An international scandal over “tourist migration” may erupt between Italy and Albania. The Prime Minister of the last Edi Rama published two very ironic photos, dedicated to how Italian tourists run from the Apennines in search of affordable vacations because vacationing in Italy has become too expensive for them.
The minister hinted at the arrival in Italy of the Vlera ship in 1991, on which about 20,000 Albanian migrants arrived in Bari, Italy.
“Tourists? We are like migrants in 1991,” the minister commented, showing two photos as an illustration – the first one shows the actual “Vlore” with the caption: “Albanians arrive in Italy, 1991”, the other shows an equally full ship, which is already heading in the opposite direction, with the caption “Italians go to Albania on vacation.” The photo is also accompanied by emoticons and a comment in Albanian: “Wait, wait, you haven’t seen anything yet.”
The bottom line is that many Italians have chosen Albania for their holiday this year because it is cheaper than other Mediterranean destinations. Although officials deny it.