Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has been chosen as the winner of the  international competition for Tirana Fountain Plaza. The Danish architecture firm was selected by a jury from a shortlist featuring Cobe, Barozzi Veiga, l’AUC, and JDSA. The project is part of Tirana 2030, the official local master plan for Albania’s capital organised around 100 main themes including biodiversity, polycentrism, mobility, water, and tourism.

Tirana Fountain Plaza will replace the existing building of the Tajvani complex in Tirana. Instead of simply positioning the new project on the previous footprint, BIG’s proposal expands the landscape of the nearby Rinia Park beneath and around a new mixed-use development. 

“We have reimagined urban living in three dimensions – not as a vertical extrusion or a tower competing for attention on the skyline, but as a cloud of homes hovering above the park. Rather than diminishing the park or displacing public life, the building enhances and accommodates both. Like a cloud, it casts a cooling shadow over the public space below. By freeing up the ground, it also creates more park and public space than exists today,” BIG founder Bjarke Ingels told architecture magazine Dezeen.

The permeability of the project is made possible by the fact that the building is perched above the ground, with just two curved glass columns connecting the upper stories with the park below. Visually, however, the massive columns disappear and the complex seems to be held up by a forest of slender pillars.

The building will combine offices, residences, hotel spaces, and cultural amenities such as an open-access library and a covered auditorium. The privately operated site is thus transformed into a new cultural and mixed-use destination, introducing gardens, plazas, water features, and gathering spaces that connect the park to the Lana River while preserving the historic fountain. 

Particular importance was paid to the on-site water management. A closed-loop system captures, stores, and reuses rainwater to support irrigation, mitigate flooding, and create a cooler microclimate throughout the park. The existing Taiwan Pool will be preserved and become a part of the water management system. 

“The project’s most striking expression of this inversion is an upside-down fountain. Instead of water rising from the ground, it falls from above, as a summer shower or a gentle autumn drizzle,” Ingels told Dezeen.

At the moment of writing, BIG is also working on a couple of other projects in and around Tirana. The bow-tie-shaped National Theatre of Albania is under construction and will, upon completion, offer 9,300 square metres of cultural space. Moreover, the firm is working on a project called Faith Park, a 200,000-square-metre interfaith complex in the hills outside Tirana featuring nine distinct architectural pavilions representing different religions as well as a Museum of Remembrance. 

L’article Tirana unveils plans for a cloud-like building above a public park est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Tirana carrying inflatable flamingos to oppose the project, which is backed by Kushner’s investment firm Affinity Partners. Environmental groups warn that the development threatens one of Albania’s most fragile coastal ecosystems, which is home to migratory birds, dolphins, sea turtles, monk seals and flamingos.

“Albania is not for sale!” chanted demonstrators in the capital, where rallies escalated into clashes with the police. Others gathered outside the office of Prime Minister Edi Rama, calling for his resignation and shouting “revolution”.

@politiplot BREAKING: Albania’s Anti-Trump Protests Have Now Entered Day 11. What began as opposition to the Trump family’s proposed luxury development project has turned into nearly two weeks of sustained demonstrations. First came the deal. Then came the backlash. Now comes Day 11. The question is whether the pressure changes anything, or whether the standoff gets even bigger from here. #albania #flamingorevolution #jaredkushner #sazanisland #fyp ♬ They Don't Care About Us (Remastered Version) – Michael Jackson

For environmentalists, the issue goes beyond flamingos. Joni Vorpsey, of the NGO Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania, describes the area as “like being in a fairytale”, a “magical hub”, warning construction could “wipe out that part of nature” and “open the gate” for development across the protected coastline.

At the heart of the dispute lies Sazan Island, a former secret military base used by the Soviet Union and communist Albania for submarines and other military purposes. Cold War bunkers are still scattered across the island today.

Unveiled in 2024 by Affinity Partners, the plan would transform Sazan Island and part of the Vjosa-Narta coastal area into a luxury destination complete with hotels, villas, and a marina. Vorpsey said that, from the renderings posted on Instagram by Kushner himself, “everything seems terrible”.

Rama insists the investment is too important to abandon. “There’s no chance this investment would be stopped as long as I am here,” he says, arguing that a tourist spending $2,000 a night ultimately benefits “the cook, the driver, the fisherman, the farmer” and local businesses. He has dismissed the protests as exaggerated.

Ivanka Trump, who has been involved in promoting the project alongside her husband, described discovering the island during a boat trip. “We swam to the island. We hiked barefoot all the way to the top and were captivated by it,” she recalled. A spokesperson for the project’s developer, Sazan Real Estate Development, said the team’s focus is “responsible stewardship and environmental enhancement”.

