Tourism in Kosovo

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Tourism in Kosovo is characterized by archaeological heritage from Illyrian, Dardanian, Roman, Byzantine, Serbian and Ottoman times, traditional Albanian and Serbian cuisine, architecture, religious heritage, traditions, and natural landscapes. Kosovo is situated in south-eastern Europe. With its central position in the Balkans, it serves as a link in the connection between central and south Europe, the Adriatic Sea, and Black Sea.

Contents

The New York Times included Kosovo on the list of 41 Places to go in 2011. [1] [2] In the same year, Kosovo saw a jump of about 40 places on the Skyscanner flight search engine which rates global tourism growth. [3] [4]

Kosovo's monuments are classified as common property for which the society is responsible to maintain them in order to transmit their authenticity to future generations. [5] [6]

Kosovo has a variety of natural features. It is surrounded by mountains: the Sharr Mountains are located in the south and southeast, bordering North Macedonia, while the Kopaonik Mountains rise in the north. The southwest borders with Albania and Montenegro are also mountainous and home to the country's highest peak, Gjeravica, 2,656 m (8,714 ft) high.

The bulk of international tourists going to Kosovo are from Albania, Germany, Italy, the United States, the United Kingdom, Croatia and Austria. Tourism is a growing sector with more tourists visiting every year.

Natural attractions

National parks

Kosovo has two declared national parks and those are the Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park and Sharr Mountains National Park.

Liqenat Lake is a mountain lake located in the Bjeshket e Nemuna National Park. Liqeni I Madhe Peje Kosovo from Fatos Katallozi.jpg
Liqenat Lake is a mountain lake located in the Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park.

Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park is located in the districts of Gjakova and Peja in the Accursed Mountains range in western Kosovo. Spanning over 63,028 hectares (155,750 acres) of rugged mountains, the area boasts a multitude of lakes, thick deciduous and coniferous forests, and alpine vistas. Its designation as a park stems from the need to safeguard the diverse ecosystems, biodiversity, and the rich tapestry of cultural and historical heritage it holds.

Sharr Mountains National Park, situated in southwestern Kosovo, it unfolds its natural beauty. Encompassing 53,272 hectares (131,640 acres), the national park includes diverse landscapes, the park features glacial lakes, as well as alpine and periglacial terrains. [7] It was declared a national park in 1986, and re-established in 2012 by the new Kosovar Government.

Other

The Bukuroshja e Fjetur Cave stands as one of the rare caves nestled in Kosovo. Positioned close to the captivating White Drin Waterfall, it emerges as an excellent tourist hotspot. Radavc Shpella.jpg
The Bukuroshja e Fjetur Cave stands as one of the rare caves nestled in Kosovo. Positioned close to the captivating White Drin Waterfall, it emerges as an excellent tourist hotspot.

White Drin Waterfall and the Bukuroshja e Fjetur Cave, both located near each other in the Accursed Mountains in the north of Peja, are some of the most famous tourist destinations in Kosovo, drawing thousands of visitors from both local and international origins. [8]

Brezovica ski resort is one of the best destinations for winter tourism in Kosovo. Brezovica Ski Resort - Sharri Mountains.jpg
Brezovica ski resort is one of the best destinations for winter tourism in Kosovo.

Located on the slopes of Sharr Mountains in southern Kosovo, the Brezovica ski resort claims its status as the premier hub for winter tourism in Kosovo. During winter, mainly skiing and snowboarding take place. As the seasons transition to summer, the resort transforms into an eco-tourism haven, offering opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, golf and various outdoor activities. [9]

Other natural attractions include Lake Batllava, Mirusha Waterfalls, Gjeravica, Marble Cave, Rugova Canyon.

Cities

Some of the most visited cities include:

Architecture

Statistics

The Statistical Agency of the Kosovo publishes hotel statistics on a quarterly basis since 2008. In 2023, the reported number of hotel nights spent by non-residents was 746,501 compared to 544,701 in the previous year. The number of foreign visitors also increased from 297,588 in 2022 to 357,717 in 2023. [16]

The following table illustrates the number of non resident visitors according to country of origin recorded in 2023. The data was issued by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Kosovo.

