30 TOURISM LAW IN EUROPE approved in 2015, which aimed to bring the tourism sector under the focus of new splash of investments4. Additionally, by-laws, Council of Ministers decrees, and other regulations have been approved from time to time to fill the legal framework and to address the different segments of the tourism chain aiming to bring the sector development and its contribution closer to its potential5. The increasing importance of tourism in the economy as a source of employment, foreign direct investments and key service sector would require more and more attention both in policy formulation and to address the challenges that this sector currently is facing6. According to the latest estimate of Albanian Institute of Statistics (INSTAT), the economy, in the second quarter of 2020, has experienced a decline of -10.23% compared to the second quarter of 2019, followed by a decline of 2.27% in the first quarter. For the entire first 6 months it marked a decrease of -6.57%. Albania is particularly exposed to the economic contraction from the pandemic because it is strongly supported by the tourism sector and because of its intense relations with some EU economies severely affected by the pandemic7. Despite the generally positive situation, some major challenges need to be addressed by the sector8. The broad field of tourism is generally underdeveloped, and it is characterised by a lack of standards, poor quality in terms of tourist services and facilities, unsustainable development of tourism products, and a lack of cooperation and coordination among the players who are or could be an integral part of the industry9. Some of the specific challenges include: (1) the need for greater integration of tourism planning and tourism destinations; (2) addressing weaknesses in the range and quality of tourism products; (3) to develop a more favorable legal and institutional environment for attracting domestic and foreign private investors; and (4) to take a more comprehensive and strategic approach to tourism development in Albania, to ensure sustainability as well as the generation of income and employment opportunities10. 4 Investment Council Secretariat: “Legal And Institutional Framework On Tourism” by E. Zerva, https://www.investment.com.al/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/EN_Legal-and-InstitutionalFramework-on-Tourism.pdf, p. 2, accessed on 25.08.2021. 5 Idem. 6 Albania, Report on the Harmonization of Sustainable Development Goals with Existing Sectoral Policies. United Nations Albania, 30 January 2018, p. 143. 7 National Plan for European Integration, 2021-2023, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, p. 38, http://planifikimi.gov.al/index.php?eID=dumpFile&t=f&f=6170&token=5fde9f7a2fd7e514f53b853364 e79ca24f397160, accessed on 17.06.2021. 8 Idem. 9 Idem. 10 Idem.
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