These promises have not convinced everyone. “We are a small country, and we cannot allow Albania to become a new Dubai,” said Eva Kushova, of the Albanian non-profit Destination Management Organisation. “Albania should first serve its own people,” she added, echoing more than 40 environmental groups who wrote to the government in January demanding the project be suspended.

Land disputes here often trace back to the collapse of communism, and this deal is no exception. Anti-corruption prosecutors have opened an investigation into land titles linked to the area and frozen the bank accounts of a company involved in the deal. The financing structure has also come under scrutiny, including reported links to Qatari investors connected to the wider development.

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For its part, the White House has tried to distance itself from the deal. Spokesperson Anna Kelly said Kushner is a “volunteer” whose private business “has nothing to do with the administration”.

This controversy comes at a time when Albania is moving closer to the European Union (EU). During a recent visit, European Council President António Costa praised Tirana’s progress towards membership. However, accession will also require the country to align with EU environmental standards.

Albania’s pink flamingos have become unexpected representatives in the fight between luxury tourism and the protection of one of Europe’s last wild coastlines.

L’article Jared Kushner’s Albania luxury resort plan sparks protests over flamingo habitat est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The ambitious project, which combines the renovation of the existing building with the construction of a 260-metre tower, has been entrusted to Swiss architecture studio Herzog & de Meuron. The firm is known for landmarks such as London’s Tate Modern, Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie and Beijing’s Bird’s Nest stadium, and for its approach of adapting existing structures rather than erasing them.

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“Rather than altering its identity, the project seeks to strengthen its relationship with the city and its public realm”, as the studio put it.

The building is centrally situated, sitting on Tirana’s main ceremonial axis, close to Mother Teresa Square, the University of Tirana, the Prime Minister’s Office, and other major state institutions.

The architects plan to preserve the identity of the original Palace of Congresses, designed by Albanian architect Klement Kolaneci and completed in 1986 during the final years of the country’s communist regime. The intervention on the historic building will remain deliberately restrained, focusing mainly on opening it up to the surrounding city and improving its connection with public space.

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A new “Palace Garden” will replace the building’s more formal surroundings, creating a more accessible urban gathering place. The new green space is expected to host public events and become a popular meeting point for residents and visitors.

Behind the existing structure, the new tower will rise above the capital, housing offices and a hotel. The building has been designed as a sculptural landmark and is described by Herzog & de Meuron as being “shaped by vernacular logic”. It boasts an angular, faceted form with a mesh-like façade and truncated upper floors, contrasting with the horizontal lines of the old congress hall below.

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The two structures will be connected through a new stylobate – the large, raised base at the foot of the tower built above the existing building – designed to link the historic palace with the new vertical extension while creating additional shared spaces.

The renovation will also include the Palace’s main wood-lined concert hall, which will accommodate around 2,100 people, alongside upgrades aimed at adapting the venue to contemporary cultural and public uses.

The project is the latest example of Albania’s rapidly evolving identity. Over the past decade, the Albanian capital has attracted international architects and experimented with bold urban projects, while also confronting the legacy of decades of isolation under Enver Hoxha’s dictatorship.

Rather than demolishing its difficult past, Albania has increasingly chosen to transform it. The former residence of dictator Enver Hoxha has become an art and cultural space, while the country’s infamous bunkers, once symbols of paranoia and isolation, have found new lives as museums, cafés and tourist attractions.

With the Palace of Congresses project, Tirana continues this balancing act between memory and reinvention, turning another relic of its past into part of its future.

L’article Tirana to modernize communist-era Palace of Congresses and build 260-meter skyscraper est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

A brief history

Tirana grew from a small trading settlement into Albania’s capital by 1920 due to its central location. The city transformed from an Ottoman town into a capital with Italian-influenced architecture, but later endured a harsh communist dictatorship from 1944 to 1992.

Stalinist dictator Enver Hoxha led a harsh, isolationist regime that built bunkers, transformed cityscapes with socialist style housing, and tore down religious buildings.

Today, though, this delightful capital has evolved into a vibrant, colourful European city.

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Communist past

No visit to Tirana is complete without dipping into a period of time that, one imagines, many Albanians may now prefer to consign to history: the communist era.

Having said that, relics from that period are scattered around the city and are now “must see” tourist spots.

These very much include Bunk’art, a communist era nuclear protection bunker which you could easily miss were it not for several large notice boards pointing you in its direction.

