Mirela Kumbaro, the Minister of Tourism and Environment, unveiled the 2025 budget proposal for her ministry, amounting to 3.9 billion lekë, reflecting a 7.9% increase over 2024.
During her presentation to the Parliamentary Committee on Production, Trade, and Environment, Kumbaro highlighted impressive growth in Albania’s tourism sector, with 9.7 million foreign visitors in 2024, a 17% increase compared to the previous year. Additionally, tourism revenue for the first half of 2024 reached 2 billion lekë, 500 million euros more than the first half of 2023.
The Minister noted two key trends in the sector: extended travel seasons and a broader geographic spread of visitors. Protected areas attracted 4.5 million visitors in the first nine months of 2024, surpassing the total for 2023. Cultural sites also reached a milestone, welcoming a record 1.1 million visitors.
Kumbaro detailed the increased investments for 2025, with a 19% rise in internal investments compared to 2024, emphasizing two key areas: increased wages based on government policies and enhanced funding for the management of protected areas.
In the environmental sector, Kumbaro discussed ongoing support for coastal municipalities in waste management and beach clean-up initiatives from June to September 2025. Additionally, the Ministry will continue collaborating with international partners on environmental programs.
Concluding her remarks, Kumbaro highlighted Albania’s participation in major international tourism events, including hosting the “ITB Berlin” fair in 2025 and participating in the “Fitur” fair in Spain. She also mentioned the implementation of the 2024-2030 National Tourism Strategy.
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