Albania records surge in tourist arrivals in early 2026, led by Kosovo and Italy

Albania welcomed a record 3.7 million foreign visitors between January and May 2026, an 8.2 % increase over the same period in 2025. The biggest contributor was Kosovo, with 1,269,643 entries (up 9.9 %), followed by Italy at 464,465 arrivals (up 16.3 %). Other notable gains came from the United States (+28.2 %) and Poland (+55.8 %).

In May 2026 alone, 1,880,161 people entered Albania, a 12.2 % rise from May 2025. Foreign arrivals that month reached 1,143,595, up 15.9 %, while Albanian nationals entered 736,566 (up 6.9 %). The majority of foreign visitors originated from Southern Europe, with 70 % coming from the Balkans and 12 % from Western Europe. Personal‑purpose trips accounted for 98 % of foreign visits, while business‑related travel declined.

The upward trend reflects growing interest in Albania’s cultural, agrotourism and culinary offerings, and the country’s competitive living costs are attracting longer‑stay tourists such as retirees and digital nomads.