Tourism pushes food demand to €1.9 billion

Albania will need an estimated €1.9 billion in food this year as tourist numbers rise to 14 million, the Agriculture Ministry says.

That is €300 million more than last year, when nearly 12.5 million foreign tourists visited the country.

Farm groups say domestic production will not meet all the extra demand because Albanian agriculture remains weak and receives limited state support.

They expect food imports to rise.

Higher demand is also pushing up prices. Dairy products and locally grown vegetables became about 5% more expensive last year.