5 September 2008 | The number of tourists to Albania has increased by 400,000 people this year, national media reported today.

Official data, presented to media by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports, Ylli Pango, showed that 2,089,538 tourists have entered Albania from abroad during the first six months of 2008, which is a 23-per cent increase compared to the same period of the previous year.

Out of the total number of tourists, the Panorama newspaper reported, 984,038 of them were foreigners and 1,105,500 were residents of other countries of Albanian descent. The latter, according to the World Tourism Organisation, are also considered as tourists.

The reason for the growth in tourist interest, according to the publication, is the country’s intensified advertising campaign, which included the publication of a guide to Albania and video spots on CNN and local television stations in Macedonia and Kosovo.

As BalkanTravellers.com reported in August, many holidaymakers from Greece, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Serbia opted to spend their summer vacation in Albania, lured by the country’s prices, beautiful coast and favourable conditions.

Other reports, however, announced that, on other hand, more and more Albanians chose to spend their holidays outside of their home country.

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