This really is a fascinating place to visit. You descend a few steps below ground to encounter several tunnels and rooms, now converted into a museum, art space and learning experience.

@damianos_gkinis Creepy, silent, underground. Bunk’Art #BunkArt #Tirana #VisitAlbania #CreepyPlaces #traveltiktok ♬ Creepy and simple horror background music(1070744) – howlingindicator

These contain sometimes rather harrowing photos and information about the country’s gruesome and recent past.

Located just a few steps from Skanderbeg Square, the city’s main public square, it is arguably at its best when telling the personal stories of those who experienced the worst extremes of communist doctrine.

Another must see attraction is the House of Leaves, a building just outside the city centre that was originally a humble maternity hospital.

It later became an interrogation centre and torture chamber under previous regimes and, again, retells the stories of ordinary Albanians who were sometimes cruelly treated by the feared secret police, known as the “Sigurimi”.

Woe betide anyone considered a “traitor” to the state.

The site also contains an impressive collection showing some of the intriguing ways the political leaders of the time spied on their own people, as well as foreigners.

It seems hardly any conversation escaped recording or monitoring, with listening devices inserted into all manner of objects, including broomsticks, ties and pipes.

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Skanderbeg Square

Think Brussels’ Grand Place but about six times the size and you get some idea of the scale of this huge public space in the centre of Tirana.

It was built by the Austrians in 1917 and is named after Skanderbeg, the 15th century Albanian military leader and national hero. He is also honoured with statues in other cities around the world, including Brussels. Skanderbeg died from malaria in 1468.

The square is surrounded by what can only be described as a highly eclectic mix of architecture, some dating from the communist era, and is a great starting point for any visit to the city.

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Coffee and George W. Bush

Don’t scoff. This city really is in love with both.

Walking around with a cup of coffee has become de rigueur in many places, but here it is deeply ingrained in the local culture as a vital social ritual and not just a caffeine boost.

Tirana is known for having one of the highest numbers of coffee shops per capita in the world. They really do seem to be on every corner. Cafés in Tirana serve as essential hubs for connection, business meetings and leisure.

With the fall of communism in the 1990s, cafés exploded as public social spaces, and you will see people sitting for long periods of time, putting the world to rights over a very often tiny cup of coffee.

This must also be one of the few places with its own dedicated coffee museum.

It is called Komiteti Kafe Museum and, again, is easily missed, not least because it also doubles as a café, albeit one of the most colourfully decorated you are likely to come across.

@eli_radu30 If you’re visiting Tirana, don’t miss Komiteti — Kafe Muzeum, a cafe that feels like stepping into Albania’s story. Every corner is filled with history, vintage decor, and the coziest atmosphere — perfect for a slow coffee moment or an evening drink. Komiteti Kafe Muzeum, Rruga Fatmir Haxhiu, Tirana #tirana #albania #komiteti #travelalbania #cafehopping ♬ original sound – 𝓙ᝰ.ᐟ

It is retro inspired and full of vintage memorabilia, which is worth seeing in itself. But, of course, you should also sample one of its many varieties of coffee and discover more about the country’s coffee culture.

Coffee we understand, but George W. Bush?

While perhaps not quite sharing the same level of obsession, the sometimes ridiculed former US president remains highly popular in Tirana.

This is primarily because he was the first sitting US president to visit the country, doing so in 2007, and for his active support of Albanian interests, particularly Kosovo’s independence and Albania’s NATO membership.

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President Bush received a “rock star” welcome in Tirana and the town of Fushë Krujë, where crowds chanted “Boosh-y”.

There is a major road named after Bush, along with a library just outside the city centre.

More broadly, Albania has long held a deep appreciation for the US, dating back to President Woodrow Wilson’s support for Albanian independence in 1919.

An unexpected link with Belgium

Aside from both sharing an affinity with the EU, you would not necessarily expect to find much connecting this Western Balkans state with Belgium.

But pay a visit to the city’s Catholic cathedral and you may meet one of its priests, who hails from Bruges.

Father Koen Van Kershauer is a Flemish born clergyman who has been in Tirana for some 30 years.

He told this site what brought him to the city, saying: “I was in Germany at the time but I heard about how the former communist regime persecuted and even killed priests and burned down churches.

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“It was just after the fall of communism in the early 1990s and I decided I wanted to come here to help. I did not realise I might stay this long but I am happy here.

“I am also happy to say that today all religions, whatever they are, co exist happily together in Albania. I guess that is the best one can do,” said the 83 year old.

