TIRANA, APRIL 14, 2011     The Ministry of Tourism and the Foreign Investors Association of Albania (FIAA) are sponsoring the second annual conference and exhibition on tourism and real estate development in Albania, the “TREALBEXPO 2011.”  The objective of the event is to highlight the importance of tourism to Albania’s economy and to attract more foreign investment into Albania’s tourism sector.  Participants included foreign investment companies, Albanian businesses, government agency representatives, and donors involved in tourism and real estate development.

Tourism is fast becoming one of Albania’s most important sectors for economic growth.  According to the 2010 World Travel and Tourism Council report, Albania’s tourism sector grew by 70 percent between 2005 and 2010, and as of 2010 accounted for nearly 26 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.  Additionally, in 2010, tourism and travel-related industries within Albania accounted for 24 percent of employment within the country.  Albania’s cultural richness and natural beauty earned it a spot as one of the Top 10 travel destination in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2011 guidebook.  This week, the World Economic Forum published the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2011, and Albania has moved up 19 places (from 90th in 2009 to 71st in 2011) on its index rating of 139 countries. 

USAID is supporting entrepreneurs in Albania’s tourism industry through, for example, helping set quality hotel standards and building opportunities for tourism businesses.  USAID sponsored exhibition space for two private tourism associations and two information and communication technology associations -- to promote their business members and to conduct business-to-business meetings.  USAID’s main enterprise development project (Rritje Albania) also participated in discussion panels on tourism development throughout the day. 

At the event, the U.S. Ambassador underlined the importance of resolving Albania’s political stability, property rights and environmental issues as key to boosting tourism and economic growth.

Over 100 stakeholders participated in conference discussions that highlighted the need to foster a business-enabling environment conducive to tourism development and the important role of public-private partnerships.  Participants proposed specific measures for improving tourism in the country, the business enabling environment around tourism (legal framework, government regulations, and taxation), and tourism-related real estate opportunities.