2024 – Minister Kumbaro presents the budget for Tourism and Environment
The Minister of Tourism and Environment, Mirela Kumbaro presented to the Commission for Production Activities, Trade and Environment the draft budget for 2024, marking a significant 35% increase, as a result of raising the fund for the promotion of tourism and the integration of the new program of waste management.
Ms. Kumbaro presented the budget in detail, by maintaining the anticipated limits, in five budget programs, which are summarized in Planning, Management, Administration, Environmental Protection, Forestry Administration, Tourism Development and Waste Management.
Regarding tourism, the increase in the total budget by 300 million lek aims to bolster Albania’s participation in prestigious fairs such as FITUR Madrid and ITB Berlin, host the 70th meeting of the Commission for Europe of the World Tourism Organization in Tirana, organize the convention of the French Confederation of Travel Enterprises “Les Enterprises du Voyage” in Albania, and sustain the National Calendar of Tourist Events within the TEA application.
“In just a few months, TEA, the application that carries within itself the Calendar of Tourist Events in each municipality, has been installed 25 thousand times by visitors and vacationers, a sign that increases our energy to improve it during 2024, transforming it into a long-term instrument for promotion tourist events”, said Minister Kumbaro, among other things.
Under the “Clean Beaches” initiative, Minister Kumbaro announced support during the year of 2024 municipalities along the entire coastline, including Lezhë, Shkodër, Durres, Kavaja, Rrogozhina, Vlora, Himara, and Saranda by completing all the conditions for having cleaning forces through the National Agency of the Coast.
The Vjosa River National Park received special attention, with the Minister praising it as a courageous act that establishes Albania as a representative of a beautiful and sustainable model. Collaborating with international experts, efforts are underway to develop the Park’s integrated Management Plan and a new Visitor Center.
The Minister of Tourism and Environment also dedicated special attention to the Vjosa River National Park, evaluating that “It is a courageous act, which made Albania a representative of a beautiful and sustainable model. Collaborating with international experts, efforts are underway to develop the Park’s integrated Management Plan and a new Visitor Center, emphasized Kumbaro.
The approved budget for investments includes provisions for the rehabilitation of tourist infrastructure, particularly the water Eco-Park Ulza, with a 2024 investment value of ALL 200.6 million.
Ministry of Tourism and Environment and the National Forestry Agency are working on, the announcement of 2024 as the “Year of Forests” for which we have predicted an investment of 172 million ALL”.
According to Minister Kumbaro, the year 2024 will be a year of implementing the goal of reforestation and increasing national awareness of the importance of forests.
During her speech, Minister Mirela Kumbaro stated that she is working on the new tourism strategy for the years 2024-2030.
