TIRANA, Aug. 31 /ATA/ – Albania’s tourism sector continued its strong growth during the summer season, with 1.717 million passengers passing through Tirana International Airport in August alone, Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja said on Sunday.

In a video message, Gonxhja said the figures reflect Albania’s growing appeal as a tourist destination and the increasing interest of international visitors.

He highlighted Aug. 17 as a record-breaking day, when the airport handled more than 60,000 passengers and 326 flights within 24 hours.

The Minister noted that the August figures followed a strong July, when the airport recorded nearly 1.65 million passengers, representing a 28.1% increase compared with the same month a year earlier.

“These figures confirm the sustained growth of tourism and the rising interest in Albania,” Gonxhja said, adding that stronger air connectivity with Europe and the wider world creates new opportunities for tourism and local economic development.

He also pointed to European aviation assessments that rank Tirana among the fastest-growing airports in the large-airport category.

According to Gonxhja, expanding air links not only improve accessibility but also strengthen Albania’s competitiveness in the international tourism market.

The Minister stressed that the continued rise in visitor numbers brings greater responsibility to develop a tourism model that is high-quality, sustainable and year-round, ensuring that growing demand translates into long-term economic benefits for local communities.

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