Ministry of Tourism released a press statement announcing that the number of tourists who visited Albania this year has grown by 35% in comparison to the prior year. Between January - September, 1.6 million tourists have visited Albania. By the end of the year, that figure is expected to increase to 1.8 million:cheers:


Bumi turistik në 2007 sjell në Shqipëri 1.6 milionë turistë

Ministri i Turizmit, Kulturës, Rinisë dhe Sporteve, zoti Ylli Pango deklaroi sot në konferencën për shtyp, dhënë në Këshillin e Ministrave se Shqipërinë e kanë vizituar më shumë se 1.6 milionë turistë këtë vit.


Më lejoni që në këtë fund të pikut të sezonit turistik, pasi turizmi në Shqipëri është gjithë vjetor dhe ardhja e turistëve vazhdon, të bëj publike disa nga arritjet kryesore që shënoi sezoni turistik gjatë periudhës së verës. Gjatë këtij viti sic është deklaruar dhe nga Kryeministri Berisha, Shqipëria shënoi një bum turistik, duke arritur që deri në 10 shtator, të shënohet shifra prej 1.6 milione turistë.Ndërkohe ardhja e turistëve vazhdon. Turizmi pra, si një prioritet i qeverisë, pati këtë verë një rritje rreth 35 % të turistëve, krahasuar me vitin e kaluar. Si rezultat i një angazhimi maksimal të MTKRS-së dhe reformave që po ndiqen nga qeveria për zhvilimin e turizmit, u arrit që këtë verë -Zonat turistike nga Velipoja në Ksamil të kishin 24 orë furnizim ujë dhe drita.


-Infrastruktura për të arritur destinacionet turistike pati përmirësime të ndjeshme ndërkohe që fonde të konsiderueshme po lëvrohen nga qeveria për ndryshimin e rrugeve të zonave turistike.


- Siguria dhe rendi për pushuesit nga Kosova,Maqedonia dhe për turistët ndërkombetarë ishte maksimale dhe duhet theksuar fakti se nuk pati asnjë incident.


-Lehtësitë e hyrjes së të huajve në kufi sollën një tjetër risi për zhvillimin e turizmit këtë sezon. Nëpërmjet vendimit të Ministrisë së Punëve të Brëndshme u aplikua dhënia e vizave kolektive sipas modulit informatik. Agjencitë Turistike në rrugë elektronike derguan listën me emrat e turistëve dhe për të gjithë grupin u lëshua vetëm një vizë.


-Në muajin Maj u miratua Ligji i ri për turizmin dhe MTKRS hartoi 19 akte nënligjore, të cilat janë aprovuar nga Këshilli i Ministrave. Për hërë të parë u realizuan dy projekte të rëndësishme investimesh:


-Sinjalistika turistike


- Zyrat e informacionit turistik


Sinjalistika turistike tashmë është e shpërndarë në të gjithë vendin. Nga MTKRS për vitin 2007 u akorduan 10 milion lekë për qytetet Shkodër Lezhë, Korçë, Durrës, Berat, Vlorë.


- Nga fondi i MTKRS në bashkëpunim shumë te mire me pushtetin lokal u lëvruan fondet për ngritjen e Zyrave të Informacionit Turistik në bashkitë e Vlorës, Durrësit, Sarandës, Beratit dhe Tiranës. Në vijim të procesit të hartimit të strategjive sektoriale, në funksion të Strategjisë Kombëtare për Zhvillim dhe Integrim (SKZHES), pas takimeve dhe komenteve të grupit këshillimor si dhe donatorëve të huaj u përgatit Strategjia Sektoriale e Turizmit.


-Në muajin Korrik filloi funksionimi i web-site të ri zyrtar të turizmit shqiptar www.albaniantourism.com


Në muajin Qershor u realizua spoti turistik promocional për Shqipërinë, efektet e transmetimit patën impakt të thellë në Kosovë dhe Maqedoni.


- Turizmit kulturor i është dhënë një zhvillim i madh dhe kjo ka ndikuar në rritjen e numrit të turistëve. Restaurimet e monumenteve të kulturës, objekteve të kultit dhe rikonceptimi i funksionimit të parqeve arkeologjike ka sjellë një shtim të ndjeshëm të turistëve të huaj në sitet arkeologjike dhe muzeale të vendit. Numri i vizitorëve në Parqet Arkeologjike, vetëm gjatë 3 muajëve të verës shënoi 28 mijë e 400 persona, ku shumica ishin të kombësive të huaja. Aktivitete


- Në muajin Maj në Shqiperi u organizua “Gumball 3000” me vip- a të apasionuar pas udhëtimit,aktivitet i cili i dha një hov të ri njohjes së Shqipërisë në Europë dhe më gjerë nga prezenca edhe e personalitete të njohura të artit dhe kulturës. MTKRS në bashkëpunim me organizatorët realizoi një promovim të shkëlqyer të Shqipërisë turistike në turin ndërkombëtar me motorcikleta që vinin nga vende të ndryshme të botës, Gjermani, Finlandë, Angli, Skoci, Kosovë, Zvicër etj. Në kuadrin e pjesëmarrjes së produktit turistik të Shqipërisë në panairet ndërkombëtare, është për t’u vecuar ai i Kelnit,organizuar në muajin Gusht si dhe panairi i Kosovës, ku për Shqiperinë u shfaq një interes i vecantë i operatorëve turistikë të rajonit.


