Organized attack with fake videos targets image of Albanian tourism
An organized attack aimed at damaging the image of tourism in Albania is underway, featuring fake videos and news being posted from fake profiles. Cybersecurity services are on high alert and have identified and blocked many of these profiles. The news was confirmed by Prime Minister Edi Rama.
Why is this relevant
Over the past two years, the tourism sector has experienced explosive growth, bringing revenue, economic growth and employment. Harming its image through sustained fake news attacks, can potentially damage the otherwise excellent perspective of this sector where more and more is being invested each year.
Context
One of the main lines of attack is to raise claims that tourists have abandoned Albania this year for e multitude of various reasons. Opposition politicians including the leader of the Democratic Party have joined in this campaign. For several weeks, images of empty beaches in the south of the country have been circulating primarily on social media. Other, more nefarious attacks, have attempted to attack the image of Albania, its security, quality of services, etc. Others claimed that Kosovo Albanians have abandoned vacationing in Albania.
The Prime Minister has denied the reports, calling them fake news that present a distorted reality. According to him, the facts speak for themselves. In the latest ranking by the European Travel Commission, Albania is ranked first with an 86% increase in tourist influx, followed by regional countries: Serbia with 48%, Montenegro with 31%, Greece with 22%, and Turkey with 20%.
Regarding the number of tourists who visited the country in the first six months of the year, the ranking is as follows:
- Citizens of Kosovo: 1.7 million, 25% more than in 2023.
- Italians: 486,000, or 57% more than in 2023.
- Turks: 61% more than last year.
- Poles: 74% more than last year.
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