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Tour operators to reduce prices/ Government to produce policies

2025-08-03 12:31:00, Opinione CNA

Tour operators should lower their prices! The government should produce policies, not make music videos!

Even if we count the passengers at Rinas twice, this year will still not be a success in tourism.

I spent a weekend in Pogradec. The city was full of people and life. Every now and then I heard a foreigner.

The restaurants were full and finding a hotel or house was difficult.

I settled in a new house. Duplex room, for a couple and 2 children, with kitchenette, 40 euros (I'm talking in euros and calling it 1/100). Super comfortable.

In restaurants, options for every angle, according to availability. Prices are more than reasonable.

Umbrella? €4 at a private location, 0 if you bring your own towel.

A week ago I was in a village in the South, Piqeras. In a new hotel, still with dirt around. €150 the same room (couple and 3 children), just sleeping. No other services, not even a coffee for breakfast.

In a house, a 3 x 3 room, €60 (per person), with only one outlet and no other services, not even a coffee for breakfast.

Food prices? €8-10 a soufflé.

Parking, €5 per night.

Umbrellas? €15-20

The village? Like all Albanian villages. Dust, chaos, mess.

Why these prices? What justifies them?

What justifies a €50-100 tent in the "Maldives" of Ksamil, when as soon as you leave the coast and enter the city, even Google Maps can't help but notice the urban chaos?

Why do you have to pay more to relax in Saranda than in Antalya? What does the weather offer?

The government's forced advertisements on foreign portals, which are then picked up and copied by our media, have created a false reality.

The dizzying news every day about the “Pearl of the Mediterranean”, the “Albanian Maldives”, the “Undiscovered Wonder of Europe”, made the owners of houses and hotels really believe in what they are not. They made them believe that there is another Albania, not the one we see every day, and this is the Albania of television.

The advertisement caused an increase in visitors from other countries, Italy or Central Europe (it is not known how many of those who came once returned again). With this enthusiasm, the Kosovar holidaymaker, the “sufflaqexhiu”, the “byreku me yos”, who refused to pay €10 for a plate of pasta with a mussel and two mini shrimps, but bought food at the market, was despised and despised.

The euphoria of the ads led South Coasters to believe that Jeff Bezos himself would come to their homes and tie up his yacht to their fence post.

Jeff came to buy cheaper fuel and unload his tanks, but not for a vacation. Yes, in the meantime, Kosovars also left, further north or to Ulcinj in Turkey.

In fact, what do we offer, besides the sea, which is none of our business?

Accommodation that leaves much to be desired!

Service that leaves much to be desired!

Infrastructure that leaves much to be desired!

Cities without public transport!

Cities that don't manage but burn trash outdoors in the middle of the season!

Streets filled with waste!

Wastewater that is discharged 100% into the sea.

Lack of opportunities for activities other than the beach.

So, what justifies these prices, people?

Lessons to be learned:

Korça experienced a boom in visitors during the pandemic. Within a year, sleeping in Korça cost as much as in Berlin. Last year, Korça was abandoned.

The coastal south is struggling for survival this year.

A suggestion:

Lower your prices in line with what we offer, otherwise the day won't be far when you go to work as a waiter yourself.

The government should not act like an advertising agency, but produce tourism guidance policies. There is a Ministry of Tourism for this job, not for social media video clips.