Ju vë në dijeni se qeveria ka akorduar fondin për reklamën në CNN, e cila do të prodhohet nga një kompani hollandeze. Kjo reklamë pritet të transmetohet në muajt mars –prill, tri herë në ditë dhe me një audiencë që parashikohet të llogaritet në rreth 340 milionë teleshikues. Pikerisht ky hap madhor për promocionin e turizmit shqiptar do të coje në rritjen e mëtejshme të numrit të turistëve. Ndërkohë Shqipëria po renditet në guidat dhe hartat ndërkombëtare turistike. Kështu agjencia e njohur amerikane TRAVCOA që operon në mbi 90 vende të botës, ka përfshirë Shqipërinë në guidën e saj. Vitin e ardhshem Shqipëria do të jetë gjithnjë e më shumë prezente në hartat turistike dhe në guidat e agjencive të tjera ndërkombëtare.


Është përgatitur seti i ri i materialeve promocionale, një kolane guidash i përbërë nga pesë të tilla, me tematika të ndryshme, por në një format. Ky është një produkt tërësisht i ri si në koncept edhe në paraqitje, design, përmbajtje fotosh etj. Tematikat e trajtuara në sejcilën prej tyre janë :


Guida e Kulinarisë


Guida e Aktiviteteve sportive


Guida “ Shqiperia nën ujë”


Guida “ Informacion turistik”


Guida mbi muzeumet në Shqipëri




Press- tripe të organizuara :


-Në muajin Maj u organizua një press-trip gazetarësh të huaj europiane të cilët vinin nga vende të ndryshme të Europës dhe përfaqësonin disa media të rëndësishme dhe prestigjoze si Travel Trade Neëspaper ( UK), Sanday Post (Skoci), E-Turbo News për Europën, Netherland Press Association, “Les Strategies” France etj. Për potencialet e jashtëzakonshme të Shqipërisë në turizëm u shkruajt vecanërisht pas vizitës së presidentit amerikan George W,Bush, në vendin tonë. Nëpërmjet artikujve të tyre, Shqipëria është cilësuar si “ Perla e Mesdheut” . Ndërkohë artikuj të ndryshëm të ‘Ëall Street Journal “ dhe Associated Press kanë sjellë imazhin e Shqipërisë turistike. Rendesi e vecante i është dhënë zhvillimit të turizmit të llojeve të ndryshme,si turizmit rural,aventures, interesit të vecantë dhe turizmit shëndetësor, agroturizmit etj. Me Ministrinë e Bujqësisë është inicuar projekti i parë i zhvillimit të turizmit rural, në zonën e Bërzhitës.


Me Ministrinë e Shëndetësisë është inicuar zhvillimi i turizmit shëndetësor, ku janë identfikuar zonat për turizmin malor dhe po punohet për projektin e 40 haneve. Ky i fundit do të konsistojë në krijimin e shtëpive tradicionale për pritjen e turistëve dhe akomodimin e tyre sipas traditës së mikëpritjes shqiptare. Objektivi kryesor është zhvillimi i një turizmi të qëndrueshëm, i cili mbron dhe zhvillon natyrën e Shqipërisë dhe njeh rëndësinë e një mjedisi atraktiv, si parakusht për një turizëm të suksesshëm.


Pyetje: Cfare masash do të ndërmerren për sezonin e ardhshëm turistik?


Zoti Pango : Reklama në CNN do të ketë një impakt të madh në zhvillimin e turizmit, vitin e ardhshem. Zhvillimi i infrastruktures,zbatimi i 19 akteve nënligjore të ligjit të ri për turizmin. Licencimi i mëtejshëm i hoteleve dhe agjencive turistike si dhe ngritja e bordit të zhvillimit të turizmit.


Pyetje: Sa parashikoni të jetë numri i turistëve vitin e ardhshëm ?


Zoti Pango : Vitin e ardhshem duke u nisur dhe nga treguesit shumë të mirë të këtij viti, numri i turistëve do të dyfishohet.


Pyetje: Sa është numri i shqiptarëve që shkojnë jashtë Shqipërisë për pushime dhe si shpjegohet ky fenomen?


Zoti Pango : Për mua shifra e shqiptarëve që dalin jashtë për pushime është një fakt i gëzueshëm, sepse është tregues i ndryshimit të mentalitetit të izolimit dhe aspak anti-tezë e frekuentimit të potencialeve turistike të vendit tonë. Përsa i përket shifrës, statistikat i disponon Ministria e Brëndshme nëpermjet Drejtorisë së Kufirit. Megjithatë theksoj se është normale që shqiptarët të bëjnë pushime jashtë shtetit dhe ky tregues nuk lidhet me krahasimin e prurjes së turistëve në Shqipëri.


