A small tourist aircraft from Bari, Italy, landed over the weekend at the aerodrome in Gjirokastra, southern Albania, marking the official opening of the 2025 avia-tourism season.
The flight was piloted by Alessandro Carducci, president of Aeroclub Bari, who arrived alongside a group of Italian tourists eager to explore the UNESCO-protected city.
“This is my second visit to Gjirokastra, and once again, I am delighted,” Carducci said. “The view of Vlora, Tepelena, and especially Gjirokastra from the air was stunning. The runway meets acceptable parameters, but simplified documentation procedures would certainly encourage more visitors from Italy and elsewhere to arrive by air.”
Carducci emphasized that streamlined administrative processes would further boost tourist arrivals by private aircraft, particularly from Italy, which has remained a key market for Albanian tourism.
Also present at the aerodrome were several Italian tourists from Venice, who are reportedly working on specific initiatives to promote and support tourism development in the region.
“It’s my first time in Gjirokastra,” said one Italian visitor. “What I saw from above was like a miracle. We are five friends here, and we plan to explore the historic part of the city and stay until Tuesday.”
Saturday’s arrival was the first international tourist flight of the year to Gjirokastra, which officials see as an important milestone in southern Albania’s growing aviation tourism sector.
Known for its well-preserved Ottoman-era architecture and status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Gjirokastra remains one of the top destinations for Italian travelers. Since January, the city and surrounding region have welcomed around 35,000 visitors, the majority of them foreign tourists.
Officials say Gjirokastra’s climate and cultural heritage make it an attractive year-round destination for international travelers.
