Trump family plans luxury hotels in Albania – faces criticism from environmental groups
Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is planning major investments in Albania. His company, Affinity Partners, wants to build luxury hotels and villas at several locations along the country's coast. The projects are expected to cost over a billion dollars and aim to turn Albania into a new destination for wealthy tourists.
The investments focus primarily on two areas. The first is the island of Sazan, which was previously used as a military base and is now to be transformed into an exclusive resort. The second project is planned for the Zvërnec peninsula, an area known for its beautiful nature and rich wildlife.
However, the plans have sparked strong reactions and led to what is being called a "flamingo revolution." The area near Zvërnec is part of the Narta Lagoon, where thousands of flamingos and other rare birds live. Environmental activists warn that the large construction projects will destroy the birds' natural habitat and permanently damage the sensitive ecosystem.
Albania's government is positive about the plans. Prime Minister Edi Rama believes that the investments will create many new jobs and strengthen the country's economy. To facilitate the projects, the government recently changed laws to make it easier to build in areas that were previously nature reserves, which has sparked even more debate in the country.
The issue of the luxury hotels has become a symbol of the conflict between economic development and nature conservation. While the government and investors see a bright future for tourism, environmental organizations continue to fight to preserve Albania's unique nature. How the project progresses will be of great significance for both the country's economy and its environment.