The National Historical Museum nearly doubled its visitor numbers in January compared to the same period last year.

Tourism statistics released by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment indicate a 50% increase in visitor numbers to cultural institutions across the country. This upward trend appears consistent with the overall positive trajectory in tourism witnessed in the initial months of the year, with almost 1 million foreign nationals entering the country in January and February combined.

While the National Historical Museum topped the charts in January visits, the Kruja Museum secured the second position with over 3,000 visitors. Following closely, the Museum of Surveillance “House with Leaves” welcomed over 2,000 visitors, marking a significant increase compared to January 2023.

Although visitor numbers to the country’s museums remain modest, there’s noticeable double-digit growth over the past two years, driven by increased tourist arrivals. Across 12 museums nationwide, January saw a total of 13,430 visitors, representing an 83% increase from January 2023.

Cultural tourism is viewed as a means to enhance the benefits derived from tourism overall, exerting a significant economic impact on local economies and the regions where these museums are situated. Attracting foreigners to them promotes even higher exposure of small tourist businesses related to tourism, but the real effect remains small and reckless. However, the tangible effects remain relatively modest and difficult to measure.

/k.s/