TIRANA, Sept 9 /ATA/ Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro announced on Tuesday that August this year saw a 10% rise in foreign visitors compared to the corresponding month last year.
At the “Diplo 2025” Ambassadors’ Conference panel, Kumbaro referred to foreign tourists as “bio ambassadors,” highlighting their ongoing role in promoting Albania internationally.
Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro highlighted that Albania is the only European country to have unified tourism and environmental policies under one ministry for two consecutive terms. She stressed that the environment and tourism are not separate but interconnected fields, asserting that sustainable tourism cannot be achieved without conserving the environment.
Kumbaro warned that if the world continues to see tourism and the environment as adversaries, this divide will only deepen and be exploited for political gain. She stressed that sustainable development is impossible without environmental protection, emphasizing that tourism and the environment must go hand in hand. According to her, Albania has successfully maintained this balance, turning environmental preservation into a positive asset for its tourism industry.
Post-Covid tourism is shifting toward a new traveler profile focused on sustainability and the "experience economy," with growing demand for eco-friendly hotels and transport, as this demographic ages and gains more purchasing power.
Minister Kumbaro highlighted that “the tourism industry is progressing in this direction, prompting the government to make a forward-thinking decision in 2017.”
“In 2019, our best year before the pandemic, we welcomed 6.5 million foreign visitors. By the end of August this year, that figure had nearly reached 9 million. August alone saw a 10% rise in foreign visitors compared to last year, or 200,000 more travelers. Over the past four years, we have observed that these visitors serve as effective ambassadors for our country, often unknowingly. Much like our organic food, they are ‘bio ambassadors.’ Today’s tourism relies on these ambassadors who come to experience and appreciate nature. It is crucial to continuously promote and protect this ‘bio’ asset,” Kumbaro stated.
Minister Kumbaro also highlighted some figures to explain how, in her view, tourist markets have shifted and why the number of foreign visitors to Albania has increased.
Kumbaro said that in August, tourist arrivals increased by 16% from Brazil, 18% from Chile, and 11% from Mexico for the year 2025.
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