The World Bank, through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), will provide a $3 million grant to prepare an integrated tourism ecosystem development project in Albania.

Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja announced today that the government had approved the grant agreement with the World Bank.

“The main innovation is a joint plan that connects tourism destinations with their infrastructure, services, professional skills and management needs,” Gonxhja said.

According to the minister, this new approach will help future investments complement each other and generate benefits for more communities.

The initiative will also strengthen links between coastal and inland areas. In addition, authorities will study ways to connect the most visited destinations with other natural and cultural attractions. This approach will encourage visitors to explore more parts of Albania.

At the same time, the project will promote tourism beyond the summer season. It will expand the tourism offer and attract visitors at different times of the year. As a result, the initiative aims to create more sustainable economic activity and increase benefits for local communities.

Gonxhja also stressed the importance of improving the quality of tourism services.

“We will focus on the quality of the offer and services. Our goal is for tourism to generate more revenue and create better-quality jobs,” he said.

Furthermore, the initiative will improve destination management and strengthen institutional capacities. It will also expand the use of data and digital systems in the tourism sector.

The project will also strengthen regional cooperation. Authorities will study cross-border tourism links that could diversify Albania’s tourism offer and support the country’s economic and strategic interests.

Regarding the use of the grant, Gonxhja said the funds would finance the preparation of the tourism plan, the identification of priority interventions and feasibility studies. These studies will assess costs, feasibility and environmental and social impacts.

The grant will also cover the preparation of the necessary documentation and the development of institutional capacities for project design and future implementation.

“The grant will cover the costs of this phase, including the operating costs of the project implementation unit. Therefore, the state budget will have no additional financial obligations at this stage,” Gonxhja said.

The Albanian Development Fund will implement the activities under an implementation agreement with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports.

Finally, Gonxhja said the initiative aligns with Albania’s National Tourism Strategy 2024–2030.

“Together with our World Bank partners, we aim to support investments that improve tourism destinations, create greater prosperity for communities, and preserve and promote Albania’s natural and cultural assets,” Gonxhja said.