NONE 20260316070716728 wseas/wseas content-registration-form+ja@crossref.org content-registration-form WSEAS TRANSACTIONS ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT 1790-5079 2224-3496 Ani Mbrica Department of Business and Finance, Faculty of Business and Law, Tirana Business University College, Rezervat e Shtetit Street, Lundër, Tiranë, ALBANIA Mirjam Dibra Tourism Department, Faculty of Economics, University of Shkodra "Luigj Gurakuqi", Square 2 Prill, Shkodër, ALBANIA Ermira Qosja Management Department, Faculty of Business, Aleksander Moisiu University, Durrës, University Campus, Miqësia Street, Spitallë, Durrës, ALBANIA Nevila Çinaj Tourism Department, Faculty of Business, Aleksander Moisiu University, Durrës, University Campus, Miqësia Street, Spitallë, Durrës, ALBANIA Enida Pulaj (Brakaj) Business Department, Faculty of Economy, University of Vlora "Ismail Qemali", L.Pavarësia. Kosova Street, Vlorë, ALBANIA Albania offers spectacular natural beauty and a profound cultural inheritance, making it a booming destination for domestic and international tourists. This article examines and contrasts the tourism segments of three main coastal destinations in Albania: Vlora, Shkodër and Durrës. .It aims to identify differences in tourist typology based on travel motivation, travel behaviour, and key factors influencing the choice of destination. The research employs the methods of Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and cluster analysis on a sample of 653 visitors who participated in a structured online survey conducted in Albanian (targeting visitors from Albanian-speaking countries) and came from Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, and the Republic of North Macedonia. Factor analysis suggests that there are mutual expectations of the quality of service and common motivational themes (leisure and cultural exploration) across the three countries. (It is evidenced that) Durrës has a cultural-social orientation, Vlorë emphasises nature, and Shkodër has a more complex and multidimensional motivational framework. Such findings suggest that tourism strategies should be tailored to accommodate the unique character of each place while maintaining consistent service quality. For all destinations, cluster analysis separates two major tourist segments: (1) high engagement as well as premium tourists who seek a wide range of experiences, and (2) low engagement and goal-oriented tourists with narrow preferences. The services offered by the coast remain the primary driver, despite the diverse characteristics of the destination. Dual-tier service models and targeted marketing strategies for experience- and efficiency-oriented tourists are brought out by the findings. 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