RankCountryNumber
1Flag of Albania.svg  Albania 90,518
2Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 41,105
3Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 36,812
4Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 23,482
5Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia 17,024
6Flag of the United States.svg  United States 15,780
7Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 11,164
8Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 9,354
9Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 9,215
10Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro 8,741
11Others44,849
Total357,717

Issues regarding entering Kosovo

Serbia considers Kosovo to be an integral part of its territory and thus does not consider the designated crossing with Kosovo to be an international border. Serbia does not apply entry or exit stamps to the passports of those using these crossings. Serbia also does not recognize the designated entry points between Kosovo (including Pristina airport) and third countries because they are not under the control of Serbian authorities. Foreign nationals have been denied entry to Serbia by Serbian border officials if they don't have a current Serbian entry stamp in their passport. If a visit to Serbia is planned after visiting Kosovo, entering Serbia via North Macedonia is recommended. [17] [18] [19]

Citizens of Albania, Montenegro and Serbia may use a national ID card at border crossings with no stamping involved. Meanwhile, citizens of EU countries, North Macedonia, Monaco and San Marino may use a biometric national ID card (excluding e.g. Austrian, French and Greek citizens, but including e.g. Dutch, German and Swedish citizens)

See also

Annotations and references

  1. "The 41 Places to Go in 2011". The New York Times . 7 January 2011.
  2. "Diplomat Magazine - Diplomat Magazine | Diplomat Magazine". Archived from the original on 2012-08-04. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
  3. "ECIKS". Eciks.org. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  4. [ dead link ]
  5. Doli, Flamur (2009). Arkitektura Vernakulare e Kosovës (in Slovak). Prishtine: Association for the preservation of architectonic heritage.
  6. Ismajli, Rexhep (2011). Kosova Vështrim Monografik (in Slovak). Prishtinë: Akademia e Shkencave dhe Arteve të Kosovës.
  7. "mmph-rks.org" (PDF). mmph-rks.org. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  8. "The land of the Sleeping Beauty Cave is waking up to tourism". Travel. 2022-03-17. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  9. Stojanovic, Andrej. "Brezovica Ski Resort". Brezovica Ski Resort. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  10. "Visit Prishtina". Viewkosova.com. Retrieved 2013-02-23.
  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-11-09. Retrieved 2013-02-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-11-09. Retrieved 2013-02-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. "Rural Tourism in Novo Brdo". Tourism-novobrdo.com. Retrieved 2013-02-23.
  14. Crucified Kosovo. The Voice of Kosovo and Metohia. p. 9.
  15. 1 2 McAdam;D'Arcy; Deliso; Dragičević; Elliott; Marić; Mutić, Marika; Jayne; Chris; Peter; Mark; Vesna; Anja (2006). Western Balkans. Lonely Planet. pp. 269–280. ISBN   978-1-74104-729-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. "Statistics of Tourism, 2023". Agjensia e Statistikave të Kosovës. 18 June 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. "Special press briefing on the UNMIK Regulation No. 2005/16 on the movement of persons into and out of Kosovo and its implementation". UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo. 22 Jun 2005. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  18. "Foreign travel advice Serbia". Gov.uk. GOV.UK. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  19. "Entry, Exit & Visa Requirements - Kosovo". Travel.state.gov. US Department of State. Retrieved 20 February 2017.

Official sites

News articles

Travel publications

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kosovo</span> Country in Southeast Europe

Kosovo, officially the Republic of Kosovo, is a country in Southeast Europe with partial diplomatic recognition. Kosovo lies landlocked in the centre of the Balkans, bordered by Serbia to the north and east, North Macedonia to the southeast, Albania to the southwest, and Montenegro to the west. Most of central Kosovo sits on the plains of Metohija and the Kosovo field. The Accursed Mountains and Šar Mountains rise in the southwest and southeast, respectively. Kosovo's capital and largest city is Pristina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peja</span> Fourth largest city of Kosovo

Peja is the fourth most populous city in Kosovo and serves as the seat of the Peja Municipality and the District of Peja. It is located in the Rugova region on the eastern section of the Accursed Mountains along the Lumbardhi i Pejës River in the western part of Kosovo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prizren</span> Second largest city of Kosovo

Prizren is the second most populous city and municipality of Kosovo and seat of the eponymous municipality and district. It is located on the banks of the Prizren River between the foothills of the Sharr Mountains in southern Kosovo. Prizren experiences an oceanic climate under the influence of the surrounding mountains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Štrpce</span> Town and municipality in District of Ferizaj, Kosovo

Štrpce or Shtërpcë is a town and municipality located in the Ferizaj District in Kosovo. As of 2015, it has an estimated population of 13,630 inhabitants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">District of Pristina</span> District in Kosovo

The District of Prishtina is a district in Kosovo. Its seat is the capital city of Pristina. It consists of eight municipalities and 298 villages. According to the 2011 census, the total population of the district is 477,312.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deçan Bistrica</span> River in Kosovo

Lumbardhi i Deçanit, or Deçan Bistrica or Dečani Bistrica, is a river in Kosovo. It is a 53 km (33 mi)-long right tributary of the White Drin River, passing the western part of Kosovo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trainkos</span> National railway company of Kosovo

