TIRANA, July 10 /ATA/ Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania needed to enter a new phase of tourism development, arguing that preserving existing standards alone would not be sufficient to strengthen the country’s competitiveness as a tourist destination.
Addressing the “Urban Renaissance 2.0: New Energy, New Ideas and Greater Ambition for Albania 2030” event, Rama said greater investment was needed in modern transport, urban infrastructure and business support to meet the demands of a rapidly expanding tourism industry.
Rama acknowledged that the programme’s emphasis on Local Identity Museums might prompt questions at first glance, but said such initiatives were central to Albania’s long-term tourism ambitions.
“At first, it may seem surprising that the programme begins with Local Identity Museums. People might wonder what this has to do with development. But we cannot expect Albania to move up the ranks as a tourist destination simply by preserving what we already have and settling for our current position,” he said.
“The category we fall into today is a category that we absolutely must leave behind, because otherwise mass tourism will bring us down as a tourist destination. Meanwhile, diversifying our portfolio of offerings is a necessity in order to expand beyond the entire content of that group of tourists — the 12 million who enter and leave [the country] — but I am referring to those who stay here, spend time here, and consume our offerings. Therefore, everything that was said must be taken seriously and must be done. Museums of Local Identities are one element,” said Rama.
The Prime Minister said that the government will establish a joint company involving the Albanian Development Fund and local municipalities to introduce next-generation electric buses, initially targeting cities with the highest levels of tourist activity.
Rama added that expanding parking capacity in urban areas will be another priority, with plans to develop both underground and above-ground parking facilities.
“Modern transportation is another crucial component. For this reason, we have started the process of creating a joint company between the Albanian Development Fund and local municipalities. The company will initially focus on supplying municipalities with the highest tourist demand with a new generation of electric buses, helping to address increased mobility needs, particularly during the peak tourist season. Gradually, we will also work toward establishing regional transport links and developing an integrated, intermodal transport system.”
“Parking infrastructure is another key component of the program. We must now move into a new phase of developing parking facilities in our cities, including both underground and above-ground options, following the various models presented here. We believe the program is fully prepared and ready to be implemented,” Rama said.
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