In the first half of 2026, Albania welcomed 5 million foreign tourists, marking a 6.2% increase compared to the same period in 2025, when arrivals totaled 4.8 million, according to data from INSTAT.
Tourist Composition by Region
Tourists from Southern Europe accounted for 71.9% of total foreign arrivals in H1 2026. Visitors from Western Europe made up 9.3% of the arrivals during this period, as reported by the Albanian statistical office.
June 2026 Tourism Figures and Market Declines
Albania registered 1.35 million foreign tourist arrivals in June 2026, slightly up from 1.33 million in June 2025. Despite this modest overall increase, arrivals from several key markets dropped significantly.
June 2026 arrivals
from Kosova decreased by 51,190 tourists compared to June 2025. Visitor numbers from North Macedonia fell by 15,223, Germany by 13,165, Turkey by 11,062, and Montenegro by 6,212. Collectively, these five markets contributed to a reduction of 96,852 visitors in June 2026, representing a 13% contraction compared with the previous year.
Government Response and Tourism Sector Impact
Albania’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sports linked the decline in arrivals from certain markets during June to ongoing protests that started on May 30, 2026. The government indicated that the perceived instability and negative international image arising from the protests negatively influenced tourist decisions and partnerships.
The minister
emphasized the critical role of perceived security, normality, and stability in sustaining tourism. Tourism stakeholders, including tour operators, hoteliers, and travel agencies, reported slowdowns in bookings, cancellations, and hesitancy among some international markets.
Despite these challenges from specific countries, growth from other foreign markets offset the shortfalls, maintaining a modest overall positive balance in tourist arrivals for the period.
Albania’s tourism sector had previously recorded a 6.6% increase in foreign arrivals in 2025, reaching 12.47 million tourists for the full year. The country’s estimated population was 2.4 million in 2023, as stated by INSTAT.
