On August 5, Franceinfo aired a 13-minute report in its series “Nous, les Européens” (“We, Europeans”). The feature presents Albania as the new El Dorado for travelers. Once a closed communist state, Albania has opened to tourism, with visitor numbers up 80% in five years.

The report highlights Albania’s turquoise waters and deserted islets. Located between Greece and Italy, the country offers rich Mediterranean heritage from Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Venetian, and Ottoman civilizations.

Concrete bunkers along the coast mark its communist past. In Tirana, one bunker now serves as the “Bunk’Art” museum. Guide Sokol Selami explains: “This bunker was never used in war. After World War II, it was mainly for interrogations”.

Under Enver Hoxha’s Stalinist rule, Albania remained isolated over 40 years. The regime fell in 1991, opening the country to the world. Today, Tirana shows modern architecture. In 2024, Albania welcomed 12 million tourists. This surge follows post-COVID recovery and strong social media promotion.

Polish influencer Adrianna Skon says: “We filmed Albania to encourage visits. It is still new to Polish travelers”. Tourism professionals confirm growing interest. Skon adds: “A Polish travel agency invited us. From day one, Albania impressed us”.

Videos by influencers and travelers have boosted Albania’s online popularity. Tourists say: “TikTok videos led us here”. Low prices attract many young visitors.

The full report is available on Franceinfo’s website.

-https://www.franceinfo.fr/economie/tourisme/l-albanie-le-nouvel-eldorado-du-tourisme-en-europe_7419721.html-