Albania kicks off summer season with packed beaches and tourist surge

Fier, Divjaka, and Pogradec officially opened the 2025 summer tourism season this week, launching with cultural festivals, fully booked accommodations, and high expectations for record-breaking visitor numbers.

Why this is important: The tourism sector has become one of the country’s main economic engines. Local authorities are forecasting double the number of visitors compared to last year, citing improved infrastructure, public beach access, and new cultural offerings.

Context: In Darezeza, Fier, the season opened with a large public event called Festa e Valëve (Wave Festival), drawing dozens of participants for a concert featuring music and traditional dance. The area’s clean sand and shallow waters continue to attract families and tourists from across Albania and beyond.

Fier’s mayor Armando Subashi said that 40% of the beach area will be designated as public space, with free access and no commercial umbrellas. He emphasized that infrastructure upgrades are underway to improve the visitor experience, and he expressed confidence that visitor numbers will double this summer.

Divjaka, which is visited year-round for its iodine-rich sand, wide beaches, and natural reserves, also opened its season with a community celebration. In addition to its coastline, Divjaka offers hiking and nature tourism in the Karavasta National Park and its surrounding pine forests. The municipality has planned visitor-friendly incentives and expects tourist numbers to double compared to 2024.

In the southeast, Pogradec is already seeing a surge. Hotels and guesthouses in the city and its surroundings are reportedly booked through the fall. Authorities have prepared a full slate of artistic, cultural, and sporting events to welcome both domestic and international guests. Tourism operators from Pogradec are working with counterparts in Ohrid and Struga to create cross-border packages, further boosting regional appeal.

What happened: All three municipalities launched their seasons with official celebrations and programming. In addition to cultural events, they’ve focused on expanding public beach access, coordinating tourism operators, and preparing for international arrivals. In Pogradec, the municipality will provide free umbrellas on public beaches—a popular measure aimed at supporting local families and visitors.

What’s next: With tourism growing nationwide, Albania’s road police have rolled out a national traffic control plan. From June 15 to September 15, the circulation of heavy trucks will be restricted from 7:00 a.m. to midnight to reduce congestion on key tourist routes. Police officials said that recent road infrastructure upgrades have already eased pressure on major arteries. As in previous years, Kosovar officers will join Albanian police to help manage summer traffic.