Denada Jushi
Albania is blessed with natural assets that would make even the best-marketed Nordic countries jealous: mountains, valleys, and the Alps that make tourists wonder if they've come to the wrong continent. But like any asset, it comes with a caveat: if mismanaged, it can quickly be lost.
In this spirit, the Albanian Parliament overwhelmingly approved a new law — the so-called “Mountain Package.” With 73 votes in favor, 1 against, and 1 abstention, MPs paved the way for a new investment regime in mountainous areas, with the stated goal of developing tourism and reviving the rural economy. But beneath this promise of development, experts and activists see another possible scenario: concreting, urban chaos, and irreversible damage to the environment.
Development without a compass? Choosing “priority” areas
The government has announced that there is no fixed list of areas that will benefit from this package. The decision on the designation of areas as priority will be made later by the Council of Ministers. In short: it is not yet known where it will be built, who will build it and how the success of the intervention will be measured.
According to the Minister of Local Government, Arbjan Mazniku:
"The draft law does not contain a fixed list of areas. Priority mountain development areas are not defined a priori by law, but will be declared by decision of the Council of Ministers."
The law provides several criteria for the selection of these areas:
- Tourist, economic or industrial potential;
- The presence of “non-owners” – a legally confusing category that hinders development;
- Difficulty in obtaining permits due to lack of clear property documentation.
On paper, it looks like an effort to help abandoned areas. In reality, experts are skeptical about how this can be implemented without a detailed plan.
Are the mountains ready to withstand this new 'love'?
Rural tourism expert, Luan Dervishi, raises a clear alarm:
"Rural areas have long been facing depopulation. The lack of labor and the departure of young people make any kind of investment that requires local cooperation difficult."
According to him, mountain development cannot be based solely on construction and asphalt. An integrated approach is needed that includes support for agriculture, forestry, infrastructure, tourism and social capital.
A law that does not provide for a preliminary map, does not provide mechanisms for community consultation, and lacks clarity on selection criteria risks producing more chaos than development.
Tourism at a cost? When the “beautiful project” turns into ugly concrete
One of the strongest criticisms is the lack of clarity on the typology of investments. The law does not set limits on construction, does not specify minimum or maximum values, and allows projects to be approved even outside existing urban plans.
Remember the case of Theth, Valbona or even the southern coast: uncritical construction, often ugly and harmful to nature, is now part of the Albanian tourist reality.
Environmental expert, Abdulla Diku, warns:
"Any intervention in nature carries a risk of damaging ecosystems, especially in mountainous areas that are sensitive habitats for flora and fauna."
He adds that the biggest problems come from:
Deforestation, Biodiversity loss and fragmentation, Replacement of natural landscape with concrete infrastructure.
Law for development or manual for abuse?
The government has often mentioned the goal of attracting 500 foreign investors by giving away state-owned land for 1 euro, a scheme that on paper sounds like salvation, but in practice could end up as another grim chapter of disappointments.
Without transparency, without community participation, and without clear environmental criteria, the risk of transforming the Albanian mountains into pseudo-luxury concrete centers is closer than sustainable development.
The Mountains Package could be a golden opportunity for abandoned areas, but only if it is accompanied by serious planning, transparency and respect for nature. Otherwise, we will only have a new chapter in the tragic novel of “Albanian development” where everything begins with passion and ends with concrete.
