Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in August between the Ministry of Tourism and Environment and GTSC, Albania will host a ‘Sustainable Tourism Conference’ in Tirana on December 6, an event that will feature participation from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and various private sector and industry associations.

“Albania has a unique approach to tourism that’s even reflected in our policies. We are one of the few countries where tourism and environmental management are governed by the same ministry, creating an internal check-and-balance system. Our goal is to develop tourism as the major sector of our economy, but we’re equally committed to doing it sustainably, caring for our natural surroundings. The UN Tourism Barometer shows Albania leading Europe in the rise of international visitors. Meanwhile, we’ve designated over 21% of our land as protected area, with national and natural parks offering beautiful opportunities for ecotourism such as Vjosa, the last wild river of Europe. I am confident that GSTC will help us even more towards our objectives for a sustainable tourism that respects the environment,” Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro said.

Randy Durband, GSTC CEO, expressed commitment to working with Albania to advance sustainable tourism practices in the country.

“We are pleased that the Albania Ministry of Tourism and Environment has joined our global network as a GSTC Member and are committed to promoting sustainable tourism practices. We look forward to working with them to advance sustainable tourism practices in their country,” he said.

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Tourism and Environment unveiled the National Tourism Strategy 2024-2030, outlining the pillars of sustainable tourism development and the goals the country aims to achieve by 2030. The strategy focuses on transforming Albania into a more formalized and diversified tourism destination. Based on six key pillars, including investments, fiscal and regulatory policies in tourism, destination management, tourism product development, marketing, and the training of qualified professionals, the strategy aims to increase tourism revenues and reduce the seasonal nature of tourism by expanding offerings year-round.

The Sustainable Tourism conference in Tirana is supported by RisiAlbania, a project of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) implemented by Helvetas.

/u.sh/