Albania’s Hospitality-Tourism High School adopts Swiss-certified curriculum

This academic year, Albania’s Hospitality-Tourism High School has adopted a certified curriculum from the EHL Hospitality Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland, renowned as one of the world’s top institutions for hospitality education. The partnership aims to equip a new generation of skilled professionals to meet the demands of Albania’s rapidly growing tourism industry, as part of the country’s vision for 2030.

Why is this important: The sharp rise in tourist numbers over the past five years has highlighted a pressing need for skilled workers in Albania’s hospitality and tourism sectors. While demand for high-quality services remains unmet, business owners in accommodations, bars, and restaurants face labor shortages. To address this, the government has been promoting vocational education as a career path for youth, encouraging them to join professional schools to fill this gap.

Context: Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, during a visit to the reformed Hospitality-Tourism High School, emphasized that improving service quality is critical for the future of Albania’s tourism industry. Recognizing tourism as a key driver of employment and economic growth, both parents and students have increasingly turned to vocational schools.

In the current academic year, 4,450 students enrolled in professional schools, a significant jump compared to five years ago when enrollment numbers were negligible. This shift reflects the growing awareness of tourism’s importance and the need for specialized training to support the sector’s development.

What’s next: It is hoped the EHL-certified curriculum will play a positive role in preparing Albania’s workforce to meet international standards in hospitality and ensure the sector’s long-term success.