Tour operators are predicting that Albania will see a surge of bookings from UK tourists in 2022 according to The Guardian.
The Guardian found that “tour operators have seen a notable increase in bookings for 2022,” as tourists are drawn to the country’s unconventional beauty and history, as well as its accessibility.
Booking website Skyscanner told The Guardian that it had seen a 48% increase for bookings to Albania compared to 2019. Likewise, tour operator Wild Frontiers had noted a 30% increase in January 2022.
According to the piece, Albania’s much improved tourist infrastructure, and increasingly cheaper flight costs have contributed to the unfolding boom. While Albania was once seen as an exotic destination for intrepid backpackers, families and couples with friends have become more and more interested in the country.
In addition to Albania’s proximity, The Guardian mentioned also that the lenient pandemic restrictions for foreign tourists may have contributed to the country’s appeal.
Albania was also listed by the travel company Kayak as the most searched winter sunshine destination.
The country’s booming tourist industry was hit hard by the COVID pandemic, and it has yet to bounce back. According to data released by the National Institute of Statistics, 9.6 million tourists visited Albania in 2021, 2.5 million fewer people than 2019.
In 2021, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Italy, and Greece were the countries with the highest number of visitors.
