A total of 9,443,700 foreign visitors entered Albania in the first eight months of the year, up 5.3% from the same period last year, the statistical office, INSTAT, said on Friday.

Tourism growth slowed in August. Foreign national arrivals rose by only 2% from the previous year - the lowest growth rate for this month since the pandemic - according to INSTAT's monthly tourism report.

In August 2026, approximately 2.43 million foreign national arrivals were recorded, up from 2.38 million in the same month of the previous year. August typically sees the highest number of foreign visitors to the country; while this year remains a record-breaker in absolute terms, the pace of growth has slowed significantly.

In this month's publication, INSTAT excluded previously public data regarding the tourists' origin, after finding inconsistencies in figures provided by government institutions.

The trend aligns with expectations voiced by tourism operators throughout the season, who estimate that the year could conclude with a pace similar to that of the previous year.

Data on traveler movements arrive during a season that operators view positively in terms of visitor numbers, though there are questions regarding the revenue generated by these flows. A positive development is the extension of the season; based on current bookings, it is expected to continue through the first ten days of October.

Operators emphasize that the rise in tourist numbers should be viewed separately from the revenue the sector generates. Only the end-of-season tally will reveal whether higher visitor numbers have translated into increased revenue. Shifts in tourist behavior have also been observed.

This year, foreign visitors are staying for shorter periods, while there has been an increase in the use of private apartments and homes, as well as "self-catering" arrangements, where tourists purchase groceries and prepare their own meals.

Last-minute bookings and greater caution regarding spending have also become more apparent across several key European markets that send visitors to Albania. An increase in guaranteed contracts for the coming year - in terms of both volume and revenue - serves as a positive signal. Polish, Czech, and French groups have continued to show interest, though other groups are also involved.

In 2025, the number of foreign tourists who visited Albania rose 6.6% to 12.47 million. The population of Albania was estimated at 2.4 million in 2023, according to the latest INSTAT data.