On Saturday, Albania’s Minister of Tourism and Environment, Mirela Kumbaro, presented the National Tourism Strategy 2024-2030, outlining the pillars of sustainable tourism development and the ambitious goals the country aims to achieve by 2030. The strategy focuses on transforming Albania into a more formalized and diversified tourism destination.

Why is this important: The strategy sets Albania on a path toward significant economic growth through tourism, aiming for a 138% increase in overnight stays and a fourfold rise in government revenues from tourism by 2030. These objectives reflect the country’s push to formalize the sector and boost its global competitiveness.

Key details:

• Six pillars of development:
  Kumbaro explained that the strategy is built on six key pillars:
  • Investments
  • Fiscal and regulatory policies
  • Destination management
  • Tourism product development
  • Destination marketing
  • Capacity building

These pillars are based on three core principles: social, environmental, and economic sustainability.

• Quantitative goals:
  By 2030, Albania aims to see:
  • A 138% rise in overnight stays
  • A 65% increase in young people pursuing higher education in tourism
  • A 26% increase in the average length of tourist stays in the country

• Regional Focus:
  The strategy divides Albania into six tourist regions, each with unique offerings:
  • Adriatic coast: Focused on sun, beaches, and cultural heritage sites, with a push for event-driven tourism.
  • Northern region: Highlighting mountain tourism and destinations like Valbona and Theth, which have transformed into major attractions.
  • Tirana region: Positioned as a dynamic metropolitan hub, blending history, modern architecture, and a vibrant event scene.
  • Central region: Home to natural treasures, cultural heritage, and gastronomy, with key destinations like Elbasan and Belsh.
  • Southern inland region: Known for national parks, archaeological sites, and historic bazaars, including Gjirokastër and Korçë.
  • Ionian coast: Known for its amazing beaches, but also for its cultural heritage sites.

• Infrastructure & Sustainable Growth:
  Kumbaro highlighted ongoing infrastructure improvements to enhance access to remote areas, such as the Albanian Alps National Park. This focus on sustainability ensures that tourism development benefits local communities and preserves Albania’s natural and cultural heritage.

The Minister also announced another decision that aims to solve one of the most spoken about problems in Albania’s beaches. Hotels will be the only ones eligible to apply to manage beach stations whose size will be in proportion to the number of rooms they have. A new criterion has also been added: For every 1 km of beach, there will be a minimum of 300 meters of public beach. Until know Albania has suffered by massive occupation of its beaches by private businesses making it virtually impossible for beach goers to go to the beach without paying sometimes exorbitant prices.

Looking ahead: The strategy, set to go for public consultation next week, signals Albania’s long-term commitment to Destination Albania 2030, a vision designed to ensure that every project undertaken today will contribute to the country’s sustainable tourism future.