Albania aims for 14 million tourists in 2024: A bold ambition

During the second day of the international tourism conference hosted in Tirana, Albanian Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku set an ambitious target for the country: 14 million tourists. This goal, she emphasized, is not only achievable but also crucial for Albania’s economic growth.

Tourism: A Vital Sector

Deputy PM Balluku highlighted that tourism plays a pivotal role in Albania’s economy. It contributes significantly to employment, revenue, and overall development. As the country continues to attract visitors from around the world, investments in this sector become paramount.

The Road to 14 Million

To achieve the 14-million-tourist milestone, Albania is taking strategic steps:

Infrastructure Development:

The construction of Gjirokastra airport has already commenced. This project aims to enhance connectivity and facilitate smoother travel for tourists.
Next year, Vlora international airport will also begin construction. This additional airport will further boost accessibility and accommodate growing passenger numbers.

Quality Standards:

Albania recognizes the need to transform tourism into a robust industry. This involves maintaining high standards of service, cleanliness, and safety.

Efforts are underway to ensure that tourist destinations, especially along the coast, adhere to new standards for beach management and cleanliness. Public beaches now occupy a mandatory percentage of each municipality’s area.

Promotion and Innovation:

The success of 2023, with 10.1 million tourists visiting Albania, demonstrates effective collaboration among stakeholders, legal frameworks, and successful promotion.
The government continues to promote Albania’s unique attractions, including the Albanian Alps, which have gained attention as one of the 30 most exciting destinations for 20241.
Digital Transformation:

The TEA application, a digital calendar of events, has seen over 25,000 downloads. It aims to become a comprehensive platform for event promotion and inter-business communication.

Positive Trends:

Formalization efforts have led to categorized hotels paying a reduced VAT of 6%, regardless of their star rating. This encourages businesses to operate legally and benefits both the industry and consumers.

A Collective Effort

Deputy PM Balluku emphasized that achieving this ambitious goal requires collaboration from all stakeholders—government, businesses, and citizens. With the right strategies, Albania can not only meet but exceed the 14-million-tourist mark, further solidifying its position on the global tourism map.