“I have witnessed major improvements in how religion is perceived here and how all denominations are treated.”

The stained glass window to the left of the cathedral’s front door features Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa, who was of Albanian origin.

A statue of Mother Teresa can be found at the entrance of the cathedral, along with a very impressive huge montage made from seashells.

It is a modern looking building that does not resemble a traditional church, but it is well worth a visit.

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So, what else is there to see?

Another religious attraction is the Et’hem Bey Mosque in the city centre, built between 1791 and 1794 by Molla Bey. During the totalitarian rule of the Socialist People’s Republic of Albania, the mosque was closed.

It was later declared a historical monument and underwent restoration in the late 1960s and 1970s.

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On 18 January 1991, despite opposition from the communist authorities, some 10,000 people entered the mosque carrying flags. The event became a milestone in the rebirth of religious freedom in Albania.

The mosque’s frescoes depict trees, waterfalls and bridges.

Other attractions include the Pyramid of Tirana, originally the Enver Hoxha Museum named after the long time communist leader but now transformed into an art space, and the Grand Park of Tirana, ideal for a stroll around its lovely artificial lake.

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Albania and the EU

Earlier this month, the EU celebrated Schuman Day, regarded as the beginning of what would later become the European Union.

While the occasion may have gone largely unnoticed even in some founding member states, there was considerable fanfare in Tirana.

This includes a specially dedicated area in the city centre displaying the flags of all current EU member states alongside the dates they joined the Union.

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Albania, of course, is considered one of the leading frontrunners among Western Balkans countries to join the EU and is aiming to do so by 2030.

Unlike in some current member states, support for the EU is booming here, with public backing for membership said to exceed 90%.

A desire to raise living standards is among the reasons why many Albanians appear eager for their country to become the EU’s next member.

It is also worth noting that prices here remain very favourable, certainly when compared with countries such as Belgium, with a good meal and drink often costing up to 50% less.

L’article From bunkers to cafés: discovering the many faces of Tirana est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The design, revealed following the firm’s competition win, combines a 6,000‑seat arena for basketball and volleyball with a hotel, residential apartments, and ground‑floor retail, all set within a striking sphere more than 100 metres in diameter. The building’s sphere shape creates a continuous exterior, eliminating traditional “rear” facades and giving the arena a 360-degree presence within its urban surroundings. 

“The spherical shape is a reference to the round ball used by so many sports. Yet it also recalls enlightenment temples, from Étienne-Louis Boullée’s Cenotaph for Newton to Buckminster Fuller’s tribute to technological optimism, the geodesic dome,” said MVRDV founding partner Winy Maas.

By stacking the hotel and residential units atop the arena, the design accommodates a large mix of functions within a relatively compact site area. This approach allows the building to combine multiple functions to coexist without taking up too much space. At ground level, the sphere is carved into a sunken plaza with terraced seating, cafés, shops, and public amenities, creating a lively urban space. Beneath the arena, training courts are integrated to maximise usable space and remain accessible to the public.

The hotel sits two floors above the arena, with rooms on the lower level offering direct views of the court. On the upper level, amenity spaces cantilever over the stands, forming a large oculus in the arena ceiling. The opening can be glazed with thick glass, creating a soundproof barrier while maintaining a clear visual connection between the hotel and the arena, allowing guests to watch matches from both private rooms and shared spaces.

“A great sphere in the heart of Tirana can similarly become a temple to sport and community. By connecting the different functions, it invites everyone in the building to be part of the action,” added Maas.

Above the hotel, apartments are arranged within the sphere’s double-shell structure, creating a vast, semi-outdoor dome that mirrors the shape of the arena below. The interior serves as a courtyard garden for residents, complete with mature trees, seating, and landscaped areas for relaxation. Large openings puncture the dome in several locations, allowing natural ventilation and creating additional communal green spaces, each with its own distinctive character. 

The apartments feature dual-aspect layouts, offering views over Tirana as well as into the interior garden, with some units even looking down into the arena through the oculus. Near the top of the dome, duplex penthouses open onto private rooftop terraces, while a quarter of the upper ring is devoted to a double-height skybar for hotel guests, providing sweeping panoramic views across the city.

Exterior materials include metallic panels and glass, reflecting light across the sphere’s surface, while interior gardens add organic softness and texture. Maas describes the building as “a beacon, aiming to inspire and encourage people to play and to watch sport. A place to play, meet, and celebrate”.

With a total floor area of roughly 90,200 square metres, MVRDV’s Grand Ballroom is envisioned as a project that could reshape both Tirana’s skyline and its public spaces, bringing sports, hospitality, housing and retail together within a single monumental structure. The development is expected to become a prominent new landmark for the Albanian capital.

