TIRANA, Nov 13 /ATA-By Maela Marini/ – Around 72% of the 2027 budget of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport will be allocated to the arts, culture and cultural heritage, with a focus on restoring and protecting castles, museums, archaeological sites and historic monuments, Minister Blendi Gonxhja said on Friday.
The ministry’s total budget will amount to 7.65 billion leks, up 3.5% from 2026, with 5.45 billion leks earmarked for the arts, culture and heritage. Funding for cultural heritage alone will increase by 80%, Gonxhja said in a television interview.
He highlighted the urgent need for restoration work in southern Albanian museum city of Gjirokaster, where 90 of the 390 buildings in the city’s historic centre require immediate intervention. Abandoned properties and difficulties securing the cooperation of owners and heirs have complicated restoration efforts, he said.
The government also plans to amend the cultural heritage law to align it with European Union legislation and improve mechanisms for protecting historic sites.
Among the priority projects, Gonxhja cited restoration work at Gjirokaster Castle, the reinforcement of Kruja Castle and repairs at the National Museum “Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg”, where moisture and deteriorating interior conditions have been identified.
The ministry also plans to return around 25 abandoned or deteriorating cultural heritage buildings to public use as museums, cultural centres, libraries and community facilities.
Turning to archaeological sites, Gonxhja said a new management model at Butrint had generated an annual increase of more than 2 million euros in ticket revenue. A similar public management model is being developed at Byllis, in cooperation with the European Union and Italian Cooperation, while a new visitor centre has been completed at Apollonia archaeological park.
The centres will combine museum facilities with research spaces and workplaces for cultural heritage specialists, he said.
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