• United States and Sweden join forces to support the development of Albania’s tourism industry through a $6 million project
• Capital investment in Travel & Tourism expected to rise by 3.6%pa over the next 10 years (World Travel and Tourism Council)
• Increase in international enquiries from the UK, Sweden and France in luxury Albanian property (Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa)

As Albania continues to step out into a more international spotlight, it is apparent that other countries are starting to recognise the untapped potential that this Balkan nation has to offer. The most recent expression of support comes from The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in collaboration with the Embassy of Sweden in Albania, to promote sustainable tourism and spur local economic development in Albania.

Over the next five years, this $6 million project will aim to contribute to improvements within Albania’s tourism sector that in turn will serve as catalysts for job creation and economic growth. According to the latest figures released by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the direct contribution of Travel & Tourism to Albania’s GDP is expected to grow by 4.1% per annum for the next 10 years.

With the economy’s positive trajectory becoming inextricably linked with the success of the tourism sector, international projects like USAID’s are not simply investing in one industry but in Albania as a country with an extremely promising future. Peter Walshe, Sales & Marketing Director of Albania’s first affordably luxurious resort, Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa, is thrilled by this new surge of overseas interest,

“Albania is definitely becoming more attractive to overseas investors, with the country gaining momentum as an international hotspot. With the rise of GBP against the Euro we’ve seen a significant increase in enquiries and sales in recent years from the UK, making up 70% of total sales in the last two years. In addition to the UK, buyers are showing notable interest from Sweden, Germany, Austria, France, the US and the Middle East.

“Hopefully this latest investment project will work cohesively with those already established in Albania and enhance the already encouraging success of the country’s tourism industry. We can’t wait to see this fascinating nation reach its full potential and are very excited to be a part of it.”

It is expected that Albania’s travel and tourism industry has attracted significant capital investment that amounted to ALL19.6bn in 2014, with the WTTC predicting that this figure will rise by 3.6% per annum to a substantial ALL28.5bn in 2025. Such promising projections suggest that international interest is set to continue, if not increase, with Albania’s international magnetism growing ever stronger.

Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa provides a vast selection of investment and lifestyle opportunities to suit each individual buyer’s needs. The beautiful beachfront resort comprises of one and two bedroom apartments and three and four bedroom villas as well as a select number of five and six luxury freehold villas.

Apartments are well designed and generously proportioned, while the villas are the height of luxury, each benefitting from the option of a private pool, with prices ranging from €50,000 for apartments and from €180,000 for villas. Just 30 minutes from Tirana International Airport, the resort is situated in the perfect location for a relaxing beach holiday or a trip of a more adventurous nature exploring Albania’s entire coastline and stunning mountainous interior.

Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa also boasts an assortment of 5-star amenities including a beach club, tennis courts and a range of shops and eating and drinking facilities, alongside a 24 hour on-call medical service onsite and 24/7 security presence.

For more information, contact Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa on +44 845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com

• Albania’s construction sector grows by 24.49% in Q2 of 2015 (INSTAT)
• Number of visitors to Albania increases by 25% this summer (INSTAT)
• World Bank predicts Albanian economy will record growing trends during the fourth quarter of this year

The latest statistics to be released by Albania’s institute of national statistics, INSTAT, show the country’s GDP grew by an impressive 2.53% in Q2 of 2015. Albania’s growing property industry is one of the essential industries behind this increase, with the construction sector recording a significant 24.49% growth in comparison to the same period last year.

With a booming construction sector the Albanian government have recently suggested that they are preparing new policies to improve the tourism sector in line with this, hinting at the reduction of value-added tax (VAT) for accommodation facilities. Using the success of one sector to strengthen another, Sonja Popa, director of tourism development in Albanian Ministry of Economic Development and Tourism advises that they have “proposed a reduction of VAT to about 10%”, a bold, landmark move.