Trainkos is a private railway company based in Kosovo that also serves as the national rail carrier of the country. Established in 2011 alongside Infrakos, the two companies are the successors of Kosovo Railways, a public company that was split up and privatized. Trainkos offers rail service for both passengers and freight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pristina</span> Capital and largest city of Kosovo

Pristina, Prishtina or Priština is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. It is the administrative center of the eponymous municipality and district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Districts of Kosovo</span> Administrative units within the Republic of Kosovo

A District is the highest level of administrative divisions of Kosovo. The districts of Kosovo are based on the 2000 Reform of the UNMIK-Administration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Kosovo</span>

Kosovo is a landlocked country in Southeastern Europe. The country is strategically positioned in the center of the Balkan Peninsula enclosed by Montenegro to the west, Serbia to the north and east, North Macedonia to the southeast, and Albania to the southwest. It has no direct access to the Mediterranean Sea but its rivers flow into three seas, the Adriatic, Aegean and Black Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catholic Church in Kosovo</span>

The Catholic Church has a population in Kosovo of approximately 65,000 in a region of roughly 2 million people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park</span> National park in western Kosovo

Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park is a national park in the districts of Gjakovë and Pejë in western Kosovo. It encompasses 63,028 hectares (630.28 km2) of mountainous terrain, with numerous lakes, dense deciduous and coniferous forests and alpine landscapes. The park was established to protect its ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as the cultural and historical heritage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hiking in Kosovo</span>

Hiking in Kosovo started with establishment of the first hiking association in 1928, and it continued with creation of different association all around the territory which was then part of Yugoslavia. After the Kosovo War a lot was done also by the support of societies such as HikingNjeri, which have worked hard to not only organize activities, but also to expose hiking to the general public via social media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forests of Kosovo</span> Overview of the forests of Kosovo

The forests of Kosovo make up about 44.7% Agricultural land comprises 53% of Kosovo's total land area and forests 44.7% of the entire surface of the territory. Most of the forests are located in southwestern Kosovo, including the outskirts of Peja, Deçan, Istog, Junik and Gjakova and are protected by particular laws of the Kosovar Constitution. There are several types of forests in Kosovo and they are mostly represented by pinnate ones.

Monuments of Kosovo comprise all the monuments that are located in Kosovo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bazaar of Pristina</span>

The Bazaar of Prishtina, Kosovo, was the core merchandising center of the Old Prishtina since the 15th century, when it was built. It played a significant role in the physical, economic, and social development of Pristina. The Old Bazaar was destroyed during the 1950s and 1960s, following the modernization slogan of "Destroy the old, build the new". In its place, buildings of Kosovo Assembly, Municipality of Prishtina, PTT, and Brotherhood and Unity socialist square were built. Nowadays, instead of PTT building resides the Government of Kosovo building. Only few historical buildings, such as the Bazaar Mosque and ruins of the Bazaar Hammam have remained from the Bazaar complex. Since then, Prishtina has lost part of its identity, and its cultural heritage has been scattered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Historical monuments in Pristina</span>

Historical monuments in Pristina are made up of 21 monuments out of a total of 426 protected monuments all over Kosovo. A large number of these monuments date back to the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. Since 1945, the Yugoslav authorities followed the idea of constructing a modern Pristina by relying in the urban development motto “destroy the old, build the new” and this resulted with major changes in the structure of the buildings, their function and their surrounding environment. However, numerous types of monuments have been preserved, including four mosques, a restored orthodox church, an Ottoman bath, a public fountain, a clock tower, several traditional houses as well as European-influenced architecture buildings such as the Museum of Kosovo. These symbolize the historical and cultural character of Pristina as it was developed throughout centuries in the spirit of conquering empires.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Pristina</span> Aspect of life in Pristina

Pristina's transport forms the hub of road, rail and air networks in Kosovo. The city's buses, trains and planes together all serve to maintain a high level of connectivity between Pristina many different districts and beyond. An analysis by the Traffic Police has shown that from 240,000 cars registered in Kosovo, around 100,000 cars are from the District of Pristina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tourism in Pristina</span>

Tourism in Pristina attracted 36,186 foreign visitors in 2012, which represents 74.2% of all visitors that visited Kosovo during that year. Foreign visitors mostly come from countries like Albania, Turkey, Germany, United States, Slovenia and North Macedonia, but also from other countries. Some of the most visited places in Pristina are Lake Batllava and Gadime Marble Cave, which are also among the most visited places in Kosovo.

The architecture of Kosovo dates back to the Neolithic period and includes the Copper, Bronze and Iron Ages, Antiquity and the Medieval period. It has been influenced by the presence of different civilizations and religions as evidenced by the structures which have survived to this day. Local builders have combined building techniques of conquering empires with the materials at hand and the existing conditions to develop their own varieties of dwellings.