16/09/2007

So in BG they're 6 mln...In Greece probably more than 20 mln. What we can do about it..:nuts:

Sa prej ketyre turisteve jane Shqiptare qe kthehen per te pare familjet?

blah-blah-blah..This is an international forum-post in english in this typoe of thread!!!

Sa prej ketyre turisteve jane Shqiptare qe kthehen per te pare familjet?

Rreth 600.000-700.000 jane shqiptare, shumica kuptohet jane turiste nga Kosova dhe Maqedonia.
Gjithsesi, nje rritje teper e konsiderueshme me 35%:)

Good figures.

kto jane shifrat e ministris...kam besimin qe vetem 10% e turistve jan turist te huaj. Ne sarande dhe ne butrint kishte pak te huaj, me duket se te gjith kishin ardhur nga korfuzi dhe do iknin brenda dites. Vlora kishte me pak te huaj kurse durresi vetem kosovar.

Numri i turisteve te huaj qe vizitojne zonat malore eshte shtuar ndjeshem kete vit ne krahasim me vitet e kaluara.
Vetem ne Theth kishte 10.000 turiste te huaj kete vit, nje pjese e tyre vinin per here te dyte ose te trete.

What are the revenues from tourism?

BTW I think the predictions for 2007 for Bulgaria are 7 million, not 6. Not that it does much difference. The average revenue per tourist is falling here due to overconstruction :(

What are the revenues from tourism?

BTW I think the predictions for 2007 for Bulgaria are 7 million, not 6. Not that it does much difference. The average revenue per tourist is falling here due to overconstruction :(

For 2006 the tourism revenues accounted for $800 million. Given the massive growth of 35% we've experienced in '07 i'd say the revenues should easily account for more than $1 billion this year.

The 6-7 million figure for Bulgaria is very impressive.
It shows the gov has done a fantastic job in building the proper infrastructure and of course smart advertising helps.
Joining EU helps boost those figures even more.

Where did u get 1.6 from? On TopChannel they said that the figures were 1.8 million for the period of January-October 2007. I hope it's 1.8:cheers:

Im really tempted to visit the beaches in Albania, bulgarias coast has become too horrid.

the same has happened to albania dont worry.

The 6-7 million figure for Bulgaria is very impressive.
It shows the gov has done a fantastic job in building the proper infrastructure and of course smart advertising helps.
Joining EU helps boost those figures even more.

I think that the accurate number will be about 5,5 milion, not 6m+ because last year the tourists were 5,185m and this year the envisaged annual increase, based on the first 9 months, is 5%-6%.
Yes, joining the EU helps in many aspects and there is no doubt in it but it also brings some negatives.For example in our case the tourists from the EU increased with about 30% but we recorded significant decrease from Macedonia and Serbia due to the fact that we had to adopt visa regime for them.Just for comparison, last year Bulgaria was visited by approximately 350,000 Serbs and 95,000 Macedonians whereas this year they will be about 200,000 and 55,000- decrease of 70%....That`s why our politicians consider easier visa procedures since 2008.
Another drawback is that too many hotels have been built during the last few years and furthermore the building continues with full speed.This led to over overbuilding of the resorts which led to lower prices, followed by smaller profits for the tourist branch.
Last but not least is the nature issue.The government is planning to adopt a law ,which will restrict the building at the sea cost since 2009-2010.I hope the law will be adopted in near future because it was high time for serious measures against the destruction of the Bulgarian nature.

Where did u get 1.6 from? On TopChannel they said that the figures were 1.8 million for the period of January-October 2007. I hope it's 1.8:cheers:

Only 200,000 more. :nuts:

is that supposed to be some complex slipping into view? 200,000 is the size of a city in the balkans.

Over 14,000,000 tourists have visited Romania in 2006?!? :sly: ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Romania ) Hmm, that number seems to be a bit too high! What do you guys think? :cheers:

"In the year 2006, 14,122,798 tourists vacationed in Romania. The total revenue was $4.2 billion and with an average expenditure of $679 per tourist." :uh::banana::eek2:

I think all this really depends on who's counted as a "tourist".
Countries have always done these things differently.

"In the year 2006, 14,122,798 tourists vacationed in Romania. The total revenue was $4.2 billion and with an average expenditure of $679 per tourist." :uh::banana::eek2:


your tourists must be cheap in comparison from those from albania lol.....albania got 800 milion in revenues from 1.6 million tourists.

average income from tourist is 500 dollars. romania takes about 300 dollars per tourist tho unless i'm doing something wrong both countries have about 50% tourist compared to population of their countries. most of those tourists aren't even helping the situation for the future, they make the area more shitty. here's a small graph from the ministry of tourism

http://i4.tinypic.com/6slqbeh.jpg

your tourists must be cheap in comparison from those from albania lol.....albania got 800 milion in revenues from 1.6 million tourists.

Umm...that works out to about 500$/tourist to Albania. Less than that of Romania.

somebody post that article about tourists spending the most money in Albania on average...Albania placed first in it

Second, Albania is a small country which not many people have heard of, don't compare it to what are now EU countries

Holiday money

Jul 31st 2007
From Economist.com

ALBANIA earned tourist receipts worth $17,500 for each arrival, according to the World Tourism Organisation, a UN body. Indeed, of over 200 countries and territories worldwide, it may come as a surprise that spots such as Moldova, Lebanon and Belarus earn more per tourist than tax-free island paradises. This may be because businessmen are the usual visitors and in more inhospitable places costs are higher. Similarly, an expensive country will require higher spending by visitors. So will big and far-flung ones with plenty to explore, such as Australia and India, as tourists tend to stay longer.

http://economist.com/images/ga/2007w31/Tourists.jpg

ironically...

Albania Rated Budget Destination of the Year

By MATT GROSS

NOT long ago, to suggest Albania as a destination of any kind, even a frugal one, would have been the height of chutzpah. Within five years of Albania’s abandoning Communism in 1992, a Ponzi scheme destroyed the nascent market economy and widespread rioting turned Albania into a byword for rampant lawlessness. It was not, except for aid workers and smugglers, on anyone’s map.

In the last several years, however, Albania has made enormous strides in democracy and development — and revealed itself to be not only ripe for tourists, but affordable to boot. The capital, Tirana, with its brightly painted apartment buildings and molto Italiano cafe culture, is a fantastic starting point, especially since it’s hard to spend more than $15 a person at the city’s nicest restaurants. But it’s the southern part of this Balkan country that holds the most intriguing sights and bargains.

Start in Gjirokaster, a beautifully warped city that produced two of Albania’s most important 20th-century figures: Enver Hoxha, the country’s dictator for 40 years after World War II, and Ismail Kadare, the novelist perennially mentioned as a Nobel Prize candidate. Gjirokaster is built on slippery, cobblestoned hills so steep they seem to defy human habitation, yet the town of stately slate-roofed Ottoman houses bustles.

One house, now an Ethnographic Museum, happens to be Hoxha’s birthplace. Another is the Hotel Kalemi (355-84-63-724; hotelkalemi.tripod.com), where for $40 a night you can sleep under a carved-wood ceiling that’s 200 years old.

During the day, your legs will get a workout wandering the streets and exploring the massive fortress overlooking the city. At night, recuperate with roast tongue of veal and yogurt soup at the friendly Festivali restaurant. And don’t leave Gjirokaster without a handmade carpet from Ruha’s shop (355-69-254-2122); they start at $40.

Your reward for enduring Gjirokaster’s hills is Sarande, a busy port on the Strait of Otranto. At the Hotel Kaonia (355-85-22-600), right on the boardwalk, a simple but modern double room with great water views runs just 30 euros ($40 at $1.36 to the euro).

The pebbly beach in the center of Sarande may not be too exciting, but there are white sand stretches nearby, including the popular beach at Ksamili, 10 miles to the south. And if you’re hankering for a taste of classical Europe, the Greek island of Corfu is a quick hydrofoil ride away.

Southern Albania’s greatest treasure, however, is Butrint, a 2,500-year-old city that was inhabited by successive generations of Illyrians, Greeks, Epireans, Romans, Byzantines and Venetians, before dwindling to a tiny fishing village in the late 19th century. It’s the kind of place where history is still waiting to be discovered.

Situated on a hilly, forest-shrouded promontory south of Sarande, near the Greek border, Butrint (a Unesco World Heritage Site) was first excavated by Italians in the 1920s, who unearthed an amphitheater and Greek-built walls. Archaeologists later discovered early Christian basilicas, a baptistery and as many as eight bathhouses.

Butrint is large — about 11 square miles — and still shrouded in mystery, so you’ll want a guide. Vasil Barka (355-69-227-6460) has 25 years of experience and knows where to find Cleopatra’s name in a string of Greek letters on a huge stone block outside the amphitheater. In the basilica, where the frescoed floor is covered in sand to protect the tiles from the elements, he knows just where to brush aside the grains to reveal a spectacular red-and-blue bird.

And at the Venetian fort-turned-museum, he can tell you which statues have just been dug up and which recovered from looters.

Afterward, head straight to the nearby Livia Hotel (355-891-2040) for a feast of mussels, shrimp, eel and squid.

Like Albania itself, this lost city harbors untold treasures for the intrepid — and at a price that just about anyone can afford.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/10/travel/10budget.html?_r=2&ref=travel&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Over 14,000,000 tourists have visited Romania in 2006?!? :sly: ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Romania ) Hmm, that number seems to be a bit too high! What do you guys think? :cheers:

It seems like a massive jump from 2004/2005. As you can see here: http://www.world-tourism.org/facts/eng/pdf/indicators/ITA_europe.pdf according to the World Tourism Organization (which relies on data given by member states) Romania received 1,430,000 visitors in 2005, while Bulgaria received 4,837,000 visitors that year. Romania should definitely have more visitors in 2006...it's a beautiful country. But to go from 1.4 mil to 14 mil in one year seems like an incredible jump; it just isn't possible. Can someone shed some light on this? I haven't been able to find 2006 data.

in 2007 there will be about 16,5 mln foreign tourists in Poland :cheers:

http://www.intur.com.pl/prognozy.htm

Who gives a shit? The thread isnt called; tell us how many turists youve had this year!

