Why More Visitors and Investors Are Looking at Albania
For decades Albania was one of Europe's least-visited countries. It was closed to most outsiders for much of the communist era, and its coast, archaeological sites and mountains were little known abroad. That has changed quickly, and the country now draws holidaymakers, property buyers, investors and remote workers.
Albania's statistics institute, INSTAT, recorded 12.47 million arrivals of foreign citizens in 2025, 6.6% more than in 2024. The count is of border crossings, so it includes day trips and repeat visits. Tirana International Airport handled about 11.6 million passengers in 2025, according to INSTAT figures reported by Albanian Daily News. A second international airport has been built near Vlora to serve the Riviera, but it has not opened: in August 2026 the government moved to terminate its concession after missed opening deadlines, and the concessionaire disputes the decision. Our news brief on the Vlora airport concession has the details.
Albania is also negotiating to join the European Union. On 13 October 2026 it provisionally closed its fourth negotiating chapter out of 33, and the government aims to finish the talks by the end of 2027. Corporate income tax is 15%: mid-range for the Western Balkans, where North Macedonia, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina charge 10%, and below Greece (22%) and Italy (24%). Our guide to investing in Albania sets out the opportunities alongside the risks, including an incomplete property register and a shrinking population.
Albanian food draws on Ottoman, Mediterranean and mountain traditions: baked lamb with yoghurt (tavë kosi), byrek pastries filled with cheese or greens, and raki served with meze. Our food guide covers twenty dishes and drinks, from mains to desserts.
Visitors also often come across besa, an Albanian code of honour; the word means “to keep the promise”. Hospitality to guests is a related custom rather than the meaning of besa itself. Our culture and heritage guide explains the term and its history.