L’article MVRDV reveals plans for 100-metre sphere arena in Tirana est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Yet, as the eastern Mediterranean country pursues a path to European Union membership, newly re-elected Prime Minister Edi Rama is determined “that by the end of this decade, Albania will become a cashless society, meaning that all interactions and financial transactions are fully digital.”

Albanians’ mistrust of the banking sector goes back to a post-communism boom-and-bust that saw many stripped of their life savings by unscrupulous investment schemes, with losses amounting to half the country’s GDP and around 2,000 people killed in a near-civil war.

PM Edi Rama ambitious vision for Albania 2030:

– Become EU next member state
– Become the world's first cashless country
– Attract 20 million tourists a year (double today's figure)
– Elect first female prime minister
– Run fully on renewable energy; start exporting
– Create… pic.twitter.com/dLpq74mije

— kos_data (@kos_data) August 5, 2025

Nearly three decades on, in an otherwise safe and settled Albania, where tourism is flourishing thanks to government backing and reams of influencers keen to highlight the “Albanian Riviera”, many citizens still keep their savings under the mattress. The population is very rural, and the proportion of people with access to a bank account is almost 20% lower than the European average. World Bank data suggests less than half of citizens hold a bank account. Meanwhile, the so-called grey economy, operating below the radar of authorities and taxation, is estimated at between 29% and 50%.

What the tourism influencers perhaps don’t mention, but Lonely Planet does, is that “Albania has been remarkably slow to adopt card payments.” In a land where PayPal for commerce does not exist and many tradespeople and businesses hate card transaction fees (and tax), “paying with anything but the local currency (the Albanian lek) or euros is virtually impossible outside major cities. You’ll even be expected to pay cash for rental cars and gas.”

What’s more, ATMs “often charge a steep transaction fee (€6 / US$6.28 or more) and only supply large bills.” Lonely Planet recommends taking euros to use or exchange for lek, which can be more easily spent with a wider range of establishments.

Rama insists that this can be changed. “What’s needed is more upskilling,” he told an “Albania 2030 — a vision towards European integration” conference in July 2025, claiming, “if we manage to properly outline the roadmap ahead, this goal is entirely achievable, and it will free the country from a heavy burden of outdated practices and inefficiencies that weigh down everyday life.”

Albania’s #EU path is turning into real change! At the Tirana Forum, Eridana Çano called the Reform & Growth Facility a rehearsal for EU membership by 2030.
38/41 reforms delivered
€204M requested
From fairer taxes to 5G & green innovation — progress is real. pic.twitter.com/SoCFlg381p

— SASPAC (@SASPACALBANIA) September 17, 2025

Others are not so sure that the timeline is feasible. Despite an increase in electronic payments since 2015, from just two to 21 payments per person per year, according to Bank of Albania figures, the European average is somewhere well over 500 non-cash payments annually, according to Travel Tomorrow calculations based on European Central Bank statistics and European Commission population data.

Albania is due to align with the EU’s SEPA system by October 2025, but taking Albanians from just 21 electronic payments per year to paying for everything without cash within five years will remain quite a journey, entailing the enforcement of cash purchase thresholds, according to Spiro Brumbulli, secretary general of the Albanian Banking Association. Whether a cashless Albanian society is truly “achievable” remains to be seen, and one thing is clear: visitors should not leave their cash behind at home just yet.

L’article Can Albania achieve a cashless society by 2030? est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

For decades, the fortress-like building symbolised Albania’s darkest years. Hoxha, who led the country from the end of World War II until his death in 1985, transformed Albania into one of the world’s most isolated regimes. Obsessed with ideological purity, he banned religion and artistic expression, cut ties with both the Soviet Union and China, and plunged the nation into cultural and political isolation that earned it the nickname ‘the North Korea of Europe’. From Vila 31, he is believed to have orchestrated the brutal suppression of dissent, violent persecution of artists, and the activities of the Sigurimi, Albania’s feared secret police.

Built between 1972 and 1974 by Italian workers, the villa reflected Hoxha’s vision of modernity. Its interiors featured marble floors, fireplaces by Western designers, an indoor pool, and a home cinema – luxuries that stood in stark contrast to the widespread poverty outside its walls. Hoxha’s family remained in the house until the communist regime collapsed in the early 1990s.

