The special article follows the meeting at the International Tourism Fair FITUR in Madrid, highlighting Albania’s growing role on the international tourism map.

The article includes an interview with Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja who presented the vision for the sustainable development of tourism, increasing the quality of services and expanding cooperation with international partners.

“This evaluation by a prestigious European media organ confirms the growing interest in Albania as an authentic, competitive destination with extraordinary potential for the future”, Gonxhja referred to the article in the Spanish media.

Albania’s stand at the International Tourism Fair FITUR 2026 attracted high interest from visitors and tour operators from different countries of the world, reflecting the increased international attention to Albania as a tourist destination.

Albania’s participation in FITUR 2026 is considered an important opportunity to promote Albanian tourism in international markets, to strengthen cooperation with tour operators and to increase the number of foreign visitors to the country.

According to the latest data published by the Institute of Statistics (INSTAT), 12,466,038 foreign citizens visited our country last year. This figure marks an annual increase of 6.6% compared to 2024, proving that Albania’s growing trend as a tourist destination is consolidating. /e.i/j.p/p.s./

Albania’s Ambassador to Japan, Ermal Muça, shared the article on Friday, saying the publication coincides with Flag Day and represents an important boost to Albania’s international profile in one of Asia’s best-known newspapers.

The Japan Times article reviews Albania’s state-building journey, its diplomatic role and its potential as a cultural, economic and tourism destination. It also underscores the long-standing relationship between the two countries and the expansion of cooperation in recent years.

Muça said the feature reflects “a significant appreciation for Albania” and extended holiday greetings to Albanians worldwide.

Article by The Japan Times entitled: Albania, gateway to Europe, partner to Japan:

This year, as Albania marks the 113th anniversary of its independence, we also celebrate the long friendship between Albania and Japan – a partnership built on mutual respect, shared democratic values and a common vision for sustainable prosperity. Despite geographic distance, our two countries have consistently found common ground in cooperation and trust.

Diplomatic relations were established in 1922, laying the foundation for ties that have grown steadily, particularly in recent decades. The partnership entered a new phase with Prime Minister Edi Rama’s visit to Tokyo in 2023, during which both governments reaffirmed their commitment to deeper cooperation.

Albania is currently in a decisive phase of its EU integration process. Since the opening of accession negotiations with the European Union in 2022, the country has continued aligning with the EU’s legal and institutional framework. This progress brings Albania closer to full EU membership and strengthens its position as an investment-friendly destination for global partners.

For Japanese companies, Albania offers unique access to a growing market governed by EU regulatory standards, ensuring transparency, legal certainty and access to the wider region. Opportunities are expanding in energy, infrastructure and technology -areas where Japanese innovation and Albanian potential can deliver tangible results.

Since joining NATO in 2009, Albania has been an active contributor to Euro-Atlantic security, reinforcing the global security architecture. Shared values provide a strong basis for expanding cooperation in strategic sectors such as renewable energy, cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing.

Recent initiatives have given new momentum to economic cooperation. A visit by the Albania–Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry to Tokyo, followed by a business mission to Albania from the Japan External Trade Organization, has strengthened links between interested companies in both countries. Meanwhile, regular diplomatic consultations – most recently in Tokyo in March – continue to build trust and open new areas of collaboration.

Trade between the two countries continues to develop. Albania exports agricultural and fishery products, especially seafood, and imports high-quality Japanese food products, machinery and vehicles. Japan’s official development assistance has supported major projects in infrastructure, education and environmental protection, giving concrete form to the bilateral partnership.

Looking ahead, Albania remains committed to fostering a transparent, dynamic and welcoming business environment that encourages Japanese companies to invest and grow. A young, educated workforce and a strategic location make Albania an emerging hub in South-Eastern Europe, where cooperation and innovation can thrive.

A century after our first diplomatic exchange, Albania and Japan continue to show how shared vision and mutual respect can turn distance into partnership. I am confident that the next century of cooperation will be defined by deeper collaboration, greater prosperity and enduring friendship for both nations and future generations.

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The first to debunk the report was Prime Minister Edi Rama, who clarified that no such “disturbing”’ phone call transpired between him and the director of RAI 3.

“Rather than a tense exchange, the communication with the RAI director merely involved a request for a dialogue regarding the program’s perceived scandalously slanderous content,” PM Rama clarified in a statement.

The Italian media outlet has promptly reacted following Rama’s clarification, revising their reporting, acknowledging the need for correction and removing the alleged “disturbing phone call” reference from its revised article.

RAI confirmed Prime Minister Rama’s account, emphasizing that his communication with the RAI director was not confrontational but rather a request to be heard.

