The Sustainable Tourism Conference was organized on Friday in Tirana. Representatives from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), the World Tourism Organization, the private sector, and tourism operators participated, with the support of the Swiss Development Cooperation.

Present at the conference, Minister of Tourism Mirela Kumbaro praised Albania's membership of the GSTC, adding that the country has had sustainable tourism growth in recent years.

"Membership at GSTC confirms to us that the vision is that tourism should be developed sustainably and also confirms that this sector has been transformed all over the world after the Covid-19 pandemic. The 11th month of 2024 ended with over 11 million foreign visitors who have enjoyed Albania. We don't need to have millions and millions more and be proud that we reached tens of millions. We need those millions who stay longer, who pay more, consume more, enjoy more, and come throughout the year," said Minister Kumbaro.

The Sustainable Tourism Conference comes to Albania at the moment of the country's membership of the GSTC, offering opportunities for hotel structures and tour operators to be internationally certified on sustainability standards.

"With our Swiss government partners, we have an excellent experience because we have developed models that we have not had a tradition of, such as distributed hotels, the first models of which have started, and the urban and rural typology of Albania helps for one thing like that," Minister Kumbaro said, noting also the development of the hotel industry and accommodation structures in Albania.

This conference once again places the capital Tirana on the map of the organizing countries of important events for tourism, this time with a focus on sustainable development, after the 70th meeting of the Commission for Europe of the World Tourism Organization and the Investment Forum.

The National Conference for Sustainable Development was organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment in cooperation with Swiss government partners, the "Innovation Albania" project, implemented by Helvetas.