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Putin has put Albania on the 'black list', but Russians compare it to Greece and Turkey when it comes to tourism...
Albania seems to have become a major destination for Russian tourists. Even though they are under sanctions and at war with Ukraine, they seem to prefer to travel and a large number see our country as the ideal place to relax. At least that's what some Russian media write.
The Russian portal "News Info" has written an article on this issue, where the author of the article says that he has been to Albania himself. According to him, Turkey and Greece have nothing more than Albania.
“ Albania has long been in the shadow of its neighbors, Greece, Montenegro and Italy. But in recent years, the country has emerged as a new destination for tourists looking for the Mediterranean without the crowds and excessive fees. Albania is washed by the Adriatic and Ionian seas. The resorts of Saranda and Ksamil are increasingly compared to the Greek islands. Beaches range from white sand to pebble bays, and the sea is crystal clear and warm until October. The main advantage for Russians is the cost of vacation. Hotels, rent and food are much cheaper here than in Greece or Italy. Dinner in a seafood restaurant will cost half the price in neighboring countries. Albania does not yet have mass tourism, so the atmosphere remains simple and sincere. Small taverns, local markets, homemade wine – all this creates a feeling of the “real” Mediterranean, as it was 20 years ago , ”the article says.
“24 Travel” has also dedicated an article to it in Russian, where it advertises the Shala River. “ This river offers stunning turquoise waters and jungle-like green landscapes, creating an exotic adventure in the heart of Europe. Ideal for autumn holidays, Albania enjoys pleasant and mild temperatures of around 25 degrees during October, and the pleasant sun makes it ideal for beach lovers at the end of the season. With its crystal clear waters and jade peaks, Albania could be mistaken for one of Thailand’s remote islands ,” the article emphasizes.
But the articles come at a time when the Russian embassy has complained that the Albanian government has this time refused to lift visas for tourists coming from Russia. Rama has made concessions before, but this time he stuck to Western sanctions. The fact that so many Russians come to the country means that they are approved for visas anyway.
The other element is that Russia has put Albania on the list of "enemy countries." We have even had clashes and expulsions of diplomats. But it seems that for the Russians it is the ideal place to relax.
It should be noted that Albania, since the start of the war, has been the main destination for tourists from Ukraine and Russia, while in European countries the alarm has been raised that some of them are used by Moscow as secret agents. In 2021, 4 Russian tourists were found dead in a swimming pool in Qerret and the event still has many mysteries today. Likewise, the Russian Svetlana Timofeeva, arrested in 2022 by Albanian authorities and accused of espionage, decided to seek asylum in Albania because her life was in danger in Moscow. /Pamphlet
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