Following the meetings during the International Tourism Fair “Fitur”, the Minister of Tourism and Environment, Mirela Kumbaro, was received at the headquarters of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) by the Secretary General, Zurab Pololikashvili, and the leaders of this organization.
Minister Kumbaro thanked UNWTO for its support to Albania and underlined the importance of the meeting of the World Tourism Organization’s Commission for Europe, which will be held in Tirana on April 7-9, with the participation of about 40 tourism ministers from all over Europe.
I would like to thank UNWTO and the Secretary-General for all the support given to Albania in its commitment to the development of global tourism, as well as for the close cooperation for the organization of the 70th session of the UNWTO Commission for Europe, a commitment that puts a lot of responsibility on the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, but also a very important event for Tirana”, said Minister Kumbaro.
On the other hand, the Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization, Zurab Pololikashvili, praised Albania for the rapid growth of tourism and its model that focuses on environmental protection. Pololikashvili also congratulated Albania for the figure of 10.1 million tourists during 2023 as the country with the fastest recovery, at the top of the UNWTO classification for Europe.
“Albania’s pivotal role in hosting the 70th session of the Regional Commission for Europe, as the official host country of ITB Berlin in 2025, and in welcoming 10 million foreign visitors, underlines its commitment to the promotion of global tourism,” said the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization.
The international tourism fair “Fitur” will be held from January 24 to 28 and today, on its second day, Minister Kumbaro will meet with the Minister of Tourism and Trade of Andorra, Jordi Torres Falco, as well as with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain, Jose Manuel Albares. Furthermore, Minister Kumbaro is going to discuss tourism and environment issues in meetings with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Hugo Moran Fernandez, and the Secretary of State for Tourism, Rosana Morillo.