TIRANA, ALBANIA     USAID/Albania Country Representative, Dr. Catherine Johnson, attended the opening of Tourism Management Office in Pellumbas with Albania's Minister of Urban development and Tourism, Eglantina Gjermeni, and the Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, and community members. Developing Albania’s natural attractions as sustainable destinaions for visitors, is difficult work that requires expertise and investment.  USAID has partnered with the Embassy of Sweden and a local partner, CEBE Albania, to establish the Tourism Investment and Finance Fund which works with local entrepreneurs to finance and support businesses related to tourism. This initiative will encourage local economic development, and increase tourism in three focus regions in Albania—Tirana, Belsh, and Korca. This assistance has already created dozens of new jobs, and has also increased property value—in the case of Pellumbas, by as much as 21 percent.

"I am impressed by the progress that has been made here in the village center, but I know that this is only the beginning," said Dr. Johnson. "To complement the investment that the Government of Albania and local government have already made to the area, TIFF will soon be supporting small businesses ready to take this investment even further. I believe that tourism truly can be a leading edge for economic growth in Albania, and for the people of Tirana and Pellumbas."