Celebrated as one of Europe’s last untamed waterways, the Vjosa River draws a growing number of local and international visitors with its pristine landscapes and untouched beauty. Building on this ecological significance, the Vjosa Wild River National Park was established in 2023 as Europe’s first protected wild river national park, later gaining recognition within UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme.

Rama’s photos reveal another side of Albanian tourism, offering summer visitors a scenic river retreat.

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At a press conference at the Premier’s headquarters with journalists and media representatives from European Union countries, Rama stated that the goal is not choosing between nature and development, but innovating so that one fuels the other.

“This approach is purely ideological; global best practices demand we find innovative ways to harmonize development with ecological preservation,” Rama said.

However, Rama admitted that, “Environmental destruction has walked hand-in-hand with economic development.”

“The country emerged from communism as the poorest country in Europe, even compared to other former communist countries. We were isolated from both the West and the East. For 50 years, we were forced to be a country where there was no private property in any way or form,” Rama added.

Meanwhile, Rama said that present-day Albania is one of the countries with the largest area of ​​protected zones.

“Nobody can give us a lecture on the environment because we drafted the first law, the first map of Albania’s protected areas in 2017 and the first register and inventory. We inherited a baseline where less than 15% of the land was protected, whereas today that figure has reached about 25%.”, he added.

Rama stressed that the Socialist Party came into government with a very clear agenda for the environment.

“In 2024, we updated our guidelines to clearly define what is and isn’t permitted across Europe’s various levels of environmental protection. Unlike strict Category 1 nature reserves, which remain completely untouched, the area we are discussing has always been designated as a Category 5 protected landscape. It is strictly protected, inviolable, and will absolutely not be developed or altered,” Rama said.

According to him, “The largest number of the best architects in the world are working together on this project.”

“You will not find this kind of focus anywhere else in Europe. Our goal is to bring high quality and beauty to this country, creating lasting, positive change,” Rama added. /r.e/p.s./

The festival brings together local and foreign performers, environmentalists, and tourists for a ten-day event spanning the Vjosa River valley, Përmet, the ancient city of Bylis, and the coastal cities of Fier and Vlora.

Prime Minister Edi Rama stated that as a premier international hub for eco-art, VjosArt returns to champion the protection of Europe’s last wild river through the power of performance and visual arts.

“200 artists from Albania and the region will perform in urban areas along the Vjosa River, in Përmet, the ancient city of Bylis, Fier and Vlora, from 21 to 31 May 2026. 10 days of festival, 10 art genres”, Rama wrote in a post on social networks.

The festival program carries live concerts, art exhibitions, outdoor sports activities, forums on environmental protection and the promotion of traditional products of the area.

VjosArt Festival is more than an artistic event. This organization comes as a call to promote the nature, cultural identity and tourist potential of southern Albania.

The Vjosa River, known as the “last wild river in Europe”, is becoming an increasingly popular destination for nature lovers, sports enthusiasts, etc. /e.i/j.p/p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama shared in the social media today a view of the Vjosa river, where tourists and locals are enjoying a premier kayaking experience in a top natural destination.

Kayakers explore wild landscapes and untouched, crystalline river scenery, perfectly blending adrenaline with natural tranquility.

The rise of eco-friendly adventures like kayaking and rafting is diversifying the Vjosa’s tourism offerings, drawing growing attention from international tour operators and adventure seekers.

Recognized as one of Europe’s final untamed rivers, the Vjosa is rapidly becoming a premier hub for sustainable, adventure-driven tourism. /gj.m/j.p/p.s./

Speaking to reporters from Vlora, Vengu informed that the situation is becoming more difficult due to the increase in the water level of the Vjosa river.

The minister emphasized that a plan of measures has been drawn up for the 3 villages that are most at risk, Bishan, Fitore and Novosela.

So far, Vengu informed that 13 families and 200 heads of cattle have been evacuated on a farm.

“We expect an increase in the water level. We expect to continue the operation to evacuate the cattle; the Vjosa river has exceeded its vehicle levels. 200 heads of cattle have been evacuated on a farm. We are doing this on both sides of the Vjosa and from the Fier area”, he added. /m.m/r.e/a.f/p.s./

Hiking, bird watching, kayaking and nature walks offer local and foreign visitors the opportunity to enjoy the wild natural beauty of the Vjosa National Park.

Prime Minister Edi Rama shared today in the social media a living postcard from the Vjosa, in the soft hush of dawn, while light breaks through veil of mist.

With a rich biodiversity, the Vjosa National Park is a paradise for nature lovers and ecotourism.

The Vjosa River was officially included in September 2025 in the UNESCO “Man and the Biosphere” program, becoming part of the world heritage list. /m.m/j.p/p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama published today in the social media the decision announced during the World Congress of Biosphere Reserves in China.

“The Vjosa River has been officially included in the “Man and the Biosphere” programme as part of the world heritage list,” the prime minister wrote.