It was noteworthy that for Albania there were 1.8 mil tourists, which becomes a significant number when considering that its an increase of over 35%.

i think that this numbers aren't very usfeul, because they aren't standardized, and every country make it's own statistics.
I don't believe that in Romania they've been 14 milion tourists while in France or Italy they don't reach 40 milions.

Penises out everyone!

Penises out everyone!

:rofl:

On topic: an increase of 35% is spectacular. Great for Albania!

Penises out everyone

What?? Who called my name??

Where are tourists visiting Albania coming from ?

:rofl:

On topic: an increase of 35% is spectacular. Great for Albania!

A 35% increse on 0 is still....zero:D
Just kidding;)

A 35% increse on 0 is still....zero:D
Just kidding;)

You wish!

Where are tourists visiting Albania coming from ?

I know a lot of Italians visit

I know a lot of Italians visit

Me to. Also a lot of people from Holland :)

http://www.drini-reizen.nl/
http://www.albania-holidays.com/nl/

^^ Also alot of tourists from Corfu, who just jumps on a ferry and visits Albania... a very short trip...

Ok...totally stupid topic and stupid articles. Every country defines a "tourist" as something else. Is someone transiting through the country a "visitor"? I must have passed half a dozen times through Macedonia without spending a cent in there (except border crossings). Was I a "tourist"?

In Albania it is very clear the numbers include also ALBANIAN NATIONALS...immigrants...returning home for vacations and so forth.

Its a stupid government ploy to show to the Albanian public...look we improved thing sso well that soooo many more people are coming this year now that we'r in power compared to last year!!

Its like looking at your dick in the mirror...its still the same size it just makes you feel better about yourself (I'm looking at you there CrazySerb...you'r just fooling yourself)

And the same goes for the ammount of money "spend" by those "tourists". WTF did a tourist spend 11,000 dollars in Albania for!!! He bought a Mercedes?? Such numbers are for INTERNAL CONSUMPTION only...meaning consumption by the internal masses of idiots who are fooled by such numbers and think "oh this new government is so much better...look how much money!". The figure comes as a result of the money brought back to Albania by IMMIGRANTS returning home...obviously no tourist in Albania that stays for no matter how long a period of time will ever spend over $1,000.

So please don't post such stupid articles in public...thinking you'll fool anyone else except maybe some Bosnians and a CrazySerb.

--------

These are pathetic dick-measuring things and nothing more. Actual FOREIGN tourists...actual tourists...are a small fraction of that number. And somewhere there were posted actual figures of foreign tourists broken down by their countries of origin. The numbers...will dissapoint you.

And the Corfu people...they come to Saranda for a few hours on a boat and leave.

And of course there's also Kosovar Albanians who come by the hundreds of thousands...but thats hardly much of an achievement...where else will they rather go?

-----------

I'm sure the numbers are the same for both Bulgaria and Romania. I doubt 14 million "toruists" go to visit Romania every year. 14 million people might cross the border...true...who they are is a different issue.

-----------

So stop whipping your tiny dicks out in public...we already established long ago who had the biggest one! You better get some of those magnifying mirrors instead...

ti e the ne anglisht ate qe doja te thoshja une ne shqip.

Me duket se ca shqiptar (sidomos kta nga kosova) i besojn kto shifra me gjith mend. Nga Nacionalismi i tmershem vjen budalliku dhe fillojn mburren pa patur asgje per te mburrur.

Ato turist qe vizitojn saranden jan detyruar ta vizitojn se eshte pik-ndalimi e cruisit qe ata kan paguar. Instuicionet internacionale kan ndihmuar shqiperin te firmosi disa kontrata me kompani te tilla me qellim qe te rrisi numrin e turistve ne shqiperi.

Me vjen keq ta them, kur shkova ne sarande vizitova dhe korfuzin. Me turistet qe fola une than qe Butrinti ishte i bukur po ishin te zhgenjyer nga Saranda, nuk degjova shum gjera pozitive per Saranden ose per Shqiperin ne pergjithesi.

Ok...totally stupid topic and stupid articles.



WTF???

was it true that in Duressi square meter in costal part of the city costs about 300e?! Cannot believe, because in Budva for example, in the center of the city its about 4000e.

I dont have exact statistics on that but you can get a relatively cheap apartment in Durres Coast. I wouldnt waste my money on buying property there though. Unless i were to purchase something on the northern part of Durres Coast, anywhere else is absolutely a waste.

Why?

The quality of the beach isnt as good, Albania's best beaches are located in the South.

