Project budget for 2025/Kumbaro: Focus on international promotion, ecotourism and environment

2024-11-08 13:11:00, Politikë CNA

Project budget for 2025/Kumbaro: Focus on international promotion, ecotourism

The focus of the Ministry of Tourism and Environment for the year 2025 will be protected areas and the sustainable development of tourism.

Minister Kumbaro presented the budget for the year 2025, which has an increase of 7.9% compared to the year 2024, from the Commission for Production Activity, Trade and Environment.

In her presentation, Kumbaro emphasized that Albania has welcomed 9.7 million foreign visitors or 17% more compared to the same period a year ago, while in parallel the income from the tourism sector has also increased, reaching the figure of 2 billion ALL for the first six months of 2024 or 500 million euros more than the first six months of 2023.

"Tourism this year is showing two main characteristics, which we predict will be emphasized even more in 2025. First, it is the extent in time and second is the extent in the territory. For the first 9 months of the year, the protected areas were visited by 4.5 million domestic and foreign visitors (a figure that exceeds the entire year 2023), while the cultural sites reached the record of 1.1 million visitors," said Minister Kumbaro. .

Further, Minister Kumbaro focused on internal investments for 2025, which increase by 19% compared to 2024, where two are the main investments of MTM:

"The draft budget of 2025 compared to the draft budget of 2024 has an increase of 7.9% or +306 million ALL, this as a result of the increase in wages based on government policies as well as internal investments of 173 million ALL. The planned fund for current expenses for the year 2025 is + 49 million lek more and this increase has all gone to the National Agency of Protected Areas to cover expenses in the good administration of protected areas.

First, the Infrastructural development with emphasis on water EKO-Park-Ulza with a total value of 523 million ALL divided into three years. The works have started this year, where it is planned to invest 200 million ALL for the year 2025. This important investment is also foreseen in the ceilings of the PBA 2025-2027.

Secondly, the construction of the Multifunctional Center in the Vjosa River with a total value of 690 million ALL. We are in the process of procurement and the predictions are that the works will start this year. For this very important investment, the funds for the three years are provided in the budget", emphasized Minister Kumbaro, mentioning other projects in protected areas such as observation towers, mountain paths, etc.

In the field of the environment, Minister Kumbaro said that the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, through the National Coastal Agency, will support coastal municipalities for the cleaning of the coastline during the period June 15-September 15, 2025, as well as investments in the field of waste management through international programs in cooperation with partners.

At the end of her speech, the minister also mentioned major projects such as the "ITB Berlin" fair where Albania will be the 'Host Country' for 2025, the "Fitur" fair in Spain, as well as the implementation of the National Tourism Strategy 2024-2030 ./ CNA