In their revised report “La Reppublica” clarifies that the RAI director “received a message from Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama requesting to discuss the episode of Report concerning the Italy-Albania agreement on immigration.”

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Beyond its dazzling coastline and wealth of historical and archaeological treasures, Albania has a host of protected natural areas, making it an ideal rural tourism destination.

Speaking at ITB Berlin Panel “Quo vadis, rural destinations?” the Minister of Tourism and the Environment, Mirela Kumbaro, called attention to the fact that a third of Albania’s territory is made up of mountains, rivers, and forests.

-Full article:

Albania’s rural charms: Nature’s abundance awaits

Beyond its dazzling coastline and wealth of historical and archaeological treasures, Albania has a host of protected natural areas, making it an ideal rural tourism destination

Speaking at ITB Berlin Panel “Quo vadis, rural destinations?” Albania’s Minister of Tourism and the Environment, Mirela Kumbaro, called attention to the fact that a third of Albania’s territory is made up of mountains, rivers, and forests. Albania saw 10.1 million visitors last year and started the first two months of 2024 with 55% more tourists than during the same period in 2023.

However, when Kumbaro asked the audience at the panel discussion if they had already visited Albania, few hands went up. “This means that Albania is a destination to discover,” she confirmed. Highlighting Albania’s singular appeal as a rural tourism destination, Ms Kumbaro mentioned not only the country’s vast expanse of natural and preserved spaces, she also highlighted examples such as the Vjosa River, the first wild river in Europe to become a national park.

With a large percentage of its territory occupied by protected areas, Albania offers huge potential for tourists seeking natural adventures such as hiking and river rafting. But as Ms Kumbaro noted, city and rural tourism are not competing with each other.

“We are not dividing Albanian tourism into cities and rural areas. They have to co-exist,” she said.

Combining different kinds of visits and moving between cities, the seaside, and natural areas is not difficult in a country where nothing is too far away.

“You don’t need to travel hours and hours from one destination to another,” the Minister asserted.

“You can get from the peak of a snow-capped mountain to one of the most beautiful beaches in Albania in just half an hour,” Tourism Minister added.

Illustrating how important preservation of its natural sites is for Albania and how that links to tourism, Kumbaro remarked on the fact that her ministry covers both areas, the environment and tourism.

“It’s like an instrument for checks and balances,” she affirmed, to make sure development is sustainable. Ensuring the right balance between one of the most important sectors of Albania’s economy and the environment is “an absolute condition for a small country like Albania” she said, observing also that with 100% renewable energy the country is an example of sustainable practices.

To develop its rural tourism offering, Albania looked to Italy, Ms Kumbaro said, “not to copy any of their models, but to gain inspiration from their best practices.”

Summing up the variety the country presents, Ms Kumbaro compared Albania’s diverse tourist offerings, including its vast rural tourism options, to a table loaded with so many delicious dishes that it is almost difficult to decide which one to choose. “Everything you need is here in Albania,” she asserted.

Albania’s National Tourism Agency came up with its “Albania All Senses” slogan, Kumbaro explained, after carefully following comments on social media from Albania’s visitors last year.

“Everyone was talking about a new experience and about the senses,” she said, and the destination thus chose a slogan that invites visitors to experience the country through all of their senses.

Kumbaro specifically identified the sense of taste, mentioning the national drink, Rakia, Albanian mountain tea, and Albania’s complete lack of what she called “food for tourists”: “We just have real Albanian local food.”

Gearing up for next year’s edition, Albania signed an agreement with ITB Berlin to be the Official Host Country ITB Berlin 2025 on 6 March at the show. The agreement was signed between Minister of Tourism and the Environment of Albania, Mirela Kumbara and Messe Berlin CEO Dr Mario Tobias.

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The Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro on Thursday shared the story published by the British media earlier this month, saying that Albania is becoming an interesting tourist destination in its every corner.

“Gjirokaster, the summer season in Lunxheri, the thermal baths in Bënjë, Voskopoje churches and Tirana’s modern architecture are just a few of the many attractions and destinations presented to the British public, underlining that in addition to the stunning beaches, Albania is an interesting destination in every season and in every corner to visit,” Kumbaro said.

“I scramble up the steep, hilly path, pausing only to take in the panoramic views, before emerging at the summit of Leusë, a mountain village in Gjirokastër County, southern Albania. Here I find the formerly secret, orthodox St Mary’s Church with religious frescoes dating to the 1800s. The only sounds are the crowing of a cockerel and the clatter of goats’ hooves on the mountainous terrain,” Chloe Govan wrote on the “inews”.

Albania’s natural beauties, cultural and historic heritage sites are increasingly attracting attention of the leading international media.

