FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
More tourists are coming to Albania than ever before, with over 1.3 million arrivals recorded in January-March 2025 alone, a 35% increase compared to the previous year. But while the streets come alive with foreign languages and cameras, the economy is not feeling the same vibrancy.
Tourists, many of whom are stingy, are not replacing the Albanians who have fled. Citizen consumption in the first quarter of the year expanded by only 2.45 percent, the lowest level since 2021.
"This is mainly because the tourists who came spent little. We were dealing with poor tourists, unable to spend," declared Kujtim Dervishi, president of the Hostel Association.
Between January and March, over 1.6 million foreign tourists visited Albania. But although they are present, they spend little. Albanians who once filled the markets and cafes seem to be still searching for the pulse of the domestic consumer, who is beating less often than before.
"This has more to do with the expectations of those traders who expected to have a higher volume and especially with the opinion that was pumped up that we would have increased consumption as a result of tourism. Let's not forget also that the shrinking population silently affects consumption as we are significantly higher consumers than foreigners," said Rahhman Kasa, Albanian Tourist Union.
Tourists are welcome, but temporary. They don't buy furniture, they don't take out loans, they don't fill supermarket carts like Albanian families once did.
" Despite the record number of entries, the turnover in the market has not revived to the same extent. On the streets of Tirana, Vlora or Shkodra, new faces are seen, but the old voices are missing ," said Kujtim Dervishi, president of the Hostel Association.
The Albanian economy is learning a new truth: 'tourism brings breath, but not always money.' And if citizens leave, not even millions of visitors can replace the rhythm of daily consumption that keeps small businesses, markets, services, and the country's economic life alive./ A2CNN
Lini një Përgjigje