The Importance of Sustainable Development of Travel and Tourism Industry in the Turnover of Foreign Visitors: The Case of Kosovo

Abstract

Purpose: The main purpose of this paper is to give an overview regarding the importance of travel and tourism industry, its development and sustainability. Given that the development of this industry contributes to the overall development of the economies of different countries, it is intended to present the importance of sustainable development of the travel and tourism industry in the turnover of foreign visitors in Kosovo. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research is based on secondary data obtained from quarterly reports of hotel statistics published by the Kosovo Agency of Statistics. These data refer to the number of foreign visitors by purpose of trip for which they have taken the initiative to come to Kosovo. Overall, a comparison has been made in the years 2017-2019 and the trend of the number of foreign visitors has been presented. Findings: Trips undertaken for the purpose of visiting friends and relatives are the highest in number. The number of foreign visitors has marked an increasing trend during the years 2017-2019. Reports have shown that foreign visitors entering Kosovo came from different countries, respectively registered during the crossing of border points. The highest figures were recorded by visitors from Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia, Germany, Switzerland, and Montenegro. Practical Implications: This paper clearly and concisely presents the importance of sustainable development of the travel and tourism industry, with emphasis on its impact on the economic development of countries. Originality/Value: The paper presents the personal research of the authors with their clear intention to provide a theoretical overview, illustrated with the analysis of secondary data, of the topic on which the discussion extends.