Albanian Tourism Union

about Us

The “Albanian Tourist Union” was established in 2005 by a group of 39 founders, led by Mr. Sadik Malaj, and was registered with the Court of Tirana under Decision No. 1280 on February 23, 2005.

The first president of the association was elected Mr. Sadik Malaj, who led it until December 2015, when he tragically passed away. In the Assembly meeting in February 2016, a new president was elected, Mr. Rrahman Kasa, one of the founders of this association.

Its activity is based on the Statute drawn up at the time of its establishment in 2005, which was updated in relation to new developments and adjustments with the changed legislation in the General Assembly meetings of 2019 and 2021. The “Albanian Tourist Union” is an independent association with the mission and goal of protecting the interests of entities operating in the field of tourism.

ATU is an active and organized structure with sectors and branches across Albania. It is an organization at the level of the Albanian Tourism Chamber. Its membership includes businesses grouped according to their field of activity, such as: Tourist Operators, Accommodation Structures, Culinary & Agritourism, Tourist Transport, Tourist Guides, Restaurants, and Rural Tourism.

The Tourist Union is currently the largest and most consolidated organization in the tourism sector and a reliable and serious partner with all state institutions, as well as national and international partner and donor organizations, in the implementation and execution of various projects for the development of Albanian tourism. Since its establishment, about 600 entities have joined this association. Currently, there are around 430 active members.

ATU is one of the main contributors to the development of the Albanian tourism industry, whose members together generate approximately 1 billion euros for the country’s economy. The association has undertaken and initiated legal initiatives for the state decision-making bodies to regulate and systematize, through legal and sub-legal acts, the proper functioning of fair market economy rules.

In fulfilling its mission, through surveys and complaints received from businesses, the association has identified recurring problems and needs faced by the tourism industry, which have been addressed to state authorities, seeking their resolution. Our association has achieved several successes, both in implementing various projects and in organizing a large number of activities, conferences, awards, national and international fairs, and informative tours to promote the tourist potential of Albania, among others.