Accessible Albania: Plans for new airport as tourism figures continue to rise
- World Bank projects annual economic growth rate of 3.5% for Albania until 2017
- Albania tourism sector income increases by 13% in Q1 2015 vs Q1 2014 (Bank of Albania)
- Albania’s Minister of Transport, confirms plans for a new international airport
Recent statistics released by The World Bank last week project Albania’s annual economic growth rate to stay at a healthy 3.5%, until at least 2017. The continued improvement of the country’s economy is predicted to be steady as the Balkan nation emerges as a top tourist destination in the Mediterranean.
According to the country’s national statistics office, INSTAT, the number of foreign visitors arriving in Albania for holidays and day trips in Q3 2014 had increased by an incredible 167% on the previous year. With forecasts suggesting this trend will continue and in order to accommodate the rising number of tourists wanting to experience Albania’s natural beauty and historic architecture, negotiations have begun to add another international airport to cater for the growing demand from tourists in Albania.
Arben Ahmetaj, Albania’s Minister of Economic Development, Tourism, Trade and Entrepreneurship has outlined the country’s commitment to developing its tourism sector and believes a new airport, located in the south of the nation, could help to attract a wider group of visitors, helping transform seasonal tourism into a more year round, elite industry.
Peter Walshe, Sales & Marketing Director of Albania’s first affordably luxurious resort, Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa, comments on this latest proposal,
“The need to expand Albania’s accessibility through international travel highlights its increasing popularity as a tourist destination. With additional motorways and airports creating greater international travel options, and thus allowing more travellers to choose Albania, the tourism industry can expect a real period of growth. This new project has the ability to attract more and more tourists to Albania and we are very excited to be involved in the sector at such a progressive time.”
Indeed Bank of Albania’s most recent report shows that income generated by the tourism industry increased by 13% during the first quarter of 2015, in comparison with the same period last year. With this including both foreign and domestic tourism, it is the average expenditure of non-Albanian residents that has made the biggest impact with a growth of 7% since 2014, a positive and encouraging figure for those working in the tourist industry.
When organising a trip, either business or pleasure, one of the first things to research is flight availability and how easy it will be to arrive in the destination of choice. With interest in Albania as a to-visit destination on the rise from tourist markets including Northern Europe and the Middle East, Minister of Transport Edmond Haxhinasto is determined to appeal to more low cost airlines and provide an extensive timetable of international flights more suited to a mass target market.
With a new airport built in the south, international travellers can access all that Albania has to offer comfortably, making the rest of the country more accessible to the expanding tourism industry.
In answer to this growing tourist market, Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa strives to provide an array of options for prospective holiday makers and second home buyers. Their beautiful beachfront resort comprises of one and two bedroom apartments, three and four bedroom villas as well as a select number of five and six luxury freehold villas. Apartments are well designed and generously proportioned, while the villas are the height of luxury, each benefitting from the option of a private pool, with prices ranging from €50,000 for apartments and from just €180,000 for villas. Just 30 minutes from Tirana International Airport, the resort is the perfect location for beach holiday or to explore Albania’s entire coastline and stunning mountainous interior.
Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa also boasts an assortment of 5-star amenities including a beach club, tennis courts and a range of shops and eating and drinking facilities, alongside a 24 hour on-call medical service onsite and 24/7 security presence.
For more information, contact Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa on +44 845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com