"If you want to feel like God, come to Albania! And if you want to meet taxi drivers who behave like God, go to Greece." This is how Prime Minister Edi Rama addressed tourists at the opening ceremony of ITB Berlin 2025, presenting Albania as a tourist destination at the tourism fair in Germany, also telling them why they should not visit Greece.
In his speech, the head of the Albanian government emphasized the hospitality of our people, bringing to attention the protection of Jews from the Nazis in Albania during World War II.
“Have you heard of a law in the country that declares our homes belong to God and to our friends? A law written in medieval Albania is an integral part of Albanian life. It is the essence of what we call Albanian prijeta. In Albanian it means doing the impossible to honor the name and home of a friend. The pinnacle of Albanian hospitality was distinguished by the protection of Jewish friends, becoming the only country in Europe with more Jews after the war than before it. We are a country of Muslims, Orthodox Christians, and Catholics. But we stood by the Jews, refusing to surrender even a single breath to the Nazis. Whoever knocks on the doors of an Albanian does so by the will of God. By opening the doors, we treat a friend as God. If you want to feel like God, come to Albania. And if you want to meet taxi drivers who behave like God, go to Greece.”
From Berlin, Rama invited not only German tourists, but tourists from all over the world to visit Albania. He pointed out that the only West Germans who visited Albania during the communist years were the football team led by Franz Beckenbauer, who came to our country twice.
“This week in Berlin, the world is invited to choose between Albania, Spain or Portugal or others participating in the World Tourism Cup. It is the only competition where the German team does not start as a favorite. When this fair was held in 1967, Albania had 1000 tourists. Mainly from East Germany, Marxist-Leninist who considered the democratic republic degenerate. The only Germans that year were from the football team led by the legend Beckenbauer. A 0-0 draw resulted, it was the only stain that almost cost Germany its presence in the European Championship. The only West Germans who visited Albania were the Germans from the football team.”
The Prime Minister also mentioned the tourism development that our country has undergone, turning it into a tourist destination. Reading the figures of 12 million visitors and tourists for last year, he said that this is a good opportunity for Albania to show that it is completely different from the stigma that has been created for it in the world.
"We have an even brighter economic future, sustainable growth that will be strengthened not only by the tourist destination, but also by our model of tourist ecology and experiences. In recent years, we have had more than two times the increase in per capita income and domestic production. In just 28 thousand square meters, you can find two seas, 9 rivers, mountains, valleys and you can travel and visit the Alps, the sea, the hot sand, the cool nights during the hot summer, Eastern Europe. And not only that, in May we will welcome all the world leaders, the leaders, but also the Giro D'Italia, as well as other and other events. Having a place at ITB in Berlin, no one in our country thought of while he was alive, not only is it happening, but it is an inspiring recognition. And in conclusion, let me say that for half a century we did not have the opportunity to cross over to the West, but this is what we are looking for, we are not looking for honor, but only fair play. Part of this is our language, which is derived from Sanskrit and a direct branch of the Indo-European language. To give you an idea, I am saying “Thank you” in Albanian. I am also saying something at the end of my speech, “Albania is never boring”. (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
