TIRANA, April 11 /ATA/ The coastal city of Saranda, one of the gateways to Albania’s south, welcomes thousands of tourists each year from around the world, many of whom arrive by cruise ships. This year too, Saranda has already received its first cruises with tourists, confirming its reputation as a city with an early summer tourist season. 

The director of Saranda Port, Admir Malaj, told ATA that for 2026 the port has so far been booked by 28 cruise ships. He added that in the coming months this number is expected to rise further, marking a high influx of tourists for the summer season. 

In March, two cruise ships docked at Saranda, bringing more than 5,000 visitors from across the globe. Port director Malaj said preparations for the tourist season include bolstering security and closer coordination with border police, the harbourmaster and customs authorities. 

He said that ferry services to Corfu have expanded in recent years to meet rising demand. He added that between January and March this year passenger numbers were up 209% compared with the same period in 2025, pointing to a sharp increase in traffic. 

“Between January and March, 10,969 people entered Saranda port and 11,234 departed, compared with 5,199 arrivals and 5,421 departures in the same period of 2025. In total, there were 22,203 movements in the first three months of this year — a 209% increase as compared to last year. Malaj said that in March alone 8,522 people arrived at the port. 

Saranda, with its crystal‑clear beaches and archaeological and natural landmarks, continues to draw large numbers of domestic and foreign visitors. In 2025, the city’s port — the main gateway to the coastal destination — processed 754,686 passengers between January and December. 

/k.s/j.p/sm/