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Eurostat: 53% of Albanian Households Cannot Afford a One-Week Holiday Each Year

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”request-WEB:51b31d08-45ab-4324-af85-ba141333aa2f-1″ data-turn-id-container=”request-WEB:51b31d08-45ab-4324-af85-ba141333aa2f-1″ data-testid=”conversation-turn-4″ data-turn=”assistant”> More than half of Albanians cannot afford to spend one week on holiday away from home due to financial constraints. According to Eurostat data, which refers to 2025 for Europe and 2023 for Albania, around 53% of households in Albania are …

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After Years of Emigration, Mountain Tourism Revives the Village of Strelcë

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(–scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(–thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-(–sticky-padding-top)” dir=”auto” data-turn-id=”72f69213-2f23-4414-8091-864f914f4def” data-turn-id-container=”72f69213-2f23-4414-8091-864f914f4def” data-testid=”conversation-turn-5″ data-turn=”user”> Just 25 kilometers from the town of Maliq lies Strelcë, one of the best-known villages in the Gora region, which has experienced a revival in recent years thanks to the growth of mountain tourism. Once home to more than 300 houses …

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Katy Perry Lights Up Sunny Hill Festival, Waves Kosovo Flag During Spectacular Pristina Performance

The latest edition of the Sunny Hill Festival has kicked off in Bërnicë, Pristina, attracting thousands of music fans from Kosovo and abroad. The high turnout caused long traffic queues on roads leading to the festival grounds on the opening night. The highlight of the evening was the performance by …

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August Begins with Scorching Heat as Vlora’s Beaches Fill with Holidaymakers

The first weekend of August has brought a surge of visitors to Vlora, with the city’s beaches packed with both domestic and international tourists enjoying the peak of the summer season. The start of the month has seen a significant influx of holidaymakers, many of whom have chosen the Albanian …

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Week in Review: Cocaine Busts, Changing Goals, Tourism Woes

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at Washington’s shifting foreign policy priorities in the Balkans, a suspicious drug trawl, surging property prices and more. Original post Here

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Defense company chief hails tactical vehicle milestone

TIRANA, July 31 – Ardi Veliu, chief executive officer of Albania’s state-owned defense company KAYO, said the delivery of the first 40 NATO-standard tactical vehicles produced in Albania marks an important step for the country’s defense industry. The company Timak Defence produced the vehicles, which include 35 light tactical vehicles …

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Gonxhja: Albania Suspends Construction Works in Tourist Areas During Summer Season

Tourism, Culture and Sport Minister Blendi Gonxhja announced that Albania will halt construction works and related activities in tourist areas during the summer season. The Council of Ministers approved the measure to improve visitors’ experiences and protect the quality of the tourist season. The decision will prevent construction activities from …

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PM Rama: Albania aims for fully domestic-made military equipment by 2028

TIRANA, July 31 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania aims to equip its Armed Forces with military vehicles and capabilities produced in the country by 2028. Rama made the statement during a ceremony where the Armed Forces received the first 40 tactical vehicles produced in Albania by Timak Defence …

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PM Rama: Albania plans to produce super-intelligent drones for air defence

TIRANA, July 31 – Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania is developing new defence industry capacities. He said the country plans to produce intelligent drones and advanced military equipment. Rama spoke at the ceremony for the delivery of tactical vehicles from “Timak Defence”. He said Albania would soon present more …

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New administrative reform aims to preserve European Union standards

TIRANA, July 31 – Deputy chair of the Special Commission for Administrative-Territorial Reform, Arbjan Mazniku, said the proposed territorial division aims to consolidate municipalities and improve public services. He added that the reform will preserve the standards achieved through the current system. Presenting the main elements of the draft reform, …

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Property revaluation saves taxpayers €120.5 million in seven months

TIRANA, August 6 – Albania’s property revaluation scheme has saved taxpayers €120.5 million in fiscal costs during the first seven months of 2026, according to the General Directorate of Taxation. The scheme allows property owners to revalue real estate by paying a reduced 5% tax rate. Tax authorities said the …

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Finance Ministry begins preparations for new Eurobond issue

TIRANA, August 6 – Albania’s Finance Ministry has started preliminary preparations for a new Eurobond issue planned for 2027 as the country’s macroeconomic indicators continue to show positive performance. Deputy Finance Minister Endrit Yzeiraj said officials discussed recent macroeconomic developments, government borrowing plans in international capital markets and future cooperation …

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Kosova Assembly suspends constitutive session as PM Kurti seeks more time for presidential deal

TIRANA, August 6 – Kosova’s Assembly suspended its constitutive session after Self-Determination leader Albin Kurti requested more time for political talks on a candidate for the country’s next president. Kurti told lawmakers that additional time was necessary to allow negotiations to continue. He said the parties needed more time to …

News
Strategic infrastructure and energy projects advance across Albania

TIRANA, August 6 – The Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy continued work during the first seven months of 2026 on strategic projects in roads, energy, water supply and transport. The investments aim to improve public services, strengthen energy security and support economic development. Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Enea Karakaçi …

News
“The Coffee Cantata” brings Bach’s humor and music to Tirana’s Grand Park

TIRANA, August 6 – Tirana’s Grand Park hosted The Coffee Cantata on Wednesday evening. The concert featured an Albanian-language performance of the satirical work by German composer Johann Sebastian Bach. The event formed part of the “Bah… Café!” project with the support of the Municipality of Tirana. It combined classical …