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Long after Hoxha’s death in 1985, the house remained sealed off, a ghostly relic in the heart of Tirana, untouched for decades. ‘It was a villa frozen in time, with a Hollywood 1970s vibe,’ said Bruno Julliard, Art Explora’s director general, in an interview with Beaux-Arts Magazine.

That changed in April 2024, when the Art Explora Foundation, in partnership with the Albanian government, transformed the site into Vila 31-Art Explora, a space dedicated to cultural exchange and artistic experimentation. Founded in 2019 by French entrepreneur Frédéric Jousset, Art Explora aims to democratise access to culture and become a key artistic platform in the Balkans.

The Vila 31 project was born from a conversation four years ago between Jousset and Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama, himself a former painter and a driving force behind Tirana’s colourful urban revival.

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As journalist Lucy Fulford recounts in Plaster Magazine, Tirana’s skyline now mixes ‘glitzy chunks of steel and glass starchitecture’ with ‘hotchpotch relics of Albania’s club sandwich history: communist modernism with sprinklings of Ottoman, all set against Jurassic Park-scale Skanderbeg mountains’. Fulford expected a ‘grey communist hellscape’ but instead found streets splashed with colour, ‘geometric murals and housing blocks resembling Damien Hirst spot paintings’.

‘The villa was a ghost in the very centre of Tirana,’ echoes Blanche de Lestrange, Art Explora’s artistic director, as quoted in The Art Newspaper. ‘At the time of the dictator, artists were completely banned, so it was important for the prime minister to give a central and major place to artists – a kind of thumbing our noses at a history of censorship.’

Rather than erasing the building’s past, the conversion by NeM Architectes preserves key architectural elements while radically reimagining the interiors. Vila 31 now offers accommodation, studio space, workshops, a library, and a screening room for up to 30 artists per year, selected for three-month residencies in collaboration with the École nationale supérieure d’arts de Paris-Cergy, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Skopje, and the Oral History Kosovo initiative. The programme also pairs international curators and researchers with local art communities and opens its doors to the public through exhibitions and open studio events.

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Some Albanians initially voiced discomfort about repurposing the dictator’s home, but ultimately saw the artistic revival as more meaningful than turning the site into a luxury hotel.
The Vila 31 launch coincides with the Art Explora Festival, which brought immersive virtual reality experiences alongside exhibitions in partnership with the Louvre and international artists such as Etel Adnan, Joan Miró, and Albania’s own Anri Sala.
Long one of Europe’s poorest countries, Albania is now positioning itself as a rising cultural and touristic destination. The transformation of Vila 31 is part of a broader narrative of openness, creativity, and reconciliation with the past – a kind of exorcism of the site’s ghosts through art.

L’article How Albania turned a dictator’s home into a celebration of art est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The development, led by Affinity Partners, Kushner’s private equity company, will transform Sazan Island into a “vibrant international destination for hospitality and wellness” with a five-star “eco-resort community”, which will include hotels, private villas, a marina, wellness facilities, restaurants, and walking trails, and is planned to be connected to the mainland via a ferry service.

Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner's Saudi-backed firm "Affinity Partners" is pursuing billion-dollar property development projects in Albania and Serbia

– Transforming Sazan Island in Albania into a luxury eco-resort.

– In Albania's Zvërnec area near Vlora, developing… pic.twitter.com/ZsByQrjny9

— kos_data (@kos_data) March 15, 2024

“The fact that such a renowned American entrepreneur shows his interest on investing in Albania makes us very proud and happy,” a spokesperson for Prime Minister Edi Rama told The Times last year.

Tucked between the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, Sazan Island was once a Soviet- and Albanian-run naval base packed with bunkers and weapons storage. It was closed to the public for decades, and now it’s set to become a sustainable, high-end destination. 

The Sazan project will join the prestigious Aman resort network — renowned for its luxury hotels across countries like Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Mexico, Italy, Indonesia, and India — adding Albania to its global map. 

“We are bringing the best architects and the best brands to the 1,400-hectare island in the Mediterranean,” said Ivanka Trump in an interview on Lex Friedman’s podcast. 

The Albanian government have granted Kushner’s company official “strategic investor” status in late 2024 — a designation that offers priority access to fast-tracked permits and long-term leases for a 10-year development span. According to Mirela Kumbaro, Albania’s Minister for tourism and the environment, the agreement offers major incentives — zero taxes during the construction phase, with the government taking the responsibility for all infrastructure, including water, electricity and sewage systems.

Speaking to The Independent, Albanian tour guide Arben Kola has expressed deep concern over the Sazan Island deal, warning that many in Vlore are afraid to speak out against “Trump’s villas” for fear of losing their businesses.

