Ukraine and Albania on Friday adopted a mutual visa-free policy to boost their economic cooperation and tourism, Ukrainian authorities said.

The agreement on lifting the visa requirements was signed by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin and his Albanian counterpart Ditmir Bushati in Tirana, said the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.

The visa waiver deal allows for multiple visits, permitting a visa-free stay for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

According to the Ukrainian government, the new visa policy is aimed at promoting the development of the Ukrainian-Albanian partnership, boosting economic ties and intensifying people-to-people contacts and tourism.

Kiev hopes that the agreement would help Ukraine obtain a visa-free regime with the European Union.

As the situation in Ukraine is improving, Kiev is trying to revive its tourism sector, which plunged by 15-fold in the last two years due to the crisis, with an eased visa policy.

Last year, only 478 Albanian citizens visited Ukraine.

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