News
August brings peak tourist season to mountainous Theth with around 2,000 overnight visitors

TIRANA, August 6 – August has brought the peak of the tourist season to Theth, one of the most visited destinations in the Albanian Alps. Around 2,000 tourists stay in the village each night on average, and most of them are foreign visitors. Besides the Grunas Waterfall and the Alp’s …

News
Judge sets September for closing statements in Thaçi trial on obstruction charges

TIRANA, August 6 – The Kosova Specialist Chambers in The Hague announced that closing statements in the trial against former Kosova President Hashim Thaçi and four others will take place in mid-September. The court scheduled the hearings for September 10, 11 and 14. The case involves Thaçi, Bashkim Smakaj, Isni …

News
PM Rama shares message: Trust, empathy, service, commitment

TIRANA, August 6 – Prime Minister Edi Rama shared a handwritten message on social media with four key words: “trust, empathy, service, commitment”. Rama shared the message weeks after presenting the political document “Besa” [Good Faith]. He described the platform as a new effort to restore trust between citizens and …

News
President Begaj at ‘Ulqin Book Fair’ in Montenegro: Books keep Albanian language and identity alive

TIRANA, August 6 – President Bajram Begaj attended the opening ceremony of the 25th anniversary edition of the Ulqin Book Fair in Montenegro. The event is considered one of the region’s most important cultural gatherings and brings together authors, publishers and readers from Montenegro, Albania, Kosova, North Macedonia and other …

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National Library inspires students and tourists across generations

TIRANA, August 6 – Despite technological developments, social media and wider access to online information, the number of visitors to the National Library’s “Sotir Kolea” Center continues to grow, even during the hot summer days. The increasing number of visitors shows that the love for books and the need for …

News

Property revaluation saves taxpayers €120.5 million in seven months

TIRANA, August 6 – Albania’s property revaluation scheme has saved taxpayers €120.5 million in fiscal costs during the first seven months of 2026, according to the General Directorate of Taxation. The scheme allows property owners to revalue real estate by paying a reduced 5% tax rate. Tax authorities said the …

News

Finance Ministry begins preparations for new Eurobond issue

TIRANA, August 6 – Albania’s Finance Ministry has started preliminary preparations for a new Eurobond issue planned for 2027 as the country’s macroeconomic indicators continue to show positive performance. Deputy Finance Minister Endrit Yzeiraj said officials discussed recent macroeconomic developments, government borrowing plans in international capital markets and future cooperation …

News

Kosova Assembly suspends constitutive session as PM Kurti seeks more time for presidential deal

TIRANA, August 6 – Kosova’s Assembly suspended its constitutive session after Self-Determination leader Albin Kurti requested more time for political talks on a candidate for the country’s next president. Kurti told lawmakers that additional time was necessary to allow negotiations to continue. He said the parties needed more time to …

News

Strategic infrastructure and energy projects advance across Albania

TIRANA, August 6 – The Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy continued work during the first seven months of 2026 on strategic projects in roads, energy, water supply and transport. The investments aim to improve public services, strengthen energy security and support economic development. Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Enea Karakaçi …

News

“The Coffee Cantata” brings Bach’s humor and music to Tirana’s Grand Park

TIRANA, August 6 – Tirana’s Grand Park hosted The Coffee Cantata on Wednesday evening. The concert featured an Albanian-language performance of the satirical work by German composer Johann Sebastian Bach. The event formed part of the “Bah… Café!” project with the support of the Municipality of Tirana. It combined classical …

News

August brings peak tourist season to mountainous Theth with around 2,000 overnight visitors

TIRANA, August 6 – August has brought the peak of the tourist season to Theth, one of the most visited destinations in the Albanian Alps. Around 2,000 tourists stay in the village each night on average, and most of them are foreign visitors. Besides the Grunas Waterfall and the Alp’s …

News

Judge sets September for closing statements in Thaçi trial on obstruction charges

TIRANA, August 6 – The Kosova Specialist Chambers in The Hague announced that closing statements in the trial against former Kosova President Hashim Thaçi and four others will take place in mid-September. The court scheduled the hearings for September 10, 11 and 14. The case involves Thaçi, Bashkim Smakaj, Isni …

News

PM Rama shares message: Trust, empathy, service, commitment

TIRANA, August 6 – Prime Minister Edi Rama shared a handwritten message on social media with four key words: “trust, empathy, service, commitment”. Rama shared the message weeks after presenting the political document “Besa” [Good Faith]. He described the platform as a new effort to restore trust between citizens and …

News

President Begaj at ‘Ulqin Book Fair’ in Montenegro: Books keep Albanian language and identity alive

TIRANA, August 6 – President Bajram Begaj attended the opening ceremony of the 25th anniversary edition of the Ulqin Book Fair in Montenegro. The event is considered one of the region’s most important cultural gatherings and brings together authors, publishers and readers from Montenegro, Albania, Kosova, North Macedonia and other …

News

National Library inspires students and tourists across generations

TIRANA, August 6 – Despite technological developments, social media and wider access to online information, the number of visitors to the National Library’s “Sotir Kolea” Center continues to grow, even during the hot summer days. The increasing number of visitors shows that the love for books and the need for …