Environmental groups have warned that the island — now part of the Karaburun-Sazan National Marine Park — is home to fragile ecosystems, including endangered birds and marine life. They worry that building on this scale could permanently disrupt one of the Mediterranean’s last relatively untouched coastal zones.

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According to Albanian local media, nearly 12 million foreign tourists visited the country in 2024 — a 15% rise from the year before. Minister Kumbaro warned that it’s “too many for us, and too much pollution,” pointing to the project as a balanced solution: “Sazan is the way to go. The ideal recipe: nature and luxury tourism.” 

With $4.6 billion financial backing from Saudi Arabia and other sovereign wealth funds in the Middle East, the project is expected to create roughly 1,000 jobs during both the construction and operational phases. Affinity Partners is reportedly exploring investment opportunities in other parts of the Balkans, as the firm is also pursuing a luxury hotel project in Belgrade, Serbia, where it plans to redevelop the former defence ministry building. 

Kushner’s expanding ventures in the Balkans underscore a broader push to transform Southeast Europe’s historic sites into luxury real estate, promising economic potential and global visibility, yet raising some questions about environmental impact.

L’article Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump to develop $1.4 billion luxury resort on Albania’s Sazan Island est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

You know that feeling when you discover something amazing and want to keep it to yourself just a little longer? That’s how I feel about Albania.

The first time I heard about the country was a decade ago, through the tales of a family living in Brussels. Every summer, they would return from Albania with exciting stories and wonderful photos of hidden coves with turquoise waters, ancient ruins and endless treks across untouched mountains. I remember wondering why no one else was heading that way.

Fast forward ten years and Albania is finally having its moment. With strategic visibility at major travel fairs, infrastructure upgrades, and even celebrity investment, the country is no longer hidden or unreachable. It’s sparkling in full daylight.

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From isolation to invitation

For decades, Albania remained largely unknown to mainstream European tourism. Under Enver Hoxha’s rule, it was one of the most closed countries on the continent. Since 2009 – and especially after being granted EU candidate status in 2014 – the country has undergone a steady transformation, driven by infrastructure development, cultural initiatives, and sustained tourism growth. This progress has attracted high-profile investors, including Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, who purchased Sazan Island in June 2025 after receiving strategic-investor status in January, committing over €1 billion to develop a luxury resort. Today, Albania stands out as one of Europe’s most surprising tourism success stories.

From barriers to booming

The shift didn’t happen overnight. Its breakthrough, arguably, came during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the country adopted a liberal travel policy that opened its doors to new possibilities. At a time when many countries imposed strict entry restrictions, Albania stood out by lifting all such measures in July 2020.

‘While everything else was shut down, Albania stayed open. You could drive there with just a certificate,’ recalls Leutrim Blaka, who runs the family café Chez Léo near Flagey with his sisters. It was opened by their parents, who are Albanian and originally from Kosovo, and arrived in Belgium in the 1980s.

‘Many of us who were born abroad played our part. We brought friends, shared photos and spread the word. That curiosity grew quickly.’

The return of the diaspora also brought energy, ideas and capital.

With increased visibility came growing interest from investors, leading to stronger infrastructure, such as safer roads, a new international airport under construction in Vlorë and major hotel chains establishing themselves in key coastal areas. Tourism offerings have expanded beyond the summer, with off-season cultural routes connecting castles, ruins, and historic towns. Albania was in the spotlight at this year’s ITB Berlin.

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Why now? Why Albania?

In 2024, the country welcomed over 11.5 million visitors, up from around 3 million before the pandemic – an impressive figure for a nation of just under 3 million people.

With 478 km of coastline – seven times more than Belgium – Albania offers incredible diversity. The Adriatic coast is peaceful and family-friendly, while the Ionian coast is dramatic and picturesque, boasting turquoise waters, secluded coves and rugged cliffs. Inland, 70% of the country is covered by mountains, offering breathtaking views and outdoor adventures.

Whether you enjoy jet skiing, hiking, sunbathing or slow travel, Albania has something for you.

‘What I love about it? The mountains, the sea, the people,’ says Blaka. ‘You can go from the beach to a mountain trail in a single day.’

Travellers will find warmth and authenticity in both vibrant coastal towns such as Vlorë and Sarandë and historic inland cities such as Gjirokastër and Berat, as well as an increasingly refined tourism experience.

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Tirana, the capital, has undergone a remarkable transformation. Its colourful façades, buzzing cafés, rooftop terraces and art spaces give the city a youthful, creative spirit.

