Albania faces tension between tourism growth and environmental protection laws

Albania is experiencing a significant shift in its tourism profile, emerging as one of Europe’s fastest-growing nature tourism destinations in 2026. Travelers are increasingly moving away from traditional urban holidays toward mountain villages, national parks, and protected natural landscapes, such as the Albanian Alps and the Vjosa River.

However, this rapid development has sparked political and environmental tension. Following 2024 amendments to the Law on Protected Areas, which allowed for expanded tourism infrastructure within protected zones and transferred decision-making powers to the National Council of Territory, the European Union expressed strong opposition. The European Commission and the Albanian government reportedly reached an agreement to repeal these 2024 amendments and the law on strategic investments during 2026 to ensure better environmental oversight and alignment with EU standards.