ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, TOURISM, MARITIME TRANSPORT, RENEWABLE ENERGY: EMERGING PILLARS OF ALBANIA’S BLUE ECONOMY

This study examines the evolving pillars of Albania's blue economy, focusing on tourism, maritime transport, and renewable energy as drivers of sustainable growth and climate resilience.Tourism, particularly in coastal and lake regions, has emerged as one of the country's largest economic sectors, generating over €4 billion in revenues and supporting nearly one in five jobs by 2023.Maritime transport, centered on the Port of Durrës but complemented by Vlorë, Sarandë, and Shëngjin, has expanded significantly in freight and passenger flows, reflecting Albania's role as a regional hub and gateway to European markets.At the same time, Albania's energy sector is undergoing diversification beyond hydropower, which currently supplies almost all electricity but exposes the country to climate variability.Solar capacity has grown rapidly in recent years, though wind energy deployment remains absent despite ambitious 2030 targets.By analyzing statistical data, policy frameworks, and infrastructure trends, this paper highlights the synergies among these sectors and their collective role in strengthening Albania's economic resilience, environmental sustainability, and regional integration within the Western Balkans and the wider European context.