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Tourism in Kosovo is operating in a relatively competitive environment. In most of the neighboring countries, tourism is considered a priority sector and incentive measures have been taken to develop it.
Although Kosovo has a suitable strategic-geographical position in the Western Balkans, it has not yet sufficiently utilized the advantages from the global trends of tourism growth. However, tourism in Kosovo has improved in recent years, but it is still organized inefficiently, without strategic objectives and without coherent tourism policies.
Data from the Kosovo Agency of Statistics (KAS) and those from tourism stakeholders show that in the period 2017-2019, the number of visitors increased by 14.2%, while the number of overnight stays increased by 23.9%.
Even the number of employees as well as the impact of activities in hotels and restaurants in BPV was marking a gradual increase, from 1.8% as it was in 2017 to 2.1% during 2019. The years 2020 and 2021 were affected by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and brought a marked decline in the tourism sector, which, however, recovered in 2022, reaching the same level as the figures of 2019 with 2.1% of BPV. As for the number of visitors for 2022, there was a 60% increase compared to the pre-pandemic period of 2019. Also, the number of overnight stays increased by 67% compared to 2019.
As for the last year in 2023, the number of domestic and foreign visitors has increased by 35% compared to 2022, while the number of net stays of domestic and foreign visitors has increased by 86% compared to 2022. According to the countries where they come from for 2023, visitors from Albania dominate with 25%, followed by those from Germany with 16%, Switzerland with 12%, and Turkey with 7%.
In this context, the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, in cooperation with line ministries, municipalities and with the help of other tourism actors, is committed to drawing up the state tourism strategy covering the period 2024-2030, to enable the development of tourism on a competitive basis, increasing economic development, employment and beyond. The 2024-2030 Tourism Strategy and the 2024-2026 Action Plan include 5 strategic objectives:
In order to achieve these objectives aimed at sustainable tourism development, the Government of Kosovo will undertake concrete measures and actions involving all actors through greater cooperationand interaction both in the public and private sectors. It is envisaged to raise the promotion of Kosovo's tourism, first of all in international markets and targeted groups of visitors, at a higher and more organized level, giving importance to the provision of necessary information for visitors. On the other hand, measures will be taken for the development of sustainable physical and tourist infrastructure with the aim of easier access to destinations within Kosovo, but also the development of new tourist products. The natural potential of Kosovo should also be considered, hence this strategy includes measures and actions aimed at preserving natural and cultural resources, as well as actions that are friendly to the environment. Special attention has been paid to the support of service providers, where schemes of grenades and other forms of support are foreseen. The strategy will affect the increase in employment, therefore measures and actions are foreseen that will address the needs of the labor market in the tourism sector. Curricula and educational and professional programs will be reviewed in order to raise qualified personnel with European standards. In addition to all these actions, the Government of Kosovo will advance with the development of tourism policies and the completion of the legal framework aligned with the EU and in harmony with European standards.
Tourism in Kosovo is operating in a relatively competitive environment. In most of the neighboring countries, tourism is considered a priority sector and incentive measures have been taken to develop it.
Although Kosovo has a suitable strategic-geographical position in the Western Balkans, it has not yet sufficiently utilized the advantages from the global trends of tourism growth. However, tourism in Kosovo has improved in recent years, but it is still organized inefficiently, without strategic objectives and without coherent tourism policies.
Data from the Kosovo Agency of Statistics (KAS) and those from tourism stakeholders show that in the period 2017-2019, the number of visitors increased by 14.2%, while the number of overnight stays increased by 23.9%.
Even the number of employees as well as the impact of activities in hotels and restaurants in BPV was marking a gradual increase, from 1.8% as it was in 2017 to 2.1% during 2019. The years 2020 and 2021 were affected by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and brought a marked decline in the tourism sector, which, however, recovered in 2022, reaching the same level as the figures of 2019 with 2.1% of BPV. As for the number of visitors for 2022, there was a 60% increase compared to the pre-pandemic period of 2019. Also, the number of overnight stays increased by 67% compared to 2019.
As for the last year in 2023, the number of domestic and foreign visitors has increased by 35% compared to 2022, while the number of net stays of domestic and foreign visitors has increased by 86% compared to 2022. According to the countries where they come from for 2023, visitors from Albania dominate with 25%, followed by those from Germany with 16%, Switzerland with 12%, and Turkey with 7%.
In this context, the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, in cooperation with line ministries, municipalities and with the help of other tourism actors, is committed to drawing up the state tourism strategy covering the period 2024-2030, to enable the development of tourism on a competitive basis, increasing economic development, employment and beyond. The 2024-2030 Tourism Strategy and the 2024-2026 Action Plan include 5 strategic objectives:
In order to achieve these objectives aimed at sustainable tourism development, the Government of Kosovo will undertake concrete measures and actions involving all actors through greater cooperationand interaction both in the public and private sectors. It is envisaged to raise the promotion of Kosovo's tourism, first of all in international markets and targeted groups of visitors, at a higher and more organized level, giving importance to the provision of necessary information for visitors. On the other hand, measures will be taken for the development of sustainable physical and tourist infrastructure with the aim of easier access to destinations within Kosovo, but also the development of new tourist products. The natural potential of Kosovo should also be considered, hence this strategy includes measures and actions aimed at preserving natural and cultural resources, as well as actions that are friendly to the environment. Special attention has been paid to the support of service providers, where schemes of grenades and other forms of support are foreseen. The strategy will affect the increase in employment, therefore measures and actions are foreseen that will address the needs of the labor market in the tourism sector. Curricula and educational and professional programs will be reviewed in order to raise qualified personnel with European standards. In addition to all these actions, the Government of Kosovo will advance with the development of tourism policies and the completion of the legal framework aligned with the EU and in harmony with European standards.
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