Ecotourism Gains Popularity in Albania

Nearly 5 million tourists visited Albania's protected areas in the first 10 months of 2024. “This figure exceeds the entire year of 2023 and is a crystal-clear testament to the extension of the tourist season throughout the year, diversification, and the development of ecotourism,” said Mirela Kumbaro, Albania's Minister of Tourism and Environment.

Local and foreign tourists are increasingly turning their attention to the natural beauty of Albania's protected areas. In the fall of this year, the most visited among them were the Albanian Alps National Park (78,000 visitors), the Divjaka-Karavasta National Park (29,000 visitors), and the Butrint National Park (17,000 visitors). Tourist routes are laid out here in the most picturesque places.

In response to this trend, the Albanian Ministry of Tourism and Environment has decided to increase the 2025 budget to support and develop projects in the field of nature tourism. 3.9 billion Albanian lek (39.7 million euros) will be invested in the construction of the Ulza eco-park infrastructure and the development of a multifunctional center in the Vjosa National Park.

The ministry believes that new projects will contribute to increasing the popularity of ecotourism and the attractiveness of protected areas within the framework of the sustainable tourism development concept.