Impact of COVID-19 on travel agencies in Tirana, Albania

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unexpected halt in international travel and has had an important impact on the tourism industry. For developing countries like Albania, the tourism sector is a major source of employment, government revenue, and foreign exchange earnings. This study aims to determine how pandemic has affected the travel industry. Specifically, the identification of the problems, the extent of mitigation related to COVID-19, and the challenges of travel agencies in Tirana. Using an online questionnaire, we assess the implications of the COVID-19 crisis on tour travel agencies. The main tool for the collection of data was a close-ended questionnaire, addressed to 130 agencies that are operating in Tirana. The questionnaire was transmitted using Yet Another Mail, a program that tracks the responses. For the analysis of the data, we use the SPSS software. The results indicate that the consequences of COVID-19 have affected travel demand and consequently travel agencies' revenues. The government's supportive measures to these firms have had not a significant impact. It is recommended that the relevant ministry, before taking the measures of support for tourism industry, should conduct studies about the effects of pandemic. Lastly, the results obtained will help policymakers and travel agency owners make necessary strategic and operational decisions.