Albania preferred by “tight-fisted” tourists, an alarm for the tourism industry

A European tourist spends an average of 91 euros per night when traveling to another European country, according to Eurostat data published for 2023. For Eurozone countries, this amount reaches 93 euros per night. This figure includes accommodation, food and drinks, local transportation, cultural, recreational, and other activities.

Data show a steady increase in European tourists’ budgets, rising from 84 euros per night in 2022 and 77 euros in 2019.

This indicator is important for understanding the economic profile of tourists who visit Albania as well. According to INSTAT, Italians make up the second-largest group of tourists in Albania, accounting for about 11 percent of arrivals. However, they are among the more frugal in Europe, spending an average of only 78 euros per night—14 percent less than the European average.

Tourists from France spend similar amounts, around 79 euros per night, while Spaniards and Dutch tourists spend about 75 euros each.

Among the lowest spenders are Polish and Czech tourists, with around 50 euros per night—almost half the EU average. This group visits Albania mainly through travel agencies and tends to stay in areas like Golem and the southern part of the country. According to tour operators, they spend little and are very price-sensitive.

Tour operators report an increase in contracts with Polish agencies for 2025. However, the number of individual visitors from these countries is declining due to rising costs and prices, pushing some travelers to alternative destinations such as Croatia.

Official data show that arrivals of Polish citizens in Albania during the first five months of this year have decreased by 8.6 percent compared to the same period last year.

Tourists from North Macedonia, the third-largest group of visitors to Albania, also spend little. According to Eurostat, in 2021 they spent an average of 37 euros per night. Greece, with 287,000 arrivals, ranks fourth, and Greek citizens are also among the more frugal tourists in Europe, spending only 46 euros per night on average.

On the other hand, German tourists are among the most generous. They spend an average of 117 euros per night and have shown a 29 percent increase in arrivals to Albania in the first five months of 2025. Germans initially visited for cultural tours but have now also started coming for summer holidays.

Tourists who spend the most in Europe are Austrians, averaging 155 euros per night, followed by Maltese with 138 euros and Icelanders with 131 euros. Nordic countries like Norway (127 euros) and Sweden (108 euros) also show a tendency to spend more, favoring high-quality services and good accommodation.

Albanian tour operators emphasize that high-budget tourists are increasingly sensitive to the quality of services and infrastructure. Problems like traffic congestion and lack of quality service negatively affect their impressions, leading to lower online ratings and reduced future interest.

Data show that destinations offering good quality, developed infrastructure, and professional service manage to attract tourists willing to pay more, while places relying on low prices tend to attract more budget-conscious tourists, mostly for seasonal tourism.

“KORÇA BOOM”