Prime Minister Edi Rama has pointed to a sharp rise in tourism as a key indicator of Albania’s economic progress, stating that the country has grown from hosting around 2 million visitors to 12 million in the past year.

Speaking at an event in Unit 12, Rama noted that earlier tourism figures were significantly lower, joking that even he and an ???? were once counted among the total when re-entering the country after trips abroad. He clarified that current figures only include foreign visitors, not Albanian passport holders.

“We started with just over 2 million tourists, where even I and Kujtimi were counted when we returned to Albania,” Rama said. “Now we count only foreign passports. Last year, we recorded 12 million visitors. These are facts. They are not enough for what we aim to achieve, but they are facts.”

Rama argued that the growth in tourism reflects broader economic improvement, adding that rising visitor numbers go hand in hand with economic expansion, higher wages, and increased pensions. He rejected claims of rising corruption, suggesting that such growth would not be possible under those conditions.

While acknowledging that more work remains, Rama expressed confidence in the government’s direction and said the coming months will be crucial in securing victory in the next elections.