Kosovo unveils top tourist destinations

Tourism in Kosovo continues its positive growth trend year after year. According to official data from the Kosovo Agency of Statistics (ASK), during the first half of 2025, there was a 5.6% increase in visitors compared to the same period in 2024, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

From 2020 until now, the number of tourists visiting Kosovo has steadily increased. In 2020, Kosovo was visited by 151,816 tourists who made 266,491 overnight stays. In 2021, this number doubled to 355,141 visitors, then rose to 460,467 tourists in 2022. Growth continued in 2023, with 621,486 tourists visiting the country, totaling 698,068 overnight stays.

Baki Hoti, Chairman of the Kosovo Tourism Union, in the latest KosovaPress show “Shtylla,” calls on institutions to treat the tourism sector as a priority and create clear development policies. He proposed that Kosovo establish a separate Ministry of Tourism to exclusively focus on this strategic sector.
He mentioned regional best practices Kosovo should follow, such as subsidizing visitors for longer stays and reducing VAT on tourism services.

Tourists who have visited Kosovo praise the country for low prices, good food, and hospitality. A tourist from Sweden noted that prices in Kosovo are much lower than in her home country. Another tourist from Switzerland explained why she likes visiting Kosovo. Another visitor from Sweden praised the quality and affordability of food.

Xhavit Jusufi, manager of the “Vila Gërmia” restaurant, shared insights on tourist demands regarding services, especially food.

The Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship, and Trade (MINT) responded in writing to KosovaPress about the Tourism Strategy Action Plan:

“The Government of Kosovo considers tourism development a priority. In the Government Program 2021-2025, sustainable tourism development is highlighted as a key economic growth area. MINT prepared the Kosovo Tourism Strategy 2024-2030, outlining five strategic objectives: 1) Increasing promotional activities; 2) Creating and improving quality, sustainable tourism infrastructure; 3) Expanding tourism offerings with sustainability standards and increasing competitiveness; 4) Enhancing human resources and service quality; 5) Advancing regulatory and policy frameworks. The strategy aims to develop sustainable and competitive tourism in the region.”

Regarding the top three most visited places, MINT states:

Prishtina: capital city with proximity to the airport, road infrastructure, and many cultural and sports events. It is also part of Balkan tour itineraries.

Peja: known for natural and cultural potential and many adventure tourism products offered by numerous tour operators.

Prizren: famous for its historical and cultural heritage, monuments, and reputation as Kosovo’s most beautiful city, also noted for its intercultural and interfaith tolerance. Cultural events, especially festivals like DokuFest, greatly influence visitor attraction.

According to ASK and Kosovo’s Tourism Department, in 2024 Kosovo welcomed 698,068 visitors, a 12% increase compared to the previous year. Growth was mainly driven by foreign visitors, who increased by around 18.3%. There were 1,522,890 overnight stays, 54.3% by foreigners. In the first six months of 2025, 341,506 visitors (both domestic and foreign) were reported by hotels across Kosovo.