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Through the beloved descriptions of the journalist Francesca Masotti, “Gambero Rosso” lists the 10 restaurants that must be visited in Albania to taste the best of the Mediterranean flavors, fantastic combinations, to try the indigenous wines, artisanal products, Albanian appetizers and liqueurs. I did it myself”

The prime minister considered the article “an excellent culinary journey between farms, inns, vineyards as well as well-known names of chefs who with these assets of ours further perfect the Albanian hospitality by laying tables uninterruptedly for the guests who already come from all sides of the globe”.

“Gambero Rosso” wrote that Albania, the Balkan country, is the ideal destination to spend summer (and other) holidays.

“It is close to Italy, well connected and full of surprises. It is also the ideal destination for a gastronomic journey. From north to south there are many restaurants, farmhouses and taverns where you can enjoy typical, delicious dishes and contemporary reinterpretations”, wrote “Gamberi Rosso”, while also listing “10 addresses not to be missed in the Land of Eagles”. /m.m /p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama shared today in social media the article published by the French newspaper which states that, “It is high time to discover this original and cheap destination”.

Rama emphasized that, “More than 60 thousand French visitors have chosen Albania from January to July this year, a full 56% more than the same period last year”.

In the article published by the French “L’Est républicain” it is read that, “Albania is amazing. Where the sense of welcome lights up people’s smiles, in the complete guide from the Northern Alps and Shkodra, to go from Tirana to Gjirokastër, to Butrint and the coast, in a unique walk where in a short time you find everything to pass fantastic holidays”.

“Albania is a mountainous country (70% of the surface is made up of mountains). The Dinaric Alps, in the north of the country, culminate at 2700 m in height. They still stand wild and little frequented. Theth National Park is one of the must visit places. With the mountains, waterfalls, caves and villages like that of Theth, with architectural values”, it is read, among other things, in the article of “L’Est républicain”.

The French newspaper also describes the Alps, Lake Koman, the cities of Berat, Shkodra, Theth, Gjirokastra, Korça, Butrint and Tirana. /k.s/p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama shared today in the social media the article published by the “Washington Post”, which promotes Albania as the most complete package of sustainable tourism, instead of well-known, but also crowded Mediterranean destinations.

Rama wrote that in the article the tourists are invited to try a unique experience along the Albanian coast with crystal-clear water, ancient cities and mountains which are idyllic for hiking and cycling.

“Here is the media giant ‘Washington Post’, making an echo to touristic Albania, which is being suggested to readers to try as the best alternative even compared to the super-famous neighboring Mykonos, inviting them to try the unique experience along the Albanian coast with crystal clear water beaches, ancient cities and mountains perfect for natural sports as the most complete package of sustainable tourism, instead of the well-known, but also crowded Mediterranean destinations”, wrote Rama./m.m/p.s./

The ambassador writes:

“The media duly covered the contents of a noteworthy event, i.e. the ceremony on the appointment of the new Archbishop of Tirana and Durrës, Mons. Arjan Dodaj, in presence of the highest institutional and political actors of the country. Regardless of being a believer or an atheist, or embracing one religion instead of another, the exercise of pastoral activity profoundly affects the social fabric of the territory. To put it in numbers, Mons. Dodaj will exercise his ministry in an area with over 1.5 million Albanians. His appointment, the appointment of heads of other religious confessions, represents an occurrence of national importance and, therefore, its coverage by the free press is more than appropriate.

The contribution I wish to synthetically provide– with a cool head – is about the power of the unspoken and of images. The embrace stilled in film between the Archbishop and the other high representatives of religious communities is to me as worthy as the homilies, if not more. On the one hand, this is a glimpse of Mons. Arjan’s culture, of standing together in diversity, collaborating, following this truth that wants us to be part of the same human mosaic as brothers. For no man is whole by himself. And, in faith, one nourishes creation, without expecting reciprocation.

In the cathedral, last Saturday, one could feel the warmth of this extraordinary people, just like the bouquet thrown in Banski’s painting in Bethlehem. One could also feel the vision of Scripture, of the Bible, in the case of Christians, as an instrument of reconciliation and liberation of people. The poor are the ones who teach us how to be liberated. The poor, who are not to be counted, but embraced,

In a world where politics often feeds off slogans, such as “zero tolerance”, where the fair of intolerance dictates the rate of enjoyment of TV programs, where the fear of losing one’s own identity exasperates the particular, that embrace among the heads of religious communities reminded us of the greatness of the Albanian people, who see no reason for profound division. I am wondering whether this is not an inherent Albanian trait, before any religious dimension. The tolerance shown during their everyday lives is exemplary for those many corners of the world where there is an illusion that the solution to cultural crises is to be sought in the withdrawal to one’s identity roots. It is an example that deserves to be praised aloud, without ever taking it for granted”./p.s./