Now an additional pillar industry for the country, Albania’s tourism levels have become increasingly significant to the success of the country’s economy. Fortunately the number of tourists visiting Albania, be it to see the beautiful Adriatic coastline or the historical cities of Berat and Gjirokaster, is also increasing with this summer season having welcomed 25% more visitors overall compared to 2014.

According to INSTAT, the second quarter of 2015 has also seen a 42.1% increase in the number of foreigners who were visiting for vacation purposes, highlighting the recent surge of international interest as Albania emerges as a must see destination.

Peter Walshe, Sales & Marketing Director of Albania’s first affordably luxurious resort, Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa, comments on this current influx of visitors,

“The excitement around Albania is continuing to build as it begins to draw parallel with other European summer tourist hotspots. With a stabilising economy and growing construction and tourism sectors, the element of the unknown surrounding Albania is starting to dissolve, leaving behind a heightened curiosity of what this beautiful, mostly undiscovered, country has to offer.”

“With such a significant increase in tourism this summer it is clear that word is starting to spread and more and more people are choosing to explore Albania as a holiday destination. As global interest continues to build, here at Lalzit Bay Resort and Spa we are thrilled to be a part of this period of change as Albania’s great potential is exposed.”

The most recent World Bank report predicts that the Albanian economy will record growing trends during the fourth quarter of this year, exceeding other regional countries’ economic growth. Emerging as a competitive economy within the region, Albania is not only becoming a must-visit tourist destination, international buyers are also turning their attention to the prospective investment options that are starting to arise.

Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa provides a vast selection of investment and lifestyle opportunities to suit each individual buyer’s needs. The beautiful beachfront resort comprises of one and two bedroom apartments and three and four bedroom villas as well as a select number of five and six luxury freehold villas.

Apartments are well designed and generously proportioned, while the villas are the height of luxury, each benefitting from the option of a private pool, with prices ranging from €50,000 for apartments and from €180,000 for villas. Just 30 minutes from Tirana International Airport, the resort is situated in the perfect location for a relaxing beach holiday or a trip of a more adventurous nature exploring Albania’s entire coastline and stunning mountainous interior.

Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa also boasts an assortment of 5-star amenities including a beach club, tennis courts and a range of shops and eating and drinking facilities, alongside a 24 hour on-call medical service onsite and 24/7 security presence.

For more information, contact Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa on +44 845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com

• Tourists wish to visit sites of historical significance to truly experience the past (Trafalgar Travel)
• Albania home to many of Europe’s best archaeological sites, including the Roman amphitheatre in Durrës and Krujë Castle
• Carolyn Perry purchases beachside apartment in Lalzit Bay as a base for Albanian archaeological studies

When asked what travel trends are expected to flourish in 2015, Julie Brooker, Sales Director of Trafalgar Travel advised, “there is a definite link between travel and history and the desire to explore this link is an emerging trend in the travel industry.” And one country, still considered uncharted land as far as mass tourism is concerned, is being revealed as a hidden treasure in relation to its fascinating history and the relics that have been left behind to be discovered: Albania.

The Balkan nation is home to some of the best well preserved, archaeological sites in Europe with a host of Classical cities that were once equal to those in Italy and Greece. As Brooker continues, today’s tourists “are no longer content with merely learning about historical periods through books and documentaries; people want to visit battlefields and sites of historical significance so they can truly feel a part of history” and Albania can certainly offer just that.

Carolyn Perry, from London, is one traveller whose love for Albania led to purchasing a 2 bedroom apartment at the stunning Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa not just as a holiday home, but also as a base for her Albanian archaeological studies. Having taken cultural heritage tours to a range of different places, Carolyn first visited Albania in 2007 and was smitten. Now a frequent visitor, Carolyn explains what first attracted her to Albania and why Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa was the perfect fit,

“For me Albania has everything, beautiful scenery, lots of really interesting historical sites, friendly locals, good food and wine and lovely weather. I had been looking to buy a property in Albania for quite a few years and needed a resort that was near to the airport so that I can spend long weekends there without spending too much time travelling. It was also important to me to have a property within a resort so that the maintenance will be taken care of, and I feel confident that this will be the case with Lalzit Bay.”

