Albania lifts visa regime for 8 countries during tourist season

Albania has decided to lift visa regime for citizens of eight Countries, the Albanian foreign ministry said Tuesday in a statement.

According to the ministry, based on the decision taken by the Council of Ministers on February 27, the citizens of China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Belarus, Qatar, Oman, Thailand and Bahrain can enter Albania by using only their passport.

The Resurrection of Christ Orthodox Cathedral of Korçë, Albania. /VCG Photo

The free-visa regime for these Countries will only apply during the tourist season.

"The decision allowing citizens of Russia, Saudi Arabia, Belarus, Qatar, Oman, Thailand and Bahrain to enter Albania without needing a visa will be in force from April 1 to October 31 in 2019, whereas for the citizens of the People's Republic of China, it is valid from March 1 to October 31 of this year," said the statement.

The Ottoman-era houses in Gjirokastër, Albania. /VCG Photo

On February 27, Albania's Ministry of Tourism and the Environment launched a campaign –Tourism 2019 "Be taken by Albania" –in a bid to boost the country's tourism and economic development.

The Albanian National Statistics Institute reported that nearly 6 million foreign nationals visited Albania in 2018, registering an increase of 15.8 percent year on year.

(Cover: The National Museum "George Castroiti Skanderbeg" in Krujë, Albania. /VCG Photo)