“From January to early October, Gjirokastër has welcomed over half a million tourists – a significant increase compared to previous years,” Mayor Flamur Golemi told Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA). “In September and the first days of October alone, the city saw 56,000 visitors.”

The cobblestone streets of the UNESCO-listed city have echoed with dozens of languages this year, Golemi added, noting that tourists from Spain, Italy, Greece, Germany, France, and the United States top the list of foreign arrivals.

Often referred to as “the stone city,” Gjirokastër has emerged as a prominent destination in Albania’s expanding tourism market. Alongside its historic architecture and cultural landmarks, the city has seen growing interest in surrounding villages and rural areas.

“This summer, we’ve seen increased visitor numbers not just in the city center, but also in nearby regions like Lunxhëria and Cepo,” Golemi said.

Museums remain a key draw. Golemi said 54,000 tourists visited Gjirokastër’s cultural heritage sites this year, including the Cold War Tunnel, the Weapons Museum, the Ethnographic Museum, and the Kadare House Museum – up from the previous year.

“These museums not only attract visitors but also introduce them to the city’s rich history, traditions, and notable figures,” Golemi said, adding that improving museum infrastructure and enriching exhibits remain a municipal priority.

The rise in tourism has also spurred local economic activity, with investments in road infrastructure, agriculture, and rural development helping support visitor growth.

“Tourism has become a driving force for the local economy, both in the city and rural areas,” Golemi said. “It creates jobs, generates income, and has encouraged locals to invest in accommodation, including guesthouses and boutique hotels.”

New hospitality establishments have opened across the municipality this year, blending traditional architecture with modern standards, offering visitors a distinctive cultural experience, he added.

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Mayor of Gjirokastra Flamur Golemi posted today in the social media a video of passionate people jumping by parachute.

“Parachuting at Gjirokastra Aerodrome, extraordinary emotions for those who have tried and one more attraction for those who visit the city”, wrote Golemi.

The restore to operation of the more than 80-year-old aerodrome of Gjirokastra has diversified the tourist offer in the stone city which is visited by local and foreign tourists.

Gjirokastra Aerodrome has a history of almost a century. Regular flights in it officially started in 1929 with the airline Tirana-Gjirokastra-Tirana. The flights to Gjirokastra were for the transport of passengers, mail, flights for military, commercial, diplomatic purposes, even in cases of civil emergencies.

The stone city is now part of the World Cultural Heritage List under the Protection of UNESCO, making Gjirokastra one of the most important centers of the year-round cultural tourism.

From January until now, over 200,000 local and foreign tourists have visited Gjirokastra and its surroundings, registering among the highest numbers in years. /k.s/p.s./

Mayor of Gjirokastra Flamur Golemi said today that, “The newest project in cooperation with the National Youth Agency for the reconstruction of the cinema of Gjirokastra has already been materialized”.

“It’s time to give the city the cinema it deserves”, he said, while sharing photos from this construction site in the social media.

In December 2022, Mayor Golemi signed the contract for the reconstruction of the cinema of Gjirokastra with the National Youth Agency.

The signing of the contract came after winning grants from the second Call for Youth Project Proposals, which is financed with the support of the Minister of State for Youth and Children, through the National Youth Agency.

The municipalities of Durrës, Dibra, Lushnja and Kamza were also winners of the grants of the second Call for Youth Project Proposals.

Last year, there were completed the works for reconstruction of the “Zihni Sako” theater in the stone city. Now, the reconstructed cinema is expected to be added to the mosaic of cultural institutions in the stone city, giving an impetus to artistic life in Gjirokastra. /m.m/r.e/p.s./

Mayor of Gjirokastra Flamur Golemi said today to ATA that, “There is an increasing trend of the influx of tourists in the municipality of Gjirokastra. Since the beginning of the year, there were about 10 thousand tourists who visited the stone city and its surroundings.”

“The most frequented places are the characteristic Bazaar, the castle of Argjiro, the characteristic houses of Zekas, Skëndulajs, the Viroi Natural Park or the Archaeological Park of Antigone, places of worship and others” said Golemi.

Mayor Golemi said that the natural values ​​and agri-tourism resources in the villages also attract the attention of the tourists.

The Municipality of Gjirokastra is organizing a rich calendar of cultural and artistic activities, promotion of folk values, tradition, etc.

“All the structures of the municipality have got involved in the measures for the tourist season for a clean environment and the revitalization of the stone city. Investments in revitalization of the Ethnographic Museum and the Kadare House are worth mentioning”, underlined Golemi.

Tourists visiting the stone city are always amazed by the complete tourist package offered by the city and the surrounding area. Gjirokastra is increasingly ranked in the elite cities of Albanian tourism, attracting an ever-increasing number of tourists.

Known for its characteristic houses, stone roofs and white walls, Gjirokastra is one of the main tourist spots in the country. The stone castle and the park of Antigone continue to be the most favorite to be visited by local and foreign tourist groups along their guides and trips in the Gjirokastra area. /k.s//a.a/p.s./

The Ethnographic Museum of Weapons, Kadare Museum and others enrich the tourist guide of the stone city, making it more interesting and diverse for visitors.

Mayor of Gjirokastra Flamur Golemi told ATA that, “Ismail Kadare’s house, the Ethnographic Museum, the Weapons Museum, the Museum of the Seven Penitentiary Prison and others will have a different structure and appearance very soon. We have a project that has in its core a new concept of these museums, enrich the relics fund available to visitors and standardize them based on contemporary requirements, for the development of sustainable tourism”.

Mayor Golemi added that, “Gjirokastra city is a real museum in stone in terms of values ​​and cultural heritage while being a UNESCO city.”

According to him, the promotion of these values ​​will turn them into important resources for development of tourism.

Museums in the city of Gjirokastra welcome local and foreign visitors in every season. The museums are important centres for the promotion and development of tourism. During 2020, about 8 thousand tourists, mainly locals, but also from different countries visited the museums./k.s/ /j.p/p.s./

The news of Golemi’s death was given by his son through social networks.

During communism, in 1979, Golemi was sentenced with 5 years in prison after celebrating with a cake the legendary victory of Cassius Clay against George Foreman in 1974, in Kinshasa, Congo.

After the 1990’s, Golemi is distinguished for sports commenting of the boxing matches and his great voice, being undoubtedly the best boxing commentator in the country with the “Grand Master” award well-deserved from the President./p.s./