British media about Vlora Airport: Why tourists should travel to the Albanian Riviera

The British media "Express" has devoted an article to Albania and the growing tourist opportunities it offers. According to the British media, with the commissioning of the Vlora Airport, the country will turn into a tourist spot especially for the British.
Express article
Albania has remained the Balkan Peninsula's best-kept secret for years, with many tourists ignoring the country as a holiday destination in favor of the more popular Croatia. But in recent years, the Albanian Riviera has seen an increase in visitors - including Britons - who have discovered that its turquoise waters, sandy beaches and beautiful scenery can be experienced at a very cheap price.
And this destination may soon welcome many more vacationers as it prepares to launch its third international airport, which will serve one of the most beautiful cities on the Albanian Riviera.
This city, Vlora, has become particularly popular among tourists thanks to its rocky coastline, beautiful beaches, exceptional food influenced by Italian cuisine and rich history.
The establishment of Vlora International Airport will surely provide another reason for tourists to travel to this riviera, as it will shorten the travel time from the airport to the coast. Currently, the closest airport to Vlora is in the country's capital, Tirana, at a distance of about 67 miles.
A direct flight from London to Tirana takes just over three hours and can cost less than £100 even in high season. Plans for Vlora International Airport were first announced by the Albanian government in May 2017. Four years later, Mabetex International - a group specializing in large-scale civil engineering - said it was planning to invest more than 88 million £ (€103.5 million) for the first phase of the airport's construction, including a runway and terminal.
In the summer of 2023, it was reported that the airport would be ready for departure by April 2024, but the opening has apparently been pushed back to March 2025, while the infrastructure is said to be completed by December this year.
The new airport will reportedly include, among other structures, a 1.9-mile runway, as well as a 12.43-square-mile terminal, an operations tower and a fire brigade building.