Deputy Minister of Defense Blerina Abrazhda received the Italian delegation at the Ministry of Defense.

The visit agenda carried a working meeting at the Naval Force headquarters, as well as a site inspection in the Porto Romano area, where the port complex is set to be built.

The Ministry of Defense described the cooperation with the Italian side as a contribution to strengthening security in the Adriatic Sea. /gj.m/r.e/a.f/p.s./

According to the report published today by INSTAT, in December there was a significant increase in visitors and overnight stays.

According to official statistics, the total number of visitors to Albania increased by 27.2% compared to December 2024.

Overnight stays also rose significantly, increasing by 26.2%.

Italians topped the list of foreign visitors in December 2025, accounting for 25% of the total, followed by 16% from Kosovo and 6% from Germany.

Over 12 million foreign visitors traveled to Albania in 2025. /j.p/p.s./

President Fedriga praised the work done for the transformation of Tirana, considering it as a strategic partner in the cooperation between the two countries. He highlighted the fact that the strengthening of this cooperation, as well as the exploitation of investment opportunities will be an important impetus towards a common European future.

“Albania, and especially Tirana, represents a strategic and essential partner for the mutual opportunities we can build together. Italian enterprises will be able to find great opportunities to invest in the innovation sector here because they can be opportunities not only for Albania, but for the entire Balkan space, in which Albania is a reference point with its capital, Tirana”, said he.

For his part, Mayor Veliaj emphasized the special relationship that exists with Italy and mentioned some of the achievements and cooperation between the two countries, which are already considered success stories. The mayor emphasized the need to promote this cooperation in the future through development of enterprises and projects in various fields./p.s./

The exhibition is curated by Alinari Foundation, and scientific consultant is Rossella Menegazzo.

The Minister of Economy, Culture and Innovation, Blendi Gonxhja, the Head if the Italian Culture Institute in Tirana, Alessandro Ruggiera, and the Director of Photography of Alinari Foundation, Claudia Baroncini, attended the opening ceremony.

The exhibition marks the first collaboration between the Alinari Foundation and the Marubi National Museum of Photography and it showcases the photographic work of two important authors in the history of Italian and international photography.

Felice Beato and Adolfo Farsari were among the first to portray the Far East, particularly Japan, contributing to nourish and sustain the cultural phenomenon of “Japonisme” in Europe.

The exhibition is made possible thanks to the contribution of the Italian Cultural Institute in Tirana and the Albanian Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation.

/u.sh/

The National Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) recently published the released the occupancy indicators of accommodation establishments report, according to which the number of overnight stays of non-resident visitors has increased by 80.9% in December 2023 compared to the same period of 2022.

INSTAT data show that 11.5% of the non-resident visitors to Albania in December 2023 were Italians and 5.3% of them were Germans.

Data from INSTAT also showed that 8.2% of non-resident visitors were from Kosovo, 3.2 % of them from the United Kingdom.

The highest number of overnight stays was recorded in the central region of Tirana and Durrës, specifically 57.1%.

More than 10 million foreign tourists visited Albania in 2023 and authorities expect more than 13 million visitors in 2024.

/u.sh/

Director of the National Park of Butrint Everest Elmazaj told ATA today that, “Since January until now, 68,962 local and foreign tourists have visited Butrint”.

Elmazaj said that, “The flow of visitors is increasing every year. Thus, if compared to last year, there are 23,655 or 52% tourists more.

Elmazaj added that, “Out of 68,962 tourists, 38,647 are foreigners, mainly Italians, Spaniards, Poles, and French”.

The tourists get introduced in about two hours to different stages of history, all within one place. The archeology traces show the legacy left by different cultures in the past: The Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Venetians, the Turks, the French and the Ottomans, who saw Butrint as a strategic area to expand their influence. The greatness of this place remained hidden until 1927.

The first archaeological excavations began with the Italian Archaeological Mission in 1928 and resulted in the discovery of one of Albania’s most ancient cities. Although the archaeological work has never been completed, it is thought that what we see today may be only one fifth of what is underground. /k.s/p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama shared today in the social media a photo with a view of the ships that set sail from Albania in 1991, making a comparison with the Italian tourists who are visiting Albania this summer season.

“Albanians go to Italy, 1991. Italians go on holiday to Albania, 2023”, wrote the prime minister in the caption attached to the photo, referring even to an article published in recent days by the Italian newspaper “Corriere della sera”.

PM Rama wrote that, “Be patient, you haven’t seen anything yet”.

In the article published by the “Corriere della sera” it is read that, “The prices for holidays in Puglia (region in Southern Italy) are very high and much higher than in other countries, such as Greece, Albania”.

Due to the long coastline from north to south, Albania is attracting a high number of foreign tourists. Also, Gjirokastra, Berati, Butrinti, Kruja, Tirana, Shkodra, etc., are destinations in high demand for historical and cultural tourism. /k.s/p.s./

Veliaj and the Italian friends appreciated the excellent relations between the two countries and discussed new opportunities to further promote these relations.

MP Antonio Tasso said that Tirana is a city that should be taken as an example for everyone seeking development.

“Tirana is a wonderful city. We noticed marked improvements from the other times we’ve been here. It is a city that should be taken as an example by everyone looking for development. You have moved on quickly and you have done very well. We hope to meet again in the future and to further strengthen the ties between our countries and cities”, emphasized Tasso.

Mayor Veliaj underlined that Tirana is a transformed city thanks to the work of the most famous Italian architects.

“Today, we have a transformed Tirana thanks to the Italian architects, those brilliant minds who work with more speed and efficiency than with the bureaucracy of the neighboring country. I can’t wait to deepen the relationship with Italy, where at present Albania has 35% of trade exchanges”, he stated.

Meanwhile, Tirana and the Region of Puglia have scheduled a series of important activities within the framework of the European Youth Capital and the Mediterranean Games.

“Tirana is the European Youth Capital, while Taranto will be the Sports Capital for the 2026 Mediterranean Games”, stated Veliaj.

Many Italians have chosen Tirana to study, live and continue working by opening several new ventures./k.s/j.p/p.s./