Minister Gonxhja Launches Program to Restore North Towers and Promote Cultural Tourism in Albania

A new program focusing on the documentation, restoration, and functional reuse of traditional towers has launched in four regions in the north of Albania. The program aims to integrate the towers into the cultural tourism network and promote local development. Implemented in Shkodër, Lezhë, Dibër, and Kukës, the initiative envisions transforming the towers into guesthouses, interpretation centers, local museums, and spaces for crafts and cultural activities.
The program is a new model of cultural heritage management that combines preservation with sustainable use. This model creates opportunities for tourism and employment while strengthening local identity.
The first phase, from 2025 to 2026, will focus on taking an inventory of and assessing the towers selected for intervention. The second phase, from 2026 to 2028, will include restoring and reactivating the towers with new functions and integrating them into tourist routes in cooperation with local operators and businesses in the creative economy.
Blendi Gonxhja, the Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sports, emphasized that the goal is for the towers to become an active part of community life. “Our aim is for the towers to be transformed into functional centers that influence the social and economic life of the communities where they are located, rather than remaining isolated monuments,” he said.
The initiative comes at a time of significant growth in cultural tourism. From January to September of 2025, visits to cultural heritage sites increased by 13% compared to the same period in 2024, rising from 1,092,598 to 1,259,774 visitors. Compared to 2023, the increase is 36%, and compared to 2022, it is 55%,” Gonxhja noted. Likewise, the number of restoration and conservation projects has risen by 309%, and investments in monuments have grown by 363%,” noted Gonxhja.
The program also supports local artisans. Thus far, 43 artisans have benefited from calls to develop authentic products linked to mountain tourism routes and the tower network. This ensures that each product reflects local history and identity.
The program is being implemented in partnership with MTKS, GIZ Albania, and cultural foundations. There are plans to expand cooperation with municipalities, tourism operators, and the local community.
The revitalization of the towers is part of a broader strategy to extend the tourist season and transform mountain destinations into year-round attractions. The program aims to create an integrated network of cultural, natural, and culinary experiences to enhance employment and economic growth in northern Albania.