History lovers will also find plenty to explore, from Ottoman-era villages and Roman ruins to hilltop castles and vibrant traditions. UNESCO-listed sites such as Butrint and the historic centres of Gjirokastër and Berat enrich the experience further.

As a late bloomer in European tourism, Albania has demonstrated a growing awareness of environmental impact. There is an increasing focus on initiatives promoting ecotourism, rural stays and national park preservation.

And if you needed any more convincing, consider the climate. Summers are long and sunny, with sea temperatures ranging from 23 °C to 27 °C and air temperatures often reaching 35 °C. Spring and autumn are warm and mild, and even coastal winters are relatively mild, making it a year-round destination.

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Social media and language

Social media has played its part in Albania’s revival. Images of white sands and crystal-clear waters from the Albanian Riviera, especially Ksamil, Himarë and Dhërmi, have taken over TikTok and Instagram feeds.

Long before Kushner decided to invest, singer Dua Lipa, whose family is of Albanian origin, had already put the country in the spotlight.

Albanian is the official language, but you’ll also hear Italian, French, German as well as English, which is becoming increasingly common, especially among younger people and those working in tourism.

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Affordability and generosity

Albania is also known for its warm hospitality and excellent value. A seaside dinner for two, including wine and fresh local produce, can cost under €40 – even in popular summer spots.

‘Even without asking, they brought us a plate of fruit after the meal,’ says Blaka. ‘The food, the service, the welcome – it was truly generous.’

Cuisine varies by region: seafood in the south, hearty stews and grilled meat in the north, and the much-loved byrek – a savoury pastry often filled with spinach or cheese – served everywhere.

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What has changed? What’s next?

‘Five years ago, people didn’t even know where it was,’ says Blaka. ‘Now it’s the place everyone’s talking about.’

Global hotel groups such as InterContinental are now setting their sights on the coast. But with growing popularity come inevitable questions: Will prices rise? Will Albania’s raw beauty remain unspoilt?

Our final thought is this: go now, while it’s still wild

Albania is no longer the forgotten corner of Europe, but it’s still possible to find your own secluded cove, mountain trail or quiet taverna.

‘My parents waited their whole lives to enjoy what they had left behind. Now they finally can,’ says Blaka. ‘And it means everything.’

Go now – before everyone else does.

L’article Albania, the secret you cannot keep forever est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

A grand opening ceremony

The festivities start today with a grand opening ceremony at Berlin’s CityCube, where around 2,500 guests, including high-ranking political figures and industry leaders, are expected to attend. Albania’s Prime Minister, Edi Rama, will lead the delegation, underscoring the country’s commitment to strengthening its position on the international tourism stage.

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Themed “All Senses”, the ceremony promises to take attendees on an immersive journey through Albania’s landscapes, traditions, and cultural heritage. Official greetings will be delivered by Berlin’s Mayor, Kai Wegner, as well as representatives from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

A cultural extravaganza

A carefully curated programme will bring Albania’s diverse cultural identity to life. The duo Shkodra Elektronike, Albania’s representatives for Eurovision 2025, will merge traditional folk music with modern electronic rhythms, offering a fresh take on the country’s musical roots.

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The Albanian National Ensemble will showcase traditional dances, including the Dance of Tropoja, the Sword Dance, and the Dance of Osman Taka, each narrating stories of heroism, resilience, and joy at the heart of Albanian culture.

The event will also feature Kaba and Iso Polyphony, the latter recognised by UNESCO, with a special performance by acclaimed pianist Robert Bisha. Choreographer Edi Blloshmi will present a contemporary dance piece, blending modern movement with Albania’s historical traditions.

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Albania’s tourism boom

Albania’s push to establish itself as a tourism powerhouse is deeply rooted in its history and economic ambitions. “We were an isolated country for over 50 years, and when democracy arrived, we spent the first 20 years trying to understand what freedom was and what it meant,” explains Mirela Kumbaro Furxhi, Albania’s Minister of Tourism and Environment. The dual role she occupies reflects the government’s approach to developing a regulated and sustainable tourism sector.

Albania’s role as ITB Berlin 2025 Host Country comes at a time of impressive tourism growth. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), international visitor spending in Albania surged by 45% compared to 2019, reaching €4.68 billion. Domestic visitor spending also surpassed 2019 levels, exceeding €1.03 billion.

The travel and tourism sector is estimated to have contributed €6.13 billion to GDP in 2024, with nearly 10,000 new jobs created.

L’article Albania takes centre stage as host country of ITB Berlin 2025 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.