The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu, announced that Albania recovered 92 percent in the period after the coronavirus pandemic.
She said this, among other things, at the Ministerial Conference of the Western Balkans "Removing barriers for the sustainable development of tourism" which took place in Tirana. The conference also discussed improving the business climate for sustainable investments in tourism, improving the competence of human capital in tourism, and innovation and creativity in the service of tourism.
Her message is to focus on new markets, and she said that their region is rich in young people, 61 percent to be exact, and that we should "keep them at home to contribute to the economy."
Sustainable tourism, according to her, requires intervention in the domain of infrastructure, but also that ideas and proposals, when they come to life, will contribute to better tourism in the Western Balkans, because, as she stated, there is potential for new jobs. "Our region depends on tourism".
"Nothing will happen overnight. We are all together in the region and we know that our reality is as difficult as it is beautiful, that we have potential but that we need to work on its realization", she told Bregu.
She also pointed out that tourism has gained economic and social importance and that it is the fastest sector of industrialization in countries. "It's not just about vacations, but from supporting local businesses to generating billions of dollars of global GDP, the importance of tourism to the economy is simply enormous."
"In our area, pre-pandemic life showed some positive trends. In 2019, more than twelve million people visited the Western Balkans, which brought us a profit of 7,2 billion euros. Tourism made ten percent of the region's GDP and accounted for more than 25 percent of exports," she told Bregu.
She also pointed out that the period after the pandemic last summer showed a 70 percent recovery in all tourist visits, while regional trips to the Western Balkans showed a 92 percent recovery.
She added that according to their latest data from this year's edition of the Balkan Barometer, Montenegro and Serbia with 12 percent each and Albania with 11 were the most visited economies by their regional counterparts.
"I know that the Western Balkans needs to work faster and harder in order to overcome itself and make a big step forward. I believe it's time to change our focus, she told Breg.
When asked how the Western Balkans should be positioned on the world stage, Bregu points out that the first step has been taken, referring to the abolition of roaming, and that the second concerns freedom of movement.
She also said that on June 8, the European Union and the Western Balkans will begin the process of harmonizing policies and regulatory practices, and that they are also working on reducing roaming prices between them.
"To fight against prejudices, closed views and we can transform the Balkans into a place for world tourists"
The Minister of Tourism and Environment of Albania, Mirela Kumbaro, said that if we open up our region, if we learn from each other, we will not be rivals to each other, but will complement each other.
"If we fight against prejudices, closed views and we can transform the Balkans into a place for world tourists", said Kumbaro.
Visiting a country, as she said, is getting to know the core of that country, and she believes that we have the potential to achieve this in all the countries of the Western Balkans.
"We want visitors to fall in love with our countries and visit them. To feel the atmosphere, participate in the beauty of our regions. To leave a mark on people when they visit Albania, to increase the number of tourists and the service", she said.
Kumbaro pointed out at the conference that "we are one big family", and that we share a lot in common, from climate, food to history, "we are a bridge of different cultures that were acquired from different parts of the world".
However, she emphasized that when we travel to the region, we do not perceive it as foreign.
"Albania is not a classic tourist destination like Croatia, but it has turned into a destination that has yet to be discovered. With mountain peaks, but also with a sea coast that is very close to the mountains. The beaches in Albania are among the top four beaches in the world, so it is our duty to promote them," said the Minister of Tourism of Albania.
Domestic tourists, as she said, gave a new dimension in 2020, and they, as she pointed out, encouraged "hosts to get started", so progress was also seen in agritourism.
She also said that they now have six tourist months in Albania, that they aspire to have twelve, but also that they have expanded to areas that were not previously considered tourist destinations, which citizens did not know they could use.
"We introduced a zero tax rate on some services, and on some we reduced it from 20 to 6 percent. Also, we were supported from the aspect of the state budget. All this will create long-term sustainability. We have tourists from America, Asia and Australia, we don't want to create an isolated market," said Kumbaro.
Veliaj: Either you will have a history or a future
We have to heal some wounds from the past, but our job is to sell the best we have and to say that it will be even better in the future.
The mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, said this at the conference and added that we need to remove all barriers.
"To remove barriers in a simple and cheap way and enable students to fly for 90 euros and visa liberalization. It will be great, it will break down the walls related to competitiveness", said Veliaj.
What Albania can offer is, as he said, a short vacation in the city, but also that Tirana has the opportunity to connect with the youth aspect.
“Either you will have a history or a future. If we have a serious approach, take a stand, infrastructure, hotels... Women who will work on maintenance, taxi drivers, different professions will also benefit from this..." he said.
It is also necessary, as he said, that what is offered corresponds to the price that is paid, and that "we are very close to each other and continue to work together".
"On the way to the European Union, we have the option to complain, point the finger at who is to blame, or to be a small part of Europe and make a contribution wherever we work. We are all part of one puzzle", said the mayor of Tirana.
Bonus video:
