Albania records over 5 million foreign visitors in first half of 2026

In the first half of 2026 Albania welcomed 9,166,350 total visitors, a 6.6 % increase compared with the same period last year. According to the national statistics institute (INSTAT), 5,059,069 of those were foreign nationals, up 6.2 % year‑on‑year, while Albanian residents number 4,107,281, up 7.1 %.

June alone saw 2,081,649 arrivals – 0.9 % more than June 2025 – comprising 1,346,279 foreign visitors (up 1.3 %) and 735,370 Albanians (up 7.1 %). Departures in June rose to 2,008,987, a 4.7 % increase.

Southern Europe accounted for 66 % of foreign arrivals, with Central and Eastern Europe contributing 14 %. Personal‑purpose trips dominated, representing 98 % of foreign entries and rising 1.6 %, while business‑related visits fell 17.7 %. The tourism figures fell short of expectations, a shortfall attributed to protests that have been ongoing in Tirana for nearly two months.