Lalzit Bay Resort and Spa is the country’s first luxury resort and situated on the beautiful Adriatic coastline less than an hour away from many of Albania’s historic gems, including the Roman amphitheatre in Durrës and Krujë Castle. Durrës Roman Amphitheatre was built in the second century BC and is said to be the largest structure of its kind on the Balkans peninsular, seating approximately 20,000 people. Krujë Castle is an iconic building and a great source of national pride, appearing on one of the country’s banknotes.

Peter Walshe, Sales & Marketing Director of Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa, comments,

“Those who have visited Albania have found a country with a rich history and culture just waiting to be explored. As overseas interest in its history continues to rise, so too does the latest tourist trend to witness fascinating discoveries from the past allowing Albania to emerge as a new hotspot for archaeological travel.”

Having experienced all that Albania has to offer, Carolyn is confident that other travellers will soon follow suit and begin exploring this beautiful country for themselves. She adds,

“Most people in the UK know very little about Albania, and some have quite negative ideas about it. However, that is going to change, and it won’t be long before the country’s tourism becomes more developed. I’m glad to get to know Albania at this time when it is still largely ‘unspoilt’ with miles of clean and quiet beaches, archaeological sites that aren’t overrun by coach tours, and rugged mountain landscapes.

“Development will of course be good for the country, and a source of vital income, but it is lovely to visit Albania now, before mass tourism takes over. I’ve taken lots of tour groups to Albania and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. I am finding that people are now making return visits, a sure sign of satisfaction!”

The beautiful beachfront Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa comprises of one and two bedroom apartments and three and four bedroom villas, as well as a select number of five and six luxury freehold villas. Apartments are well designed and generously proportioned, while the villas are the height of luxury, each benefitting from the option of a private pool, with prices ranging from €50,000 for apartments and from €180,000 for villas.

The resort also boasts an assortment of 5-star amenities including a beach club, tennis courts and a range of shops and eating and drinking facilities, alongside a 24 hour on-call medical service onsite and 24/7 security presence.

For more information, contact Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa on +44 845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com

• Greek housing market to decline by 60% during economic crisis (GLP Values)
• Albanian economy forecast to grow 3% by end of 2015 (Prime Minister Rama)
• 5 bed villas available on Albanian coast for third of the price of some Greek islands (Lalzit Bay)

Amidst the deterioration of the Greek economy, GLP Values, a leading real estate advisory firm based in Athens, has predicted that the total decline in the housing market will reach 60%. It would be reasonable to expect that a crisis of this magnitude would generate a negative trend throughout the region, however instead of following suit, has Greece’s economic devastation had the opposite impact on its neighbours?

At the end of July, Albania’s Prime Minister explained that irrespective of what was happening throughout the Balkans as a whole, Albania’s economy was set to continue its positive progression and by the end of 2015 close to 3% growth would be recorded.

In fact the potential of Albania is beginning to be noticed with one local entrepreneur, who wished to remain anonymous, suggesting that the rapid decline in Greece’s desirability with the international market could subsequently lead to other Balkan nations becoming preferable to potential investors, explaining that “now even Albania looks more attractive”.

Once a haven for overseas holiday home owners, potential buyers are now worried about gambling on the Greek property market due to the uncertainty surrounding the economy and the increased cost of living due to the rise in VAT to 23% on the popular islands.

According to a nationwide survey conducted by E-Real Estates, Q1 2015 saw just 1,800 properties sold across Greece in comparison to 15,000 in 2014 and over 165,000 in 2004. This significant drop in sales could suggest that buyers are now looking elsewhere within the region to select a second home.