Ok...totally stupid topic and stupid articles. Every country defines a "tourist" as something else. Is someone transiting through the country a "visitor"? I must have passed half a dozen times through Macedonia without spending a cent in there (except border ere else will they rather go?

-----------

I'm sure the numbers are the same for both Bulgaria and Romania. I doubt 14 million "toruists" go to visit Romania every year. 14 million people might cross the border...true...who they are is a different issue.

-----------

So stop whipping your tiny dicks out in public...we already established long ago who had the biggest one! You better get some of those magnifying mirrors instead...
:applause::applause:

totally agree..

Example, Slovenia declares about 1.5 million tourist each year, bc this is the number of foreign nationals that actually come to visit Slovenia as tourists, reality is loads more tourist pass through Slovenia on their way to Croatia, This year, for example Croatia (projected) will have about 11 million tourist and 60 million nights, these are tourist that actually spend holidays in Croatia (those that were registered). Million tourist come to stay unregistered with local Croatian "friends" therefore true figure is much higher, but from recent stats, Croatian Tourism might pick up something in a region of 7-7.2 billion euros from tourism (about 10-10.5 billion USD) this year.

Slovenia as well might have good results this year. Slovenia expects 1.2 billion euros from tourism.:cheers::cheers:

PS, I'll be posting few pics I took at London's WTM :)

Guys, I thought we agreed not to turn this into a dick measuring thread.

http://economist.com/images/ga/2007w31/Tourists.jpg

Funny list :lol:

I wonder if this number is lower or higher than the bmws that did not leave the country this year.......

but seriously, cool. i should go visit too once the whole kosovo thing blows over.

Official tourism figures are derived from hotel overnight stays. They do not count people at the border. A tourist is someone who stays in a country overnight for at least one night at a hotel, resort, hostel, camping ground, or any kind of lodging business where your identification is collected, and reported to a state statistical service, which compiles tourism fugures for the country, as well as the city, province, and any other administrative territory. The methodology doesn't differ too much between countries.

Albanian Stand at World Travel Market in London, Sorry for pic, stand was kind of squized and I had only few places from where to take good shot.

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/8415/resizeofrotationofwtm48lu1.jpg

I wonder if this number is lower or higher than the bmws that did not leave the country this year.......

but seriously, cool. i should go visit too once the whole kosovo thing blows over.

the issue has nothing to do with the country and its tourism

A video talking also about the potential tourism in Albania

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Great video Skender. Thanks for sharing it with us! :cheers:

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Posi! I must agree though, that Albania has done very well indeed.. Congrats on 1.6 million visitors this year.. Greece has also done very well.. Gone up to 16 million visitors this year.. Here are the stats up to last year.. This list is from 2003..

