Foreign tourists to Albania in the first four months of 2026 increased to 2.57 million, from 2.45 million in the same period of the previous year, the statistical office, INSTAT, said on Monday.

Official data from the Institute of Statistics on the Movement of Citizens confirms what tour operators are actually predicting, that tourism growth will continue this year, adding, here, in addition to the effect of promotion, the impact of the conflict in the Middle East.

Most tourists, 76% of the total, came from Southern Europe, followed by tourists from Western Europe with a 7% share, INSTAT said in a data release.

In April alone, Albania welcomed 891,414 foreign tourists, up 8.8% compared to the same month in 2025.

The expectation of tour operators is optimistic for 2026, predicting a similar performance to 2025.

Adding to this expectation was the fact that the conflict in the Middle East was seen as an opportunity for visitors planning holidays in this region to change their plans for safer destinations, where Albania is also part.

Meanwhile, despite a slow start in January and February as a result of unfavorable weather conditions, spring is marking a good performance as a result of cultural tours and increasing tourists coming as individuals.

In 2025, the number of foreign tourists who visited Albania rose 6.6% to 12.47 million, INSTAT has said.