Prime Minister Edi Rama’s remarks at presentation of latest tourism development project:

Albania would haven’t been the same country today without the European Union’s support, as well as the continued support from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) over the last 25 years. Dozens of projects have been implemented in our country thanks to the financial support from EBRD, just like it is the case of the project we are launching today, a joint programme between the EBRD and EU, which both for its value of 100 million euros and content represents an additional reason to praise the role and extraordinary contribution of the two towards the country’s development.

The new agreement, which will support our programme to transform tourism in Albania, is a meaningful expression of evaluation and trust of this institutions in our strategy through the urban and rural renaissance.

This project would have been impossible before we gave shape to our National Urban Renaissance Programme.

The project would have been impossible as no basis for arguments created thanks to success of the Urban Renaissance Program would have existed. What we were discussing with the EBRD President earlier was exactly what transforming effects the integrated interventions have produced as they have transformed the people’s perspective regarding their communities and themselves. Or what initiatives these projects and transformations have generated at all levels, considering the example of Korça, Berat, Gjirokastra, and not only, but other cities as well, where transforming initiatives have been launched thanks to a light and optimism injection, based on exploitation of a sleeping tourism potential, not just on the coastline but also on the mainland, in cities and their surrounding areas.

Taking notice of the remarks by EBRD President Chakrabarti, who once has said that in challenging times we are living it is increasingly important that the EU candidate countries continue their path of reforms that bring them closer to Europe, for the benefit of both parties. Indeed, this expression, so to say, is best illustrated today also by the presence the European Commission in this project, which, as the Ambassador said, for the first time, invests such a considerable amount of money and dedicates it to tourism.

The issue of transforming from a candidate to a EU member state now increasingly depends not to what the candidate country does, but to what the members actually do. However, what is most important in this regard is that support is constant and transformation is continuous. Ensuring the continuity of this transformation is essential.

I would like to put emphasis on the fact that this Programme will continue to support transformation of Korça, Berat, Fier and of course give an impetus to Shkodra’s transformation, where priority projects have been identified and the Albanian Development Fund’s leadership in this process is a guarantee in combining all components of the project. Because this is not about a component only, namely the infrastructure, water supply or something else, but it is about a funding that will be earmarked for integrated programmes and it will add to a map of well-defined actions and interactions and other funding that have been made available to this process either by the state budget or the World Bank and the German government-owned development bank.

I am glad to highlight another important aspect that the program clearly and properly tackles the cultural heritage component along with the sustainable rural development component, focusing on agritourism and agro-processing, which makes the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development and the Agency for Agricultural and Rural Development an integral part in this programme’s implementation.

This is a central project with a broader scope and programme and I am grateful to the EBRD President for the fact that in this entire cooperation process, we have benefited not only funding, but above all we have also gained know-how, experience, right suggestions at the right time. This has also helped us to make our voice heard and a special gratitude goes exactly for that, for the readiness to listen to us and welcome our concerns and ideas, bringing us increasingly together by joining our funding, forces and projects with broader programmes, with each being one of the programme contributors and never being alone. This is a very important thing, which a significant experience, but also a precious and very effective assistance.

In his today’s speech, the very optimistic Minister of Tourism and Environment provided an accurate data, showing that we have doubled the number of foreign tourists over past five years. When I say we have managed to double number of visitors, I mean Albania has doubled it, but of course we believe we have played an important role in such a significant growth.

On the other hand, O am pleased to note that number of foreign visitors recorded again an increase in April and in the first four months of this year compared to the same period of the previous year. This is crucial as tourism means economic growth, employment and integration. The more tourists visit our country, the more people will tell others the truth Albania that has suffered and keeps suffering from the stereotypes and wrong perceptions.

Earlier today I received a large investor, who is visiting Albania after a long time and after a number of invitations and he kept apologizing that Albania he had imagined had nothing to do with the real Albania and how late he was visiting Albania, according to him, an ideal country for all of those who want to invest in the tourism of the future.

Thank you very much!