TIRANA, April 15 – Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja has called for concrete mechanisms to integrate the Albanian diaspora into national decision-making processes. He made the remarks during the fourth Diaspora Summit in Tirana. He stressed that symbolic ties alone are no longer sufficient.
Gonxhja said Albania must move beyond ceremonial engagement with its diaspora. He argued that the diaspora should take part not only in voting but also in development and national projects. He described this as a shift toward a more structured and functional model of cooperation.
He highlighted culture and tourism as key pillars of what he called “tourism diplomacy.” He said Albania is working to build a new vision that connects these sectors with diaspora engagement. According to him, this approach can strengthen both economic development and international visibility.
The minister said the government is designing mechanisms to turn diaspora involvement into a practical tool for policymaking. He underlined that the aim is to ensure long-term participation in national development strategies, not only symbolic representation.
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