Situated just north of the border of mainland Greece, Albania has always naturally had many similarities and close ties with its Greek neighbours however, the ‘Land of the Eagle’ is keen to separate itself from any negativity caused by the troubled Greek economy and forge ahead. With tourism levels continuing to rise and steady, positive economic growth, savvy investors are now enquiring after property in Europe’s latest property hotspot, Albania.

Currently estate agency Engel & Volkers estimate that the average price for a five-bedroom villa with a sea view on the Greek island of Rhodes is €1.5 million. Even with property prices within Greece falling considerably, buyers are still able to purchase beautiful beachfront property in the Balkans for much less, with comparable villas in Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa, Albania’s luxury beachfront resort, available for less than a third of the price – from just €437,000.

Peter Walshe, Sales & Marketing Director, Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa, comments on the effect of the Greek crisis and how Albania is becoming a worthy alternative,

“With Greece’s economic decline having such a significant impact on its domestic housing market, as well as those watching the second homes market from overseas, there was always going to be an element of concern for its closest neighbours. However we can see from our levels of enquiry that Albania remains resilient and we are confident that it will continue to blossom as a new and exciting market, filled with potential.

“Sharing a coastline, Albania is blessed with beaches just as beautiful as Greece and with both tourists and property buyers alike beginning to focus on other parts of the Balkans, the country is now being recognised for all that it has to offer.”

According to recent data recorded by Eurostat, Albania has one of Europe’s lowest price levels for restaurants and hotels at only 42% of the EU average. Along with neighbouring Macedonia, this ranks as the most competitive in the region, another indication that Albania’s travel and tourism industry is gaining momentum.

French magazine L’Express has listed Albania as third on their top tourist destinations to visit in 2015, emphasising further still this increase in international attention. With Albania stepping out of its neighbour’s shadow and into the international spotlight, potential buyers are looking to capitalise on Europe’s latest must visit destination.

Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa provides an array of investment and second home opportunities, with properties ranging from one and two bedroom apartments to five and six bedroom luxury freehold villas. Apartments are well designed and generously proportioned, while the villas are the height of luxury, each benefitting from the option of a private pool, with prices ranging from €50,000 for apartments and from €180,000 for villas.

Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa also boasts an assortment of 5-star amenities including a beach club, tennis courts and a range of shops and eating and drinking facilities, alongside a 24 hour on-call medical service onsite and 24/7 security presence.

For more information, contact Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa on +44 845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com

• Foreign visitors to Albania increase by 1.3% in Q1 2015 compared to same period last year
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) amounts to over €258 million in the first quarter of 2015
• Business and individuals’ confidence in Albanian economy improved by 5.1 points in Q2 2015 (Bank of Albania)

Once known as the hidden pearl of the Balkans, Albania is becoming increasingly popular as a holiday hotspot with a growing number of people discovering all that it has to offer. During the first quarter of 2015, approximately 487,300 foreign visitors entered Albania, a rise of 1.3% in comparison to the same period last year.

According to the Albanian Central Bank, the first quarter of 2015 also brought with it a surge of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), totalling over €258 million which equates to a 53% increase when compared to Q1 2014. This significant growth over the past 12 months not only highlights the overseas interest in Albania, but also hints at the country’s promising future growth if figures continue in an upward trajectory, a growing part of which is directed towards the property market.

Peter Walshe, Sales & Marketing Director of Albania’s first affordably luxurious resort, Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa, comments on the current growing interest in Albania and those looking to invest in the heart of the Balkan region,

“With foreign visitors and investment increasing consistently, Albania is creating a new name for itself as a top European destination, filled with potential, and our in-house enquiries highlight a growing interest from the international market. Emerging as a fresh opportunity, now would be an ideal time to invest as Albania continues to build on its current global attention.”