Economy Statistics > Tourist arrivals (most recent) by country

Showing latest available data. Rank Countries Amount (top to bottom)
#1 France: 67,310,000
#2 United States: 47,752,000
#3 Spain: 43,252,000
#4 Italy: 34,087,000
#5 United Kingdom: 25,515,000
#6 China: 23,770,000
#7 Poland: 19,520,000
#8 Mexico: 19,351,000
#9 Canada: 17,636,000
#10 Hungary: 17,248,000
#11 Czech Republic: 16,830,000
#12 Germany: 15,837,000
#13 Russia: 15,350,000
#14 Greece: 10,070,000
#15 Turkey: 9,040,000
#16 Ukraine: 7,356,000
#17 Thailand: 7,294,000
#18 Singapore: 6,531,000
#19 Malaysia: 6,211,000
#20 Belgium: 6,037,000
#21 Ireland: 5,557,000
#22 South Africa: 5,437,000
#23 Indonesia: 5,185,000
#24 Argentina: 4,540,000
#25 Tunisia: 4,263,000
#26 Japan: 4,218,000
#27 Croatia: 3,834,000
#28 Egypt: 3,657,000
#29 Saudi Arabia: 3,594,000
#30 Morocco: 3,072,000
#31 Bulgaria: 2,980,000
#32 Romania: 2,957,000
#33 Brazil: 2,850,000
#34 Sweden: 2,388,000
#35 India: 2,374,000
#36 Uruguay: 2,317,000
#37 Philippines: 2,223,000
#38 Dominican Republic: 2,211,000
#39 Denmark: 2,158,000
#40 Cyprus: 2,088,000
#41 Israel: 2,010,000
#42 Finland: 1,832,000
#43 United Arab Emirates: 1,792,000
#44 Chile: 1,644,000
#45 Colombia: 1,544,000
#46 Jamaica: 1,192,000
#47 Cuba: 1,153,000
#48 Jordan: 1,127,000
#49 Malta: 1,111,000
#50 Portugal: 1,072,000
#51 Lithuania: 1,012,000
#52 Slovenia: 974,000
#53 Syria: 891,000
#54 Slovakia: 814,000
#55 Venezuela: 814,000
#56 Costa Rica: 811,000
#57 Luxembourg: 771,000
#58 Peru: 747,000
#59 Iran: 740,000
#60 Botswana: 734,000
#61 Estonia: 730,000
#62 Algeria: 635,000
#63 Guatemala: 576,000
#64 Lebanon: 558,000
#65 Mauritius: 536,000
#66 San Marino: 532,000
#67 Ecuador: 529,000
#68 Namibia: 502,000
#69 Barbados: 472,000
#70 Qatar: 435,000
#71 Eritrea: 410,000
#72 Panama: 402,000
#73 Paraguay: 395,000
#74 El Salvador: 387,000
#75 Pakistan: 375,000
#76 Oman: 375,000
#77 Maldives: 366,000
#78 Sri Lanka: 366,000
#79 Fiji: 359,000
#80 Bolivia: 355,000
#81 Tanzania: 347,000
#82 Iraq: 346,000
#83 Ghana: 325,000
#84 Trinidad and Tobago: 324,000
#85 Swaziland: 322,000
#86 Georgia: 313,000
#87 Senegal: 313,000
#88 Honduras: 303,000
#89 Cote d'Ivoire: 274,000
#90 Monaco: 259,000
#91 Turkmenistan: 257,000
#92 Belarus: 254,000
#93 Uzbekistan: 253,000
#94 Saint Lucia: 248,000
#95 Antigua and Barbuda: 232,000
#96 Uganda: 227,000
#97 Latvia: 220,000
#98 Cambodia: 219,000
#99 Iceland: 202,000
#100 Malawi: 194,000
#101 Laos: 193,000
#102 Burma: 189,000
#103 Gabon: 167,000
#104 Haiti: 149,000
#105 Benin: 148,000
#106 Belize: 146,000
#107 Lesotho: 144,000
#108 Burkina Faso: 138,000
#109 Cameroon: 133,000
#110 Seychelles: 130,000
#111 Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of: 121,000
#112 Ethiopia: 115,000
#113 Grenada: 111,000
#114 Madagascar: 101,000
#115 Bosnia and Herzegovina: 100,000
#116 Guinea: 95,000
#117 Togo: 92,000
#118 Saint Kitts and Nevis: 88,000
#119 Gambia, The: 85,000
#120 Mongolia: 82,000
#121 Guyana: 76,000
#122 Mali: 75,000
#123 Palau: 74,000
#124 Samoa: 68,000
#125 Papua New Guinea: 66,000
#126 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: 65,000
#127 Dominica: 65,000
#128 Suriname: 61,000
#129 Liechtenstein: 57,000
#130 Libya: 50,000
#131 Vanuatu: 49,000
#132 Sierra Leone: 48,000
#133 Cape Verde: 45,000
#134 Angola: 45,000
#135 Congo, Democratic Republic of the: 42,000
#136 Sudan: 30,000
#137 Tonga: 26,000
#138 Comoros: 26,000
#139 Moldova: 21,000
#140 Djibouti: 20,000
#141 Albania: 19,000
#142 Central African Republic: 17,000
#143 Solomon Islands: 16,000
#144 Chad: 12,000
#145 Micronesia, Federated States of: 11,000
#146 Burundi: 11,000
#147 Somalia: 10,000
#148 Marshall Islands: 6,000
#149 Bhutan: 5,000
#150 Afghanistan: 4,000
#151 Sao Tome and Principe: 2,000
#152 Rwanda: 1,000
Total: 525,062,000
Weighted average: 3,454,355.3

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Posi! I must agree though, that Albania has done very well indeed.. Congrats on 1.6 million visitors this year.. Greece has also done very well.. Gone up to 16 million visitors this year.. Here are the stats up to last year.. This list is from 2003..

