Only one in seven tourists who entered Albania in August were officially accommodated

 Old Bazaar in Gjirokastra, August, 2023

 Only one in seven tourists who entered the country in August stayed in one of the local hotels, inns, or rental apartments, at least according to official data.

Data from the Institute of Statistics shows that out of over 2 million foreign vacationers during August, the number of those who were accommodated was less than 307,000.

"The informality in the accommodation structures becomes particularly noticeable during the decline of the summer tourist season as institutions have a lot to manage," said Fjorold Ozuni.

However, compared to August of the previous year, as a result of the increase in tourists, nearly 120,000 more foreigners stayed in the accommodation structures in the country.

The high rate of informality in the tourism sector has already been acknowledged by the government. From January 1 of the upcoming year, institutions will attempt to integrate the apartments or other structures primarily rented daily to tourists into the tax system.

"We are the last in the region to take this step. It is a necessity that serves both the government and those who own accommodation structures," added Ozuni.

Data from the State Institute of Statistics shows that during August, the majority of tourists stayed in accommodation structures in the north, followed by Tirana and Durrës. In the hotels in the south, at least according to the figures, only 98,484 foreigners stayed.