With foreign interest continuing to rise, domestic confidence in Albania’s economy and its emerging position as a sought after destination is also increasing dramatically. Published by the Bank of Albania last week, the Central Bank’s Business and Consumer Confidence Survey shows that confidence in the Albanian economy has improved during Q2 2015 by 5.1 points.

This growing confidence enhances the country’s global appeal, with investment opportunities in Albania attracting buyers from an array of different nations. The first quarter of 2015 saw Albania’s economy grow by 2.82% in comparison to the same period last year, showing the impact that this foreign interest and investment is currently having and can make going forwards.

As foreign interest in Albania continues to increase, Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa are providing a vast selection of investment opportunities to suit each individual buyer’s needs. Their beautiful beachfront resort comprises of one and two bedroom apartments and three and four bedroom villas as well as a select number of five and six luxury freehold villas.

Apartments are well designed and generously proportioned, while the villas are the height of luxury, each benefitting from the option of a private pool, with prices ranging from €50,000 for apartments and from €180,000 for villas. Just 30 minutes from Tirana International Airport, the resort is the perfect location for a beach holiday or to explore Albania’s entire coastline and stunning mountainous interior.

Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa also boasts an assortment of 5-star amenities including a beach club, tennis courts and a range of shops and eating and drinking facilities, alongside a 24 hour on-call medical service onsite and 24/7 security presence.

For more information, contact Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa on +44 845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com

• World Bank projects annual economic growth rate of 3.5% for Albania until 2017
• Albania tourism sector income increases by 13% in Q1 2015 vs Q1 2014 (Bank of Albania)
• Albania’s Minister of Transport, confirms plans for a new international airport

Recent statistics released by The World Bank last week project Albania’s annual economic growth rate to stay at a healthy 3.5%, until at least 2017. The continued improvement of the country’s economy is predicted to be steady as the Balkan nation emerges as a top tourist destination in the Mediterranean.

According to the country’s national statistics office, INSTAT, the number of foreign visitors arriving in Albania for holidays and day trips in Q3 2014 had increased by an incredible 167% on the previous year. With forecasts suggesting this trend will continue and in order to accommodate the rising number of tourists wanting to experience Albania’s natural beauty and historic architecture, negotiations have begun to add another international airport to cater for the growing demand from tourists in Albania.

Arben Ahmetaj, Albania’s Minister of Economic Development, Tourism, Trade and Entrepreneurship has outlined the country’s commitment to developing its tourism sector and believes a new airport, located in the south of the nation, could help to attract a wider group of visitors, helping transform seasonal tourism into a more year round, elite industry.

Peter Walshe, Sales & Marketing Director of Albania’s first affordably luxurious resort, Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa, comments on this latest proposal,

“The need to expand Albania’s accessibility through international travel highlights its increasing popularity as a tourist destination. With additional motorways and airports creating greater international travel options, and thus allowing more travellers to choose Albania, the tourism industry can expect a real period of growth. This new project has the ability to attract more and more tourists to Albania and we are very excited to be involved in the sector at such a progressive time.”

Indeed Bank of Albania’s most recent report shows that income generated by the tourism industry increased by 13% during the first quarter of 2015, in comparison with the same period last year. With this including both foreign and domestic tourism, it is the average expenditure of non-Albanian residents that has made the biggest impact with a growth of 7% since 2014, a positive and encouraging figure for those working in the tourist industry.

When organising a trip, either business or pleasure, one of the first things to research is flight availability and how easy it will be to arrive in the destination of choice. With interest in Albania as a to-visit destination on the rise from tourist markets including Northern Europe and the Middle East, Minister of Transport Edmond Haxhinasto is determined to appeal to more low cost airlines and provide an extensive timetable of international flights more suited to a mass target market.

With a new airport built in the south, international travellers can access all that Albania has to offer comfortably, making the rest of the country more accessible to the expanding tourism industry.

