Albania has recorded the highest increase in overnight stays in Europe in the third quarter of 2025, according to data made public by Eurostat.

From the north to the south of Albania, overnight stays in accommodation units in the period July-September increased by 30%, compared to the same period a year earlier, at much higher rates than in Europe, which had this indicator of only 1.7%.

The second country with the highest annual increase in visitors in the third quarter is Iceland, with 13%.

In the third quarter, according to Eurostat, a total of 5.3 million overnight stays were recorded in Albania. The highest number was in August, with 2.3 million, followed by July with 1.8 million. Foreign visitors accounted for 75% of overnight stays. They also had the strongest growth compared to the same quarter a year ago, with 38.8%, compared to 9.5% for locals.

In the region, in Montenegro, the growth was minimal, only 0.1%, in North Macedonia 1.8%, in Serbia, it fell by 0.5%. Kosovo was the country that saw a more positive trend, with +11.7%. Data are missing for Turkey, which is a major tourist destination.

On the other hand, data from Albania’s Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) on accommodation structures during the 11th month of last year show that non-residents increased by 31%.

“In November 2025, accommodation structures recorded a significant increase in visitors and overnight stays, compared to the same month last year. Total visitors increased by 30.0%, with non-residents recording an increase of 31.0% and residents by 28.0%. Total overnight stays increased by 29.8%, with non-residents recording an increase of 32.5%, while residents recorded an increase of 23.0%. Non-resident visitors recorded an increase in non-coastal areas (+21.6%) and in hotels and similar accommodations (+29.8%),” the INSTAT publication states.

In November 2025, the majority of non-resident visitors who were accommodated in hospitality structures in Albania came from Italy (19%), Kosova (18%) and Germany (9%), data show.

France and the United Kingdom contributed 6% and 5% of visitors, respectively, while 43% of them were from other countries. These data reflect the trend of increasing inbound tourism from the main markets of the region and Europe.

“The occupancy rate of hotel rooms reached 22.2%, compared to 19.5% in November 2024,” the publication states.

While the year 2025 closed with a figure of over 12 million foreigners entering Albania, this year is expected to follow the same growth trend, which will be more moderate than previous years.

The slowdown comes as a result of a series of effects related to both domestic developments such as the increase in prices in some regions, the depreciation of the euro that has mainly affected Kosova, lower ratings in forums and blogs by visitors, while there is a tendency for spending to shrink due to geopolitical uncertainties mainly on a global level, Monitor reported on Friday.

Albania's tourism is booming, with foreign arrivals hitting records, making it one of Europe's fastest-growing destinations, driven by increased spending and major hotel investments, particularly from European markets like Kosovo, Italy, and Germany, boosting GDP contribution to around 8%. Key trends show exponential growth since 2019, expanding accommodation options (hotels, rentals) and a strong focus on cultural/coastal tourism, supported by official data from Instat and AIDA.