Foreign tourist arrivals in Albania rise 11% in March amid shifting travel patterns

TIRANA, April 24 – Albania recorded a 10.8% rise in foreign tourist arrivals in March, as more than 600,000 foreign nationals visited the country, official data showed.

The national statistics agency reported that the increase followed a slower start to the year. Travel activity recovered during March, with stronger flows in leisure and personal travel segments.

Analysts and tourism associations linked part of the growth to changing regional travel patterns. Some European travellers shifted destinations amid instability in parts of the Middle East, while Albania was increasingly seen as a more stable option in the region.

Total entries reached 1.29 million in March, while exits stood at 1.28 million, according to the data. Around 97% of foreign visitors travelled for personal reasons, with business travel remaining significantly lower.

Between January and March 2026, total entries rose to 3.59 million, up 6.4% year-on-year, while exits increased 2.9% to 3.71 million. Authorities said the trend reflected continued growth in tourism and cross-border movement at the start of the year.

/a.p./

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