The “Future of Environmental Sustainable Tourism in Albania” (FESTA) forum, organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment of Albania in collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), was a significant event in the promotion of sustainable tourism practices in Albania.  The forum included several panels that focused on different aspects of the tourism industry and one of the panels that garnered significant interest was the “Jobs, Skills, and Hospitality” panel.

In this panel, Helvetas brought its expertise through the RisiAlbania project with the contributions of Ermira Shyti, Team Leader of Career Guidance, Intermediation, and Skills Development Outcomes, Urs Wagenseil, an expert at the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), and Roland Plaushi, the Founder of Ecotour Albania.

The experts highlighted the significance of establishing job opportunities in the tourism industry that are sustainable, equitable, and inclusive, particularly in developing nations like Albania. They also stressed the importance of businesses and destinations implementing sustainable practices and adhering to global standards to preserve natural and cultural resources. Moreover, they discussed the need to enhance skills development in the tourism sector and underlined the crucial role of collaboration between stakeholders and public-private partnerships.