Albania Charts a Roadmap for Formalizing Tourism Enterprises

Tirana, 2–3 June 2025 — Albania’s growing tourism sector has become a major driver of economic development, contributing over 8% to GDP and attracting nearly 12 million foreign visitors in 2024 alone. But behind the impressive numbers lies a persistent challenge: informality. Many small and seasonal tourism businesses still operate outside the formal economy, which limits their growth, exposes workers to vulnerabilities, and affects the overall quality and sustainability of the sector.

To address this, high-level policymakers, tourism authorities, business leaders, and development partners came together in Tirana for a national workshop organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO), under the Lifelong Empowerment and Protection in Albania (LEAP) Joint Programme and the EU-funded Employment and Social Affairs Platform 3 (ESAP3).

Welcoming the participants, ILO National Coordinator in Albania, Ms. Zhulieta Harasani, underscored the importance of tripartite collaboration and strong local leadership to advance decent work and inclusive development in tourism.

Throughout the workshop, senior representatives called for well-informed, strategic reforms that reflect the diversity of Albania’s tourism landscape and are designed in close collaboration with the sector itself.

“Hotels in Tirana are not the same as guesthouses in remote mountain areas,” emphasized Mr. Eduart Shalsi, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Economy and Finance. “We must design fiscal policies accordingly. And while our tourist numbers are growing, we must be cautious—if we exceed our capacity without planning, we risk damaging service quality. Growth must come with responsibility.”

Mr. Sofjan Jaupaj, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Environment, echoed the need for a more sustainable model: “We remain on a strong growth trajectory. But future investments must align with high-quality and sustainable tourism models. This includes developing dedicated procedures and strengthening negotiations with platforms like Booking.com and Airbnb.”

Representing the private sector, Mr. Zak Topuzi, Chair of the Albanian Tour Operators Association, stressed the importance of a fair and enabling environment: “The growth in numbers is encouraging, but informal practices distort the market. We need a transparent framework so that all tourism businesses—especially small ones—can compete fairly and sustainably. It’s not about punishing the informal—it’s about making the formal work.”

A Multi-Stakeholder Platform for Change

Held over two days, the workshop brought together more than 40 participants, including representatives from the government, labour and tax inspectorates, employers’ organizations, tourism associations, civil society, and development agencies.

The agenda combined strategic dialogue with practical exchange. International expert Julian Schweitzer presented best practices from other countries, such as digital registration tools, simplified tax regimes, and cooperative governance models. National experts Odeta Shkreli and Alida Kondi offered a detailed analysis of the local landscape, pointing to the need to strengthen municipal capacities, reduce administrative burdens, and extend targeted support to informal micro and seasonal operators.

From Analysis to Action: A Roadmap for Formalization

The main outcome of the workshop was the joint development of a national roadmap for formalizing tourism enterprises. Built around four key areas of intervention, the roadmap reflects the shared priorities of stakeholders and outlines a clear path forward:

1. Simplify business registration and licensing by introducing accessible digital platforms and streamlining procedures to make formalization easier, particularly for small and seasonal operators.
2. Introduce targeted financial and non-financial incentives, such as tax relief, skills training, and advisory services, especially in rural and underdeveloped regions.
3. Enhance the role of municipalities by setting up local tourism support desks, ensuring better coordination, and equipping staff to assist businesses throughout the formalization process.
4. Increase public awareness through campaigns and digital tools that promote compliance and highlight the value of certified, formal service providers.

Next Steps: From Planning to Piloting

Looking ahead, the ILO and its partners will work closely with national and local stakeholders to pilot one or two initiatives from the roadmap. These may include simplified registration schemes or incentive programs that can serve as models for broader implementation.

A Shared Vision for a Fairer Tourism Economy

By connecting policy dialogue with practical planning—and anchoring solutions in Albania’s local context—the workshop sets the foundation for a more inclusive and sustainable tourism economy.

As the country advances toward becoming a regional model of responsible tourism, formalization will be essential to ensure that progress benefits all—driving quality, equity, and long-term sustainability across the sector.

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The Lifelong Empowerment and Protection in Albania (LEAP) UN Joint Programme, funded by the UN Joint SDG Fund is a strategic intervention designed to enhance social protection systems and employment opportunities for marginalized populations in Albania. This programme addresses critical socio-economic challenges, including high youth unemployment, poverty, and inadequate access to quality care services. With a focus on children, youth, women, elderly and families, LEAP aims to implement a Universal Child Benefit (UCB) and integrated care and economic empowerment management strategies to improve the quality and accessibility of employment and protection services. The UN Joint programme is funded by  UN Joint SDG Fund and implemented by UNDP ( as lead agency) in cooperation with UNICEF, UN Women and ILO.