Flight prices punish tourism

“The situation has been abnormal and keeps getting worse from year to year. This will not change without a strong intervention”, declared Besnik Vathi.

“We are the most expensive destination in the region as regards flight tickets. Not only for airplanes, but ferries have also artificially grown prices. A person cannot travel abroad without 300 Euros in neighboring Italian cities”, declared Sava Bardhi.

Why is it that the Albanian citizens, ranked among the poorest countries in Europe, are forced to pay more than their neighbors for flights? Agencies say that there are a series of causes, starting from the lack of competition.

The “Mother Tereza” airport has the highest taxes not only in the region, but also in Europe. It is probably 20% higher. The fuel price is also higher in Albania”, Bardhi declared.

“If all elements are more expensive, the ticket price will also be more expensive”, Vathi declared.

Facing this absurd situation, the agencies say they are trying to find other ways by deviating the flight traffic.

“We are moving people through other airports in the region because it comes with a cheaper price. 90% are made from Skopje or Prishtina”.

Tourism is one of the highest branches of the economy, with 13% of the GDP, but its influence is bigger, because it affects a series of sectors.

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