The number of foreign tourists visiting Kosovo is increasing day by day. However, road infrastructure continues to be a problem over the years.

According to the Chamber of Hospitality and Tourism, Kosovo is mostly visited by tourists from Asia, China, and the countries of the region where Albania originates. The "Adem Jashari" Memorial Complex in Prekaz remains the main destination for visitors, with over a million visitors per year.

Rugova, with its mountain tourism, offers an extraordinary experience for adventurers and nature enthusiasts. Flamur Rexhbogaj, the chairman of the territorial municipality Rugova 2, says that in the "Tops of the Balkans" project, Rugova took first place among 146 foreign countries. This has increased the number of foreign tourists in Rugova, with the most visitors coming from Arab countries, followed by Albania and a few from Italy, according to Rexhbogaj.

Agron Nikqi, the chairman of the Territorial Municipality-Rugova 1, says that the accommodation of tourists in Rugova has reached a standard, and now there are enough accommodation places. However, road infrastructure remains a problem.

"According to statistics, we have capacities of up to 400 beds for foreign tourists. In 2023, due to the bad road infrastructure, many tourists have canceled their visits to Rugova," adds Nikqi.

At the highest points, over 2000 meters above sea level, the mountains offer amazing views, fresh air, and opportunities for many activities such as hiking, skiing, and other summer and winter resorts, says Haxhi Nikqi.

"To complete the tourism infrastructure, we started assembling a ski-lift and two motorbikes, where we can carry up to 10 people, at a height of up to 2,000 meters."

The number of foreign tourists visiting Kosovo has increased from year to year. Luan Bajramaj, from the Chamber of Hospitality and Tourism of Kosovo, says that our country has attractive places such as Bjeshket e Sharrit, Bjeshket e Nemuna, as well as the waterfalls of Drin i Bardhë and Mirusha, among others. However, infrastructure remains the main problem.

"For the infrastructure, it's really unfortunate. I am starting from the mountains of Rugova, where again this year, like last year, the road is terrible. It does not even provide the minimum conditions for small cars, let alone for buses or other cars," emphasizes Bajramaj.

Regarding accommodation, Bajramaj says that Kosovo has 500 hotels, guesthouses, and hotels, where 11 thousand people can be accommodated overnight.

"We can accommodate 11,000 visitors overnight, but these are small capacities. Imagine a competition held in Kosovo, the main problem we have is the small number of hotels."

According to the data of the Statistics Agency of Kosovo, in January of this year, there were more visitors in hotels than a year ago. In January 2024, the number of local and foreign visitors to hotels was 77,295 visitors, of which 42.1% were local and 57.8% were foreign.