For the third year in a row, the Tourism Union of Kosovo is organizing the International Tourism Fair ‘Kosovo 2024’, where over 300 businesses from 15 different countries of the region and the EU are participating this year.

The opening of this fair highlighted the importance of tourism development in Kosovo, in order to attract as many visitors as possible from all countries of the world, for which it was said that this would also affect the improvement of conditions and economy in our country.

The President of the Tourism Union of Kosovo, Baki Hoti, said that the trend of increasing the number of international visitors to Kosovo is constantly increasing. According to him, in January of this year there were over 50 percent more visitors, compared to January of last year.

Hoti called on the institutions to prioritize tourism in Kosovo, since according to him, tourism is one of the main pillars of a country's economy and a very important employment factor.

Among other things, Hoti said that they will make efforts to increase the number of visitors to Kosovo by 30 percent this year.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Prishtina, Përparim Rama said that the organization of this fair serves as a vital goal for the capital, placing in the spotlight the wide potential that Kosovo has with its natural, cultural and historical beauties.

Rama emphasized that many mutual cooperations of tourist agencies in the region can be achieved through this fair.

He said that this organization is an opportunity to transform the capital into a lively and dynamic center.

The Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade (MIET), Mentor Arifaj said that during the last three years Kosovo has become more and more an attractive place for visitors.

He said that in 2023, about 1 million and 500 thousand overnight stays by international visitors have been recorded.

Arifaj said that they intend to further develop tourism, according to him, by offering its digitalization, improvement of the infrastructure, of the instructions and orientation in tourism.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Environment in Albania, Vilma Bello, underlined that the fraternal relations between Kosovo and Albania exist beyond the field of tourism.

She said that Albania has been and will remain a strong supporter of Kosovo's recognition in the international arena and also its European integration.

Bello congratulated both countries for implementing agreements in the field of tourism.

The International Tourism Fair "Kosovo 2024" will be open to visitors during the next two days. /Z. Zeneli/