Entry of more than 10 million foreigners in the country during 2023 has already been "certified" by the official figures of the Institute of Statistics.

In December alone, over 616,000 foreigners entered the country with a 57.6 percent increase compared to the same month last year.

The main arrivals have been from European countries, where part of the tourists, also because of the holidays, are mainly immigrants who return to the country near their families and relatives.

"The number of foreign citizens entering Albania during 2023 is 10,155,640, increasing by 34.6%, compared to 2022. The number of Albanian citizens leaving Albania in 2023 is 6,913,347, increasing increased by 17.5%, compared to the previous year

The arrivals of Albanian and foreign citizens in the Albanian territory, in the month of December 2023, are 1,362,511. This indicator results in an increase of 41.1%, compared to December 2022. The exits of Albanian citizens and foreigners from the territory of Albania, during the month of December 2023, are 1,152,429, marking an increase of 7.7%, compared to the same period of the previous year.

Entry of citizens In December 2023, the number of Albanian citizens who entered the Albanian territory is 745,517. This number has increased by 29.9%, compared to December 2022. The number of foreign citizens who have entered the Albanian territory is 616,994. This number has increased by 57.6%, compared to December 2022", states the publication of INSTAT.

Referring to the figures in December 2023, the region with the highest number of foreign nationals entering Albania is the European region with 571,348 citizens, followed by America and East Asia/Pacific, respectively with 9,845 and 2,617 citizens.

Meanwhile, as far as the reasons are concerned, the entries of foreign citizens are: increase, for personal purposes by 58.4%; growth, for vacation purposes, visiting relatives, etc. with 65.1%; increase, for business and professional purposes by 20.4%.

While the number of foreigners who entered the country at the end of the year has been increasing, it seems that Albanian citizens have traveled less abroad.

"The exits of Albanian citizens from the territory of Albania, during the month of December 2023, are 602,346. Compared to December 2022, this indicator has decreased by 5.1%. The exits of foreign citizens from the territory of Albania, during the month of December 2023, are 550,083.

Compared to December 2022, this indicator has increased by 26.3%. The number of Albanian citizens who left the territory of Albania during 2023 is 6,913,347, increasing by 17.5%, compared to the same period of the previous year", the publication states.

(Source: Monitor)