Meanwhile, Minister of Education Mirela Kumbaro, who followed the process when in the quality of Head of the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, expressed gratitude to the team of the Ministry of Environment, the National Agency for Protected Areas, as well as UNESCO experts, including the Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, with whom they visited the Vjosa Valley in 2023.

The inclusion of the Vjosa in this program aims to protect rich and healthy ecosystems, as well as promote sustainable development and biodiversity conservation in the region, giving the country international pride.

The inclusion of the Vjosa in UNESCO’s “Man and the Biosphere” programme crowned a 4-year work.

The Vjosa River, known as one of the last wild rivers in Europe, was declared a “National Park” by the Albanian government in March 2023 after years of efforts by Albanian and international environmental organizations to protect this river from the construction of hydroelectric dams.

The Vjosa River is among the largest rivers in Albania, especially in terms of its numerous water flows.

With a length of 272 km, the Vjosa flows from the Pindus Mountains in Greece to the Adriatic Sea. /j.p/p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama stated today in a post in the social media that, “The Multifunctional Centers in Tepelena and Përmet are being materialized as two spaces dedicated to recognition of the values of the last wild river in Europe”.

The head of government underlined that through scientific information, museums, itineraries and educational spaces, these centers will turn into multidimensional poles that will also serve researchers and nature enthusiasts, while affirming that, “The office dedicated to the administration of this unique park on our continent, which extends over 12 thousand hectares, has started its work”.

Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro visited the construction site of the Multifunctional Center and Information Stations for the “Vjosa River” National Park in Tepelena and Përmet which is the product of an international competition.

While getting acquainted with the work on the ground, Minister Kumbaro announced that with the approval of the national management plan for the national park, there will be made interventions to rehabilitate some problems in the Vjosa area.

During her speech, the minister emphasized that there are no new activities in Vjosa that impact the park, but rehabilitation work has begun to protect the last wild river in Europe from the effects of past human activities.

Minister Kumbaro also visited the second station of the visitor center, which is being built in Përmet, where part of the project also envisages the revitalization of the city stone shelter, a natural and cultural monument, making it an integral part of the project that will serve as a natural museum. There, Minister Kumbaro also met with the staff of the Vjosa River National Park Administration Office, while the third center of this project will be built in Vlora.

Vjosa River National Park, which also includes three branches: Drino, Bënçë and Shushicë, covers an area of 12,727 hectares, on a river line of 480 kilometers in four regions of the country. For this reason, by Decision of the Council of Ministers, there has been created an Office dedicated to the Administration of the Vjosa National Park, while the management plan has also entered into force. /e.i//r.e/p.s./

From nature lovers to canoe adventurers and tourists looking for tranquility, the Vjosa offers a rare, wild experience unaffected by modern civilization.

Prime Minister Edi Rama shared in the social media photos from the banks of the river full of tourists.

With its free flow through canyons, dense forests and green fields, the Vjosa has been appreciated as the last wild river in Europe.

This feature makes it a magnet for tourists seeking authenticity, biodiversity and sustainable activities in nature.

Authorities hope that by promoting and preserving the Vjosa as a National Park, Albania will become a model destination for ecotourism in the Balkans and beyond. /j.p/p.s./

The decision, made the International Advisory Committee of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, marks a significant step towards protecting one of Europe’s last wild rivers and its surrounding ecosystem. This designation aims to balance nature conservation with sustainable development and local community involvement.

Tourism and Environment Minister Mirela Kumbaro hailed the decision and highlighted the technical and diplomatic efforts behind the application, which was submitted by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment and the National Agency of Protected Areas.

“It is more than an international recognition of Vjosa River’s wild beauty. I would like to express gratitude to local residents, who live in harmony with nature, and for the joint efforts in protecting the last wild river in Europe,” Tourism and Environment Minister Mirela Kumbaro wrote.

According to her, the nomination is not accidental, but it is the outcome of intense work by relevant institutions. She recalled the first visit by UNESCO’s Director-General Audrey Azoulay to the Vjosa River valley in February 2023, and commitment of the Environment and the National Agency of Protected Areas.

“Now Vjosa is not just a river, but a model of sustainable development. The UNESCO Biosphere Reserves Council is expected to finally approve Vjosa River’s inscription on world heritage sites list,” Kumbaro said.

Designation of the Vjosa Valley as a Biosphere Reserve will strengthen its international status and further promote nature conservation and sustainable development in the region.

Vjosa has been designated a National Park (Category II protected areas) on the basis of which the 273-km long Vjosa-Aoös River, from its source to the flow into the sea, including its branches and tributaries, is granted complete national and cross-border protection in accordance with the highest international standards and it is effectively preserved as a free-flowing and living river for the benefit of the people and the nature n Albania, Greece and whole world.

The Albanian government has decided to strengthen the protection of the Vjosa River, often described as the “last wild river in Europe” because its waters flow almost unimpeded from its source in Greece to the Adriatic Sea.

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