The 70th meeting of the World Tourism Organization's Commission for Europe began its work in Tirana with the participation of UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, Executive Director Natalia Bayona, as well as ministers and representatives of high-level delegations from the tourism ministries of 40 European countries.
The proceedings of this meeting, which turned Albania into the center of discussions on European tourism developments, were opened by the Minister of Tourism and Environment, Mirela Kumbaro, who welcomed her European colleagues, expressing her gratitude for this privilege of celebrating the 70th Meeting of the UN Tourism Commission for Europe in Tirana.
"Edith Durham, the 19th century British writer who set foot in northern Albania, in the difficult but stunning terrain of the Albanian Alps, precisely those enchanting views that millions and millions of curious people from all over the world see today on TikTok or Instagram and wish an hour earlier to visit them. The 19th century scholar once wrote in her memoirs that this very word, the word - welcome -, comes straight from the soul of those people. Therefore, as an Albanian and as the Minister of Tourism of Albania, I feel privileged and very honored to welcome you to Albania," said Minister Kumbaro in her speech.
Bringing to attention the record achieved by Albania in tourism last year, when the World Tourism Organization barometer ranked Albania first in Europe for the increase in tourist flows and fourth in the world, Tourism Minister Kumbaro underlined that this year Albania will most likely be at the top of the list again, due to the figures of the first quarter of 2024 when our country welcomed 1,7 million foreign visitors or about 60% more than the same period a year ago.
Ms. Kumbaro emphasized that today Albania is arousing everyone's curiosity as a much-desired destination. "Albania, or the "Undiscovered Pearl of the Mediterranean", as many international newspapers continue to call it, is experiencing its time of transformation from tourism not simply as a "pleasure economy", but above all as a form of social emancipation. Thanks to tourism, today Albania has an easier time showing its beauties, its people, its energies and its role in these turbulent times. Today Albania is a beautiful surprise in the development of global tourism, almost a symbol that just like people - even countries can reinvent themselves within a few years", praised the Minister of Tourism Mirela Kumbaro.
The meeting was also welcomed by Prime Minister Edi Rama, who highlighted Albania's tourism success and the challenge to move forward in a sustainable manner, while preserving the country's beauties.
"Today we have a completely different reality, with more than 10 million tourists visiting Albania last year and with very high figures during these first three months of this year. Of course, you all know that this is not only a success, this is not a good thing in itself, but it is also a great challenge, because there are many things that we need to think about, that we need to solve, if we want Albania to move forward sustainably. If we do not want Albania to lose its special beauty, if we want Albania to be a destination where tourism is an added value. What this organization is doing is really fantastic, what Zurabi is doing is fantastic, because this is not about going from one country to another and simply having a few meetings and talking about different figures, but this is about sharing expertise, knowledge, experiences of mistakes that have been made in the past, so that they do not "These are the most important things and I strongly hope that we will learn as much as possible from the mistakes you have made so that we do not make them," said Prime Minister Rama.
The meeting was also welcomed by UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, who expressed his gratitude for the excellent organization in Tirana of the 70th Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for Europe and representatives of the participating European delegations.
