TIRANA, April 15 /ATA/ – The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Blendi Gonxhja said the Albanian diaspora is a key driver of development and should play a greater role in national decision-making.
Speaking at the fourth Diaspora Summit in Tirana on Wednesday, Gonxhja described the diaspora as a “living force” across economic, social, cultural and diplomatic spheres, rather than simply a legacy of migration.
Gonxhja said relations with the diaspora require a more strategic, structured and inclusive approach, moving beyond symbolic ties to create concrete mechanisms that enable active participation in policymaking, development and national projects.
He highlighted the growing role of cultural diplomacy as a key policy tool, calling for it to become a central pillar of Albania’s National Culture Strategy for 2026 – 2030.
He called for a more strategic and structured approach to engagement, moving beyond symbolic ties to enable concrete participation in policymaking and national projects.
Gonxhja highlighted cultural diplomacy as a central policy tool and said tourism – accounting for over 22% of GDP – is a key pillar in promoting Albania internationally.
He also pointed to rising visitor numbers, including from Kosovo, and stressed the importance of leveraging diaspora expertise as a bridge for knowledge transfer and long-term development.
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