UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili has met with His Excellency Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania, to explore shared priorities for boosting tourism's role in economic development and social opportunity.
On his first visit to Albania since assuming leadership of the United Nations specialized agency for tourism, Secretary-General Pololikashvili received a warm welcome from Prime Minister Rama and from Minister of Tourism Mirela Kumbaro. In a series of bilateral meetings, the growing relevance of tourism for national recovery and growth was underlined. Albania enjoyed one of the strongest increases in international tourist arrivals in the region, outperforming all the European Union countries in 2022 with a 19% rise in visitors.
UNWTO will continue to work closely with Albania to ensure the enormous potential is fully realized both here and across the wider region
In Tirana, Secretary-General Pololikashvil commended the Albanian Government for their strong support for the sector, as well as for their commitment to regional cooperation, sustainability and to rural development and youth empowerment through tourism. In the meeting with Minister of Tourism Kumbaro, the UNWTO delegation identified possibilities for future collaborations in the area of investments, including through a new set of investment guidelines focused on Albania.
Youth empowerment and sustainable development
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: "I am extremely pleased to be in Albania and to see for myself how the Government is betting on tourism to drive economic growth and development and offer a brighter future for people in both cities and rural areas. UNWTO will continue to work closely with Albania to ensure the enormous potential is fully realized both here and across the wider region."
Alongside Prime Minister Rama, the Secretary-General presented the Albanian delegation in the first UNWTO Global Youth Tourism Summit with certificates of participation. The UNWTO leadership then met with Mayor of Tirana Eeion Veliaj to discuss the opportunities of embracing innovation and smart tourism. In 'Tumo Piramide', Albania has one of the biggest startup hubs in the Balkans, and Secretary-General Pololikashvili expressed an interest in UNWTO working with the Government and Albanian innovators to boost innovation across the wider region.
The high-level UNWTO delegation will also join tourism leaders from across the region for the Future of Environmental and Sustainable Tourism in Albania (FESTA, Tirana, 3-5 April). The forum is this year held around the theme of "Harnessing the power of South Eastern Europe through regional cooperation in tourism", with UNWTO to emphasize the vital importance of jobs, education and investment for realizing plans to build a more sustainable and inclusive sector.
First Visit to Albania
Youth empowerment and sustainable development
First Visit to Albania
Youth empowerment and sustainable development
First Visit to Albania
Youth empowerment and sustainable development
First Visit to Albania
Youth empowerment and sustainable development
First Visit to Albania
Youth empowerment and sustainable development
First Visit to Albania
Youth empowerment and sustainable development
First Visit to Albania
Youth empowerment and sustainable development
