Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, speaking from Berlin, addressed questions from social media as Albania takes the spotlight as the Country of Honor for 2025 under the slogan “Albania All Senses.”
Rama praised Albania’s 800-square-meter exhibition space at the heart of the Berlin fair, calling it “extraordinary.” He described last night’s event as a “direct hit in attracting attention” and thanked the dedicated team behind the presentation.
“I want to thank everyone who came from Albania and shined with their performances,” Rama said. “They excelled not only on stage but also behind the scenes, operating like a Swiss watch. Bravo!”
Reflecting on Albania’s progress, Rama said such recognition would have been unimaginable just a few years ago.
“Previously, we would have been overshadowed by the other ‘Countries of Honor,’ but this time, we outshined them,” he said, noting that Georgia held the title last year.
He recalled initial German skepticism towards Albania’s presence at the fair but emphasized that Albania’s tourism boom in 2023 changed perceptions.
“Last summer helped us a lot. We had nearly 400,000 German tourists, and this year, we aim to exceed half a million,” Rama said.
He highlighted Germany as a key tourism market, describing German tourists as “slow to decide, but once they come, they fully embrace the destination.”
Beyond tourism, Rama stressed that Albania’s growing international reputation has contributed to progress in EU accession efforts and breaking long-standing prejudices.
“Through tourism, some countries before us have broken the ice and overcome mountains of bias. For us, those barriers were not just mountains but entire ranges,” he concluded. /BV
