Saranda Port Handles Nearly 688,000 Passengers as Tourist Ship Arrivals Rise

Saranda Port handled 687,594 passengers in the first nine months of 2026, a slight increase from 686,398 during the same period last year. Tourist ship arrivals also rose, reflecting the port’s continued role in southern Albania’s tourism sector.
Hatixhe Ismaili, who oversees ship and ferry operations at the port, told ATA that 338,250 passengers entered Albania through Saranda between January and September, while 349,344 departed. Total passenger traffic grew by 1,196, or 0.2%, year on year. July recorded 154,524 arrivals, while August reached the peak with 179,130.
The port received 59 tourist ships during the first nine months of 2026, up from 51 in the same period of 2025. However, cruise ferries remained at 26, while yachts, sailboats and speedboats numbered around 340 in both periods. Ismaili noted that Saranda still lacks sufficient berthing capacity for luxury vessels, leaving many anchored in the bay without access to port facilities.
Saranda Port remains a key gateway for passenger transport and tourism in southern Albania, particularly during the summer season.



