Winter tourists are lured by cheap tickets and food prices/ Problem, public transport

2024-03-08 07:45:00, Ekonomi CNA

Winter tourists are lured by cheap tickets and food prices/ Problem, public

The high flow of tourists in Albania has not stopped even after the end of the tourist season.

In the streets of the capital, unlike a few years ago, tourists are seen even during the winter months. This time, the largest number of them come from Italy, and many of them prefer to stay longer during the weekends.

After December of last year, even this January, it seems that the trend has been increasing, where the number of foreigners who have entered Albania is almost 30 percent higher than in January of the previous year.

According to INSTAT, "the number of foreign citizens who have entered the Albanian territory is 489,599. This number has increased by 29.8%, compared to the same period of 2023."

Driven by economical airfares, they are turning Albania into a favorite tourist destination.

Winter tourists are lured by cheap tickets and food prices/ Problem, public

Ana and Santi, tourists from Italy

Ana and Santia from Italy say that their trip to Albania came about because of the very cheap flight prices.

"We planned to come to Albania 20 days ago, because Ryanair had very cheap tickets," said the girls.

Not only Ana and Santia chose to visit the country because of the cheap tickets, but also Geri and Dan from Wells.

They show that what prompted them to visit the country were the cheap prices of flight tickets. This is because they could also travel to other neighboring countries such as Italy and Greece.

Our country is presented as an undiscovered destination with a rich history, creating a pleasant surprise for tourists. Delicious food and reasonable prices are just some of the elements that surprise them on this trip.

"This is our third day and what we liked the most was the food. The food is fantastic, the prices are very cheap, especially the food and drinks - said Dan.

"Something else I like here is that there are old buildings, history but there is also modern architecture, says Geri.

Klara and Sophi, tourists from Italy

Klara from Italy, who celebrated her birthday in our country with her company, says that Albania was the perfect place to spend a week.

"We decided a week ago to come to Albania, the flights were cheap and we said why not. This was perfect for us. Here it is very cheap and a very friendly place for tourists, the people are kind and in the restaurant they were very good."

However, the main challenges continue to be public transport and traffic, making their experience rich in different emotions.

"Traffic, very bad roads and public transport a horror, we couldn't find anything. We went to Bovilla lake, but the journey was difficult, to be honest, the road to get there was terrible, I don't know maybe because it was raining or some other reason, but really, it was very terrible as the journey, but the lake from above was very beautiful, it was worth it," say Ana and Sati a little disappointed.

Klara said that to travel outside the city they had to rent a car, and for them this was the highest expense along with gas.

Geri and Dan, tourists from Wells

But Geri and Dan, happy with their experience here, say that the cheap bus ticket pleasantly surprised them, since for a 30-minute journey from the center to the cable car they paid 40 cents. If we were to do the same route in the UK we would pay 10 times more.

Airbnb is the top choice for many travelers, as it offers a combination of low cost and flexibility of accommodation. This preference has made it possible for many tourists to enjoy their stay in Albania on a more reasonable budget, allowing them to explore and feel part of the local culture.

"For us, the hotel was very expensive and Airbnb was cheap, but it also offered us private parking for the car we rented," says Klara.

“We only spent £30 for one night, it was a very good place and we will choose it again if we come back,” said Dan.

Albania continues to meet the expectations of tourists with its natural beauty, culture and tradition. Despite the challenges in the transport infrastructure, tourists are leaving happy, emphasizing the gestures of courtesy and hospitality from the Albanian people.