Why is this significant

The figures come amid a heated public, media, and political debate in Albania over recent weeks over the performance of the tourism sector.

Why is this significant

Recently, it has been observed that licensed vessels operating for daily tourist transport are not only disposing of food and plastic waste into the sea but also oil and fuel residues. In response, the government began monitoring the entire coastline last week using drones from the Ministry of Defense. Additionally, cameras will soon be installed at key points to identify offenders.

Why is this significant

The data reveals a 9% increase in passenger entries and exits during the first ten days of August compared to the same period last year, indicating a high number of tourists choosing to visit Albania this summer. This uptick is also reflected in the number of vehicles passing through the port, with 26,362 vehicles recorded, up by 3,093 compared to the 23,269 vehicles from the previous year. While relatively low compared to major maritime hubs, the data confirm a growing interest in this form of travel at a time when the Albanian Government is advancing major projects in the area of ports infrastructure.