Albania’s travel and tourism sector contributed more to the economy and supported more jobs in 2023 than any other year before, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 2024 Economic Impact Study (EIR).
The tourism sector contributed nearly £565 billion to Albania’s GDP last year, nearly 37% higher than 2019’s record high, according to the latest research from the international tourism organisation.
As a testament to the sector’s success, in 2023 travel and tourism contributed a quarter of a lek to Albania’s economy.
Employment supported by the travel and tourism sector increased by more than 10% compared to 2019, with approximately 269,000 jobs supported by the travel and tourism sector across the country, representing one in five jobs in Albania.
International visitor spending increased by more than 45% on the 2019 peak to reach £464 billion, while domestic visitor spending also exceeded 2019 levels, reaching over £100 billion last year.
The record is predicted to be broken again in 2024
WTTC predicts the sector’s total contribution to GDP will continue to grow, reaching nearly £608.5 billion this year, with nearly 10,000 more jobs being created this year.
International visitor spending is predicted to grow to more than £493 billion, a staggering 55% increase on 2019. Domestic visitor spending is also expected to exceed £107 billion this year.
Julia Simpson, WTTC president and CEO, said: “Albania is a shining example of how travel and tourism can drive economic prosperity and job creation. Albania’s record-breaking figures represent real progress and real opportunity for thousands of workers.”
“Albania has emerged on the world stage as a fantastic travel destination. With the support of the government, Albanian travel and tourism has established itself as a growing destination in the global tourism sector.”
Albania continues to break new records, strengthening its position as one of Europe’s increasingly popular tourist destinations.
With the construction of Vlora International Airport, the Albanian government is stepping up efforts to attract more international tourists, capitalizing on the country’s growing popularity due to its rich cultural heritage, stunning scenery and affordable travel.
What does the next decade hold?
International tourism organisations predict that the tourism industry will grow its annual GDP contribution to £749 billion by 2034, employing more than 314,000 people across Albania and one in four Albanians working in the tourism industry.
International visitor spending is predicted to reach £565 billion, while domestic visitor spending is expected to reach almost £152 billion.
Check out the economic impact data from the WTTC Research Hub
The research was conducted in collaboration with Oxford Economics. All values are constant 2023 prices and exchange rates reported in March 2024. All currencies are denoted as ALL.