Economy Statistics > Tourist arrivals (most recent) by country

Showing latest available data. Rank Countries Amount (top to bottom)
#1 France: 67,310,000
#2 United States: 47,752,000
#3 Spain: 43,252,000
#4 Italy: 34,087,000
#5 United Kingdom: 25,515,000
#6 China: 23,770,000
#7 Poland: 19,520,000
#8 Mexico: 19,351,000
#9 Canada: 17,636,000
#10 Hungary: 17,248,000
#11 Czech Republic: 16,830,000
#12 Germany: 15,837,000
#13 Russia: 15,350,000
#14 Greece: 10,070,000
#15 Turkey: 9,040,000
#16 Ukraine: 7,356,000
#17 Thailand: 7,294,000
#18 Singapore: 6,531,000
#19 Malaysia: 6,211,000
#20 Belgium: 6,037,000
#21 Ireland: 5,557,000
#22 South Africa: 5,437,000
#23 Indonesia: 5,185,000
#24 Argentina: 4,540,000
#25 Tunisia: 4,263,000
#26 Japan: 4,218,000
#27 Croatia: 3,834,000
#28 Egypt: 3,657,000
#29 Saudi Arabia: 3,594,000
#30 Morocco: 3,072,000
#31 Bulgaria: 2,980,000
#32 Romania: 2,957,000
#33 Brazil: 2,850,000
#34 Sweden: 2,388,000
#35 India: 2,374,000
#36 Uruguay: 2,317,000
#37 Philippines: 2,223,000
#38 Dominican Republic: 2,211,000
#39 Denmark: 2,158,000
#40 Cyprus: 2,088,000
#41 Israel: 2,010,000
#42 Finland: 1,832,000
#43 United Arab Emirates: 1,792,000
#44 Chile: 1,644,000
#45 Colombia: 1,544,000
#46 Jamaica: 1,192,000
#47 Cuba: 1,153,000
#48 Jordan: 1,127,000
#49 Malta: 1,111,000
#50 Portugal: 1,072,000
#51 Lithuania: 1,012,000
#52 Slovenia: 974,000
#53 Syria: 891,000
#54 Slovakia: 814,000
#55 Venezuela: 814,000
#56 Costa Rica: 811,000
#57 Luxembourg: 771,000
#58 Peru: 747,000
#59 Iran: 740,000
#60 Botswana: 734,000
#61 Estonia: 730,000
#62 Algeria: 635,000
#63 Guatemala: 576,000
#64 Lebanon: 558,000
#65 Mauritius: 536,000
#66 San Marino: 532,000
#67 Ecuador: 529,000
#68 Namibia: 502,000
#69 Barbados: 472,000
#70 Qatar: 435,000
#71 Eritrea: 410,000
#72 Panama: 402,000
#73 Paraguay: 395,000
#74 El Salvador: 387,000
#75 Pakistan: 375,000
#76 Oman: 375,000
#77 Maldives: 366,000
#78 Sri Lanka: 366,000
#79 Fiji: 359,000
#80 Bolivia: 355,000
#81 Tanzania: 347,000
#82 Iraq: 346,000
#83 Ghana: 325,000
#84 Trinidad and Tobago: 324,000
#85 Swaziland: 322,000
#86 Georgia: 313,000
#87 Senegal: 313,000
#88 Honduras: 303,000
#89 Cote d'Ivoire: 274,000
#90 Monaco: 259,000
#91 Turkmenistan: 257,000
#92 Belarus: 254,000
#93 Uzbekistan: 253,000
#94 Saint Lucia: 248,000
#95 Antigua and Barbuda: 232,000
#96 Uganda: 227,000
#97 Latvia: 220,000
#98 Cambodia: 219,000
#99 Iceland: 202,000
#100 Malawi: 194,000
#101 Laos: 193,000
#102 Burma: 189,000
#103 Gabon: 167,000
#104 Haiti: 149,000
#105 Benin: 148,000
#106 Belize: 146,000
#107 Lesotho: 144,000
#108 Burkina Faso: 138,000
#109 Cameroon: 133,000
#110 Seychelles: 130,000
#111 Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of: 121,000
#112 Ethiopia: 115,000
#113 Grenada: 111,000
#114 Madagascar: 101,000
#115 Bosnia and Herzegovina: 100,000
#116 Guinea: 95,000
#117 Togo: 92,000
#118 Saint Kitts and Nevis: 88,000
#119 Gambia, The: 85,000
#120 Mongolia: 82,000
#121 Guyana: 76,000
#122 Mali: 75,000
#123 Palau: 74,000
#124 Samoa: 68,000
#125 Papua New Guinea: 66,000
#126 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: 65,000
#127 Dominica: 65,000
#128 Suriname: 61,000
#129 Liechtenstein: 57,000
#130 Libya: 50,000
#131 Vanuatu: 49,000
#132 Sierra Leone: 48,000
#133 Cape Verde: 45,000
#134 Angola: 45,000
#135 Congo, Democratic Republic of the: 42,000
#136 Sudan: 30,000
#137 Tonga: 26,000
#138 Comoros: 26,000
#139 Moldova: 21,000
#140 Djibouti: 20,000
#141 Albania: 19,000
#142 Central African Republic: 17,000
#143 Solomon Islands: 16,000
#144 Chad: 12,000
#145 Micronesia, Federated States of: 11,000
#146 Burundi: 11,000
#147 Somalia: 10,000
#148 Marshall Islands: 6,000
#149 Bhutan: 5,000
#150 Afghanistan: 4,000
#151 Sao Tome and Principe: 2,000
#152 Rwanda: 1,000
Total: 525,062,000
Weighted average: 3,454,355.3

#141 Albania: 19,000

In 2003? I doubt it. :nuts:

there is also a part of the new highway that is being build from lushnje to fier

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It is great that people are discovering Albania. I was here in 2004, the country was quite nice in the south (mountains, nice landscapes like in Gjirokaster and Tepelene or Butrint), but the north is really messy. And the waste.... that is real problem. I have even seen there some levelled land made by wrecked cars! (south of Scutari). New roads (from Tirana to Drač or from Drač southwards to Rrozhdodine (I am sorry, I don't remember the name correctly anymore) are quite good, but building too much roads and too much car traffic would crap the image of the country. Tirana needs some trams or better metro, because the situation here is terrible (transport). At least that new streets done here are very nice.