On the first day of the 2024-2025 academic year, the Minister of Tourism and Environment, Mirela Kumbaro, visited the “Thoma Papapano” vocational high school in Gjirokastra, where the tourism and hospitality program is launched for the first time this year.

Minister Kumbaro emphasized the importance of Gjirokastra’s tourism and hospitality profile, citing the city’s rapid expansion and extended touristic offer across all municipalities in the area.

“What better place to launch this program than in Gjirokastra? It’s a city, district, and municipality that welcomes tourism and is opening businesses from the villages to the hearts of the cities,” said Minister Kumbaro.

Minister Kumbaro also mentioned job opportunities for hospitality and tourism students while they’re studying.
“From other schools across Albania, I’ve seen that students are employed even before graduation. So I’m quite happy, and I want to thank the entire team and teachers at ‘Thoma Papapano’ school because together with the Education Directorate, the Municipality, and businesses, we succeeded in opening this program,” Minister Kumbaro continued, inviting parents and stude

ts to consider the opportunity to enroll in this department, with registrations open throughout September.
At the end of her speech, Minister Kumbaro said that launching this program, which has great facilities and a team of highly qualified teachers, will offer more than just education. She also highlighted the growing tourism market in Gjirokastra.