Starting in 2025, only hotels will be granted permits for beach use, specifically for placing umbrellas and sunbeds. This decision excludes all other entities, such as restaurants and beach bars, from offering such services, aiming to better regulate Albania’s coastal spaces and return as much of the country’s beaches as possible to the public.

Why is this significant

Despite a highly successful summer season in 2023, where Albania welcomed 8.5 million tourists from January to August—a huge number for a population of around 2.4 million residents—the season was marred by various issues, including the lack of public beaches. This led the Government to overhaul the management of coastal areas, ensuring better accessibility and organization for visitors.

What was said

In his weekly podcast, Prime Minister Edi Rama announced that, beginning in 2025, local municipalities will manage beach spaces and set price ceilings for umbrellas and sunbeds, ensuring affordability for all types of tourists. The goal is for Albania to offer elite, year-round tourism by 2030. A significant part of this vision includes a major private investment in a ski resort in Korça, designed by a prestigious Austrian firm.

Albania is home to a variety of tourist destinations beyond the Ionian coast in the south. The country also boasts mountainous regions in the Albanian Alps in the north and breathtaking landscapes in the southeast, making it a top destination for millions of tourists. Albania’s appeal is enhanced not only by its natural beauty but also by its hospitality, cuisine, and affordable prices, all of which have been highly appreciated in the last decade.