First half of this year brought a record level of income from foreign citizens who traveled to Albania.

On the other hand, the expenses of Albanians abroad have reached unprecedented figures.

The data of the Bank of Albania in the balance of payments indicate that in the first 6 months of 2023, the expenses of foreigners who traveled to Albania reached a total of 1.55 billion euros. This is the highest figure ever recorded after the 1990s and reflects the return of Albania to a favorite tourist destination this year. Expenditure by foreigners on travel has increased by 37% compared to the same period a year ago.

Only in the second quarter, the expenses of foreigners reached 930 million euros, with an increase of almost 30% compared to the same period of the previous year.

Other INSTAT data revealed that in the January-June period, the number of foreign citizens who entered the Albanian territory is 3,396,932. This number has increased by 33.0%, compared to the same period of 2022.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, the throne continues to be held by patriotic tourism and specifically by Kosovo Albanians, with 40% of the total. Over 1.38 million visitors entered Albania from Kosovo in the first 6 months of the year, or 43 percent more than the same period a year ago.

In second place are the Italians, with 310,000 visitors from the neighboring country, setting a record in the first 6 months. Italians accounted for 9% of the total. The figures show that in terms of numbers, North Macedonia and Montenegro are the third and fourth groups, respectively, and here, over the years, the Albanians of the Treva have been the dominant part.

More foreigners are coming to the country, but also more Albanians are choosing to travel abroad. According to data from the Bank of Albania, for the first six months of the year, Albanians' expenses for trips abroad were 977 million euros, with an increase of 23% compared to January-June 2022.

Other INSTAT data revealed that the number of Albanian citizens who left the territory of Albania during the first six months of 2023 is 3,024,102, increasing by 20.0%, compared to the same period a year ago .

Although foreigners have increased the number of people in Albania, the same thing has happened to Albanian citizens who travel abroad. However, more money is left in the country. According to the Bank of Albania, the travel balance, which measures the difference between the spending of foreigners in Albania and Albanians abroad, was 794 million euros, which is the highest figure ever recorded.

Since 2015, Albania has a positive travel balance, which has been increasing year after year.

(Source: Monitor)