Albania set to soar with 32% increase in tourism

21st June 2011

Although still one of the very few European countries left to be explored, Albania is slowly but surely starting to gain a foothold in the lucrative tourism market, seeing 3.5 million visitors last year, an impressive increase of 32% over previous years and it looks as though Albanian authorities are maintaining a further positive outlook.

Endri Jorgoni, Chief of Cabinet in the Albanian Ministry of Culture and Tourism explains his optimism, "Our expectations are based on the improvements we have done in infrastructure and improvements of the tourist environment in general."

As a tourist operator in the capital Tirana, Dritan Xhengo, has been in the industry for eight years and suggests that there has been an extraordinarily positive change compared to previous years mainly because Albania is cheap and can provide tourists, usually from Britain, Finland, Denmark and Italy, cultural tourism or archaeological tours away from the norm.

Property expert Ravin Maharajah explains why Albania was chosen as the destination for his new 5* resort development - Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa,

"We firmly believe that Albania is going to explode as a tourist destination in the next 5 years. Due to join the EU in 2014, this country shows every positive sign of going the way other Southern European countries such as Croatia and Montenegro have over the past 10 years. For now, Albania benefits greatly by sitting outside the Euro and this means that the cost to our investors is hugely reduced."

Indeed, Albania's economy has improved substantially over recent years and has outperformed many other countries in the region with heavy infrastructure investment in the Balkan nation, including main road pathways. The 170km highway for instance linking Durres, the second largest city in Albania with Kosovo has provided a major corridor for transportation making connections to and from the area easier for residents and tourists alike as well as the Albanian airline Belle Air introducing a twice weekly direct flight from Stansted to the capital, Tirana, in addition to the daily BA flights from Gatwick.

Lalzit Bay Resort and Spa, a beautiful beachfront development in Albania is fast becoming the buyer's choice for a resort destination in the Eastern Mediterranean as well as an appealing investment choice.

Partner of Lalzit Bay Resort and Spa, Ravin Maharajah comments, "At Lalzit Bay Resort and Spa we are offering knowledgeable investors the opportunity to become a part of this growth economy. Investors can purchase studios, one or two bedroom apartments or villas in a divine Mediterranean location from as little as EURO29,000, a fraction of the cost of buying a home in one of the more established European resorts, demonstrating to international buyers the huge opportunities that Albania presents. Owners also have the benefit of a fabulous beachfront holiday resort to enjoy with family and friends or to rent out to holiday makers."

For more information, visit lalzitbay.com.

Albania cruising to increased tourism in 2011

Durres in Albania has joined the likes of Castries in St Lucia, Hong Kong in China and Madeira in Portugal as a destination of choice for P&O Cruises.



As part of their 175th birthday celebrations, P&O have added 13 new ports to their extensive worldwide destination list including this historic city nestled on the Adriatic Coast.

Durres is Albania’s second largest city; it is also one of the oldest and most economically important cities in the country. It has long been the preferred holiday destination for the capital’s residents who enjoy basking in the hot summer sunshine but it is a popular destination for foreign tourist alike with an estimated 600,000 tourists in total hitting the beaches every year. According to the Albanian Border and Migration Police figures, 63,525 Brits visited Albania between 1st April 2009 and 31st March 2010.

The beaches aren’t however the only attraction. Durres is home to the largest amphitheatre in the Balkans and this first century construction is currently under consideration for inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage site. There are also several modern theatres in the cultural centre as well as museums which are well worth visiting.

As well as by sea and air, visitors can easily find their way to Durres with the new road connecting Durres to Tirana and on to the northerly Kosovan border. This important infrastructural development has further boosted tourism and economic growth to the ‘gateway to western Europe’ which has a positive knock on effect for the rest of the country in time for EU accession.

To accommodate the increasing number of tourists the Albanian government is actively encouraging property and hotel development in prime locations along the coast. Just north of Durres, Lalzit Bay is one such destination which is benefitting from foreign direct investment and a property drive.

Ravin Maharajah, Director of Lalzit Bay Resort and Spa comments: “Now is an exciting time for Albania in terms of both tourism and economy. Albania is being recognised by the likes of P&O Cruises as an up and coming hot spot for visitors and it has already been voted as the No1 European destination for 2011 by the reputable Lonely Planet Guides.”



“At Lalzit Bay Resort and Spa we are responding to this increased demand by offering investors the opportunity to become a part of this growth economy. Investors can purchase studios, one or two bedroom apartments or villas in a divine Mediterranean location from as little as EURO29,000, a fraction of the cost of buying a home in one of the more established European resorts. Owners also have the benefit of a fabulous holiday resort to enjoy with family and friends or to rent out to holiday makers.”