International hotel brands, which were encouraged with a special fiscal package years ago and were mainly concentrated in Tirana, are now building some models on the coast as well. The moment of attention to tourism that Albania is receiving is expected to accelerate more investments in accommodation structures of this nature, influencing a new approach to the standard and quality offered, but also to the growth of supporting industries.

The Spanish group Melia foresees at least 19 projects in Albania in the next 5 years, while M Gallery in Palasa is expected to open its doors next summer.

In Tirana, accommodation structures bearing the name of international brands have seen an increase in bookings, as a result of tourist interest in Albania, but the devaluation of the Euro has brought negative consequences for their finances.

A special fiscal package aimed at encouraging investments in hotels, and international brands with 4 and 5 stars, brought a large number of agreements between Albanian companies and international chains. Today, some of these structures have been built and are in operation, while another part is still under construction.

International brands were mainly concentrated in Tirana, without managing to touch the coast to a large extent, whereas Albania should have this expansion, with a qualitative category of structures that would make a difference.

From North to South, on the coastline, a few structures have an international brand name, starting from Melia in Lalzi Bay, which is the hotel with the largest capacity in this category, to continue with Movenpick, Radisson Blue in Dhërmi or Maritim Raffaello Resort in Shengjin, or Maritim Marina Bay in Vlora.

Next summer, M Gallery, a structure of the luxury segment of the ACCOR group acquired by Balfin, is expected to open its doors in Palasa.

The increase in accommodation capacities in structures that are international brands, at a time when Albania is a trending tourist destination, is estimated to have only positive effects, stimulating local economies, and supporting industries, but above all increasing the quality of service in the sector of tourism.

The positive development of tourism seems to have had a direct impact on accommodation structures that have seen an increase in bookings.

The tendency of foreigners who travel individually or with small organized groups is that of reservations through platforms and applications, something that in principle has caused hotels to have more occupied rooms, but in terms of income, the flow is less.

Behar Male, co-investor in one of the accommodation structures in Tirana, which was among the first to enter into an agreement with an international brand, " Maritim Hotel Plaza, Tirana", considers that tourism as a whole has had good progress.

According to him, there are some economic indicators that have increased the supply of currency in the country, but the 25% drop in the Euro is inexplicable and is causing great damage. "This is a very sensitive issue and I think that competent specialists should speak, not just specialists," emphasizes Male.

The sectors affected by a situation like this, according to him, are many and the government must intervene with the appropriate mechanisms to maintain economic balances, starting from agriculture to tourism or fashion and exports as a whole.