Albania targets 2030 as cultural hub

TIRANA, Sep 4 (TemA) – Albania is betting on culture to cement its place on Europe’s tourism map, announcing a string of projects after visitor numbers to heritage sites topped 1 million this year, up 58% from 2023.

Economy, Culture and Innovation Minister Blendi Gonxhja said the government’s 2030 strategy aims to turn the country into “a centre of cultural Europe.”

Over the past two years, Albania has launched what Gonxhja called a historic expansion in heritage protection, with a three-fold rise in restoration work and more than 360 investments in monuments.

The plan foresees reopening the National Theatre, the Museum of Fine Arts and the National Children’s Culture Centre, alongside new museums dedicated to Jewish history, film and the Arbëresh diaspora.

Officials say the challenge will be balancing growth with preservation, as record tourism puts pressure on fragile sites.