Culture and Cultural Tourism

In the 2017-2021 mandate, the Government prioritizes maintaining and improving the quality standard in cultural products, intensifying investments in this sector, independence of the cultural scene from public structures (increasing funding sources and public-private partnerships) and the use of culture as a source of economy and tourism. Within the term 2017-2021, the works for the complete reconstruction of the Opera and Ballet Theater will be completed, the multifunctional art center “Turbina” will be completed, investments will be made in multifunctional cultural centers in cities where the Urban Renaissance has significantly increased interest in culture. In Tirana, cultural investments will have three priorities in this second mandate: retraining and reconceptualization of the National Historical Museum; reconstruction of the National Library; rehabilitation of the National Art Gallery as an important center of Albanian art history. In cooperation with the Municipality of Tirana, we will also start construction for the New National Theater and the construction of a Museum of Contemporary Art in the new infrastructural axes that are being added to the capital.

Culture, not as a chance for some, but as a real right for all, will materialize in the continuation of the reform in art institutions and in cultural policies, where it will strongly emphasize “education through culture” in professional standards. Mass education with art and culture in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, interfering in school curricula on the one hand and including in every art institution the pedagogical and educational line on the other hand, will be a priority in the second term.

Cultural heritage as a combination of the Urban Renaissance program with that of the rehabilitation of historical centers, will consolidate the successful model of reviving cultural heritage as a tourist destination.

Priority will be given to the combination of cultural tourism with agro-tourism through the Rural Renaissance program, which will aim at the restoration of the historical centers of villages with historical potential such as QH Rehovo, QH Theth, QH Dhërmi, QH Vuno, QH Përmet. New tourist itineraries with a cultural character will be promoted, such as “Roads of Faith”, old historical and commercial corridors, such as “Via Egnatia”, combining cultural heritage, cuisine and handicrafts. The “Paths of Memory” are also a unique itinerary of Albania that will continue to highlight the historical and educational aspect of the sites of the former dictatorship such as Spaçi or Tepelena, following the already well-known museum projects of Memory. On the international stage, culture will continue to strengthen its qualitative presence as our best passport.