Albania is now a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)! This significant achievement means that global sustainability standards and accreditation are now accessible and available in Albania. To celebrate and build on this milestone, the National Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development in Albania was co-hosted on December 6, 2024, by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment and Helvetas.

The event, held at the Opera & Ballet Theatre in Tirana, gathered key stakeholders from Albania’s tourism sector, including industry leaders, policymakers, and sustainability advocates, to discuss and promote sustainable tourism practices. Mrs. Kumbaro Mirela, Minister of Tourism and Environment, and H.E. Ruth Huber, Ambassador of Switzerland, highlighted Albania's commitment to global standards.

Insights were shared by Ms. Cordula Wohlmuther from the UN Tourism and Mr. Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC. Panel discussions covered the National Tourism Strategy and GSTC criteria, emphasizing the importance of quality management for sustainability. The event concluded with a networking session to foster collaboration between local businesses and three GSTC-accredited certification bodies: RoyalCert International Registrars, Dream&Charme Srl, and United Certification Services Limited (UNiCERT).

The conference also featured a panel discussion titled “Achieving Certification through a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body,” where Mr. Randy Durband joined Mr. Christos Markopoulos, General Manager of RoyalCert International Registrars, Mr. Giorgio Caire di Lauzet, CEO of Dream & Charme Srl, and Mrs. Olga Shuvalova, CEO of UCSL-United Certification Systems Limited. They explored the pathways and challenges of obtaining GSTC-Accredited certification for tourism businesses in Albania, highlighting the tangible benefits such as increased market competitiveness and trust among travelers.

At Helvetas, we are happy to have facilitated Albania’s membership to GSTC. We join Mr. Durband in encouraging Albania to set the desired minimum standards and work towards them step by step