Albania has the third fastest-growing tourism industry in the world, but as erosion eats away at the coastline and developers build ever closer to the sea, the country is facing a crisis.

Velipojë

Extreme weather events are occurring more frequently amid rising sea-levels and increasing temperatures.

Climate Crisis

Albania is witnessing significant erosion along its coastline, a situation exacerbated by climate change and aggressive development. Currently, over half of the nation's coastal boundaries are affected by erosion. In Velipoja, 210 meters of coastal forest have been reclaimed by the sea, and the island of Franz Josef, once a hub for biodiversity in the Buna Delta, has vanished. This reflects the broader challenges facing Albania, which has seen a 58% increase in tourist numbers since pre-pandemic levels, with 10 million visitors in recent times.

The country is pushing forward with rapid coastal development, which poses additional threats to the shoreline. Areas like Golem face simultaneous pressure from both aggressive sea encroachment and rampant construction, leading to environmental degradation. In Shengjin, local businesses, such as the Posadone beach restaurant, use sandbags for protection, recognizing the impending risk as the sea continues to advance. Yet, despite these evident challenges, Albania is not slowing its tourism growth, aiming to welcome 30 million visitors annually by 2030, despite calls for caution.



Albanian coastline affected by climate change and erosion

More than half of Albania's coastline now faces erosion. In Velipoja, the sea has already reclaimed 210 meters of coastal forest and submerged a whole island. If you compare satellite images from 2012 with those taken today, you can see that the island of Franz Josef, which was in the Buna Delta on the Albanian side, has completely disappeared. Franz Josef Island was a haven of seabirds and other biodiversity. Once an off-the-beaten-track destination for intrepid travellers, Albania welcomed 10 million tourists in 2023, 58% up on pre-Covid figures. Now green-lighting shorefront developments at a rate of knots, here in Golem, the coastline is under attack from both sides. On the one hand, an ever more aggressive sea, and on the other, rampant coastal construction. Concrete pools and patios encroach on the beach, leaving just a thin strip of sand to act as a buffer zone between land and sea. In Shengjin, business owners know they are living on borrowed time, like at the Posadone beach restaurant, fortified with sandbags. There were once two bunkers here, now they're underwater. The sea is approaching and could take everything. In four or five years, everything will be covered. But Albania has no plans to pump the brakes on its booming tourist industry. The government has announced plans to welcome 30 million visitors a year by 2030, warnings falling on deaf ears.

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Climate Crisis