In answer to this growing tourist market, Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa strives to provide an array of options for prospective holiday makers and second home buyers. Their beautiful beachfront resort comprises of one and two bedroom apartments, three and four bedroom villas as well as a select number of five and six luxury freehold villas. Apartments are well designed and generously proportioned, while the villas are the height of luxury, each benefitting from the option of a private pool, with prices ranging from €50,000 for apartments and from just €180,000 for villas. Just 30 minutes from Tirana International Airport, the resort is the perfect location for beach holiday or to explore Albania’s entire coastline and stunning mountainous interior.

Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa also boasts an assortment of 5-star amenities including a beach club, tennis courts and a range of shops and eating and drinking facilities, alongside a 24 hour on-call medical service onsite and 24/7 security presence.

For more information, contact Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa on +44 845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com

• 35% of British holidaymakers want to visit a country they have never been to before (ABTA)
• Luxury travel market forecast to increase in 2015 (Zicasso)
• New deluxe beachfront villas launch on the Albanian Coast (Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa)

With the summer fast approaching, choosing the perfect holiday destination can be a meticulous task. A recent report by the UK’s largest travel association ABTA reveals that this year British holidaymakers are looking to explore brand new destinations, with 35% wanting to visit a country they have never been to before.

One such location proving increasingly attractive is Albania, emerging as a popular choice for those looking to explore the undiscovered beauty of Europe’s Balkan region. Described as the last secret of the Mediterranean, the country has become a top holiday location for 2015, with ‘Stylist’ ranking it third in their best destinations to spend the summer holidays this year and with increasing numbers looking to the country as THE destination to buy their very own holiday home.

Yet this is not all that is emerging as a key travel trend for 2015. The ABTA Travel Trends 2015 report also proposes that the luxury travel market is set to see a significant increase in enquiries and bookings, with holidaymakers looking to make the very most of their valuable time away.

American luxury travel planning agent, Zicasso, has similarly forecast this growth within the luxury market suggesting that there has been a definite rise in demand for more exclusive holiday property as well as unusual destinations.

This ever-increasing demand for luxury holiday properties, combined with the continuing desire within the market to find the most competitive prices, has created a sub category of holidaymakers seeking affordable luxury. Peter Walshe, Marketing Director of Albania’s first affordably luxurious resort, Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa, comments on this growing consumer group,

“We have definitely noticed a significant increase in enquiries, in keeping with this year’s rising interest in hidden gem destinations and luxury overseas property. Located on one of the last stretches of unspoilt shoreline in Europe, the Albanian coast still has a great deal of unseen views and untraveled landscapes yet to be explored, making it a prime destination for those in search of exclusive property without the excessive price tag. We pride ourselves on leading the market with regard to affordable luxury and our ability to construct quality beachfront properties that are still accessible financially.”

As part of their exclusive offering, Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa has announced the launch of a select number of 5/6 bedroom, beachfront villas with stunning, unobstructed Mediterranean views. With prices starting from just €437,000, these luxurious freehold villas are inspired by California’s modern beachfront houses, located on the beautiful sands of Lalzit Bay and the Adriatic coastline. Situated on a private gated resort, amongst landscaped gardens, each villa can be personalised helping create a sense of individuality, with the element of uniqueness key when investing in luxury travel.

To further increase the luxurious feel of the resort, Lalzit Bay Resort villa owners are also granted membership to both the Residents’ Club and the exclusive Adriatic Club, where additional services are available on request. These luxurious accompaniments can include a 24 hour concierge service, a private beach area and an airport pick up service, allowing complete relaxation throughout the stay.

The beachfront resort also has one and two bedroom apartments and three and four bedroom villas available. Apartments are well designed and generously proportioned, while the villas are the height of luxury, each benefitting from the option of a private pool, with prices ranging from €35,000 to €360,000.

Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa also boasts an array of 5-star amenities including a beach club, tennis courts and a range of shops and eating and drinking facilities, alongside a 24 hour on-call medical service onsite and 24/7 security presence.

For more information, contact Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa on +44 845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com