%, pushing many travelers to look elsewhere.
Visitor Trends (Jan–July 2025):
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Kosovo: –5% overall, –6% in July alone
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Italy: +4.5% growth (down from +47% last year)
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North Macedonia: +11.3%
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Serbia: +16% Jan–July, +28% in July
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France: +47%, Germany: +27%
Experts note that visa-free access to the EU for Kosovars and rising Albanian prices are major reasons for the decline.
