Tourism and environmental pollution

Based on the shared consumption in the summer season, we calculate that the amount of water supply is insufficient with this investment rate as of today, as well as if new investments are not carried out in real time according to the National Water Supply – Sewerage Strategy, 2023 – 2030. Meanwhile, regarding the management of polluted waters, it seems that the situation of bathing waters is at high levels of pollution with a good to bad quality of up to 60%, it seems that the investments and measures taken have not yet managed to rank the bathing waters of Albanian beaches in excellent quality in 95% of them.

Likewise, air pollution has high levels of pollution in almost the entire territory that is also considered a tourist destination, a situation and proposals that ALTAX has addressed in a separate analysis.

As often pointed out by environmental experts, tourism can be a source of the same types of pollution as any other industry, including air pollution emissions, noise, waste, industrial and municipal wastewater discharge, chemicals, and even architectural/visual pollution.

Therefore, tourism development should be viewed with a cost-benefit balance and not from a narrow regional and short-term perspective, as the results of previous studies reveal that there is a relationship between the intensity of tourist traffic and the level of air pollution with NO2, CO2, PM2.5, PM10.

Regarding air pollution and the environment, it should be borne in mind that although tourism can potentially affect the environment by contributing to its imbalance, it should be considered to apply protective tariffs as a source of financing for the protection of natural areas and increasing their economic importance.

The tourism industry significantly affects the environment both directly and through supporting industries. Therefore, it could be very interesting in future studies to investigate how the tourism industry can affect air quality and the environment in different locations, analyzing in particular what type of tourist flow creates the greatest source of pollution.

From the presentations of environmental pollution monitors, the largest pollutants are (a) nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions from fuel combustion and (b) particulate matter from construction projects throughout the country (PM2.5). In the last year, but also in the coming years, a potential environmental pollution is also that which comes from the excessive increase in the number of visitors, who may become a third source of pollution as a result of increased consumer demand.

This situation, which has now become permanent regarding the sources of pollution in the country, naturally also requires a tax policy that adapts to the “polluter pays” principle.

With this environment and sources of pollutants, there is already a complete taxation package (fuel excise tax, as well as carbon tax) for nitrogen dioxide emissions. However, with the increase in the number of vehicles in use, but also in conditions of suboptimal fuel quality, there seem to be good reasons to protect the environment with higher fuel taxes.

This is of course worth deciding after a nationwide discussion regarding this aggressive fiscal policy.

The main goal that justifies the tax instrument is the reduction of fuel consumption and harmful gas emissions, thus facilitating the green transition.

On the other hand, in this transition, all the tax revenues raised by the government should go to finance, for example, clean energy infrastructure, the correction of traffic congestion costs and the costs associated with fiscal incentives for vehicles using clean energy.

How to effectively control air pollution must first become a permanent issue with health, social and economic reasons.

However, in any type of pollution that is carried out (water, air, emissions, waste, biodiversity) it is necessary to charge the polluter according to emissions (quantity and spread) and not the user, as this is also the purpose of imposing potential tariffs against pollution.

In this principle, it should be borne in mind that even the increased visitors pay to have the clean environment and nature they seek. But first, politics must understand that the environment they damage must be maintained precisely by asking for a contribution from them and not by starting from short-term benefits, which are still unclear about the increase in added value for the sustainable economy that we want to have.

Considering the increase in the level of air pollution (but also water pollution and the environment as a whole) we think that it is appropriate to discuss a Fiscal Law for Environmental Protection, although the law without being harmonized with comprehensive environmental management may not have the power to curb pollution.

However, it should be remembered about the dual role of tourism as a culprit and victim of environmental degradation, which reduces the tourist attractiveness of a destination and, consequently, income from leisure or travel.

From the data on environmental waste management, for the period 2021 – 2023, it can be seen that (see Report), waste management is at the level of 92%.

Managed waste is mainly treated by depositing waste in landfills and other disposal sites approved by local governments, but with problems in their management during the summer season, especially in coastal areas, creating a situation that has negatively affected the tourist offer model in these areas.

Organic waste continues to dominate urban waste management. This category accounts for the largest share of managed urban waste, with a share that has remained relatively stable, 57-58%, in the last three years. Meanwhile, if we include pollution from tourists according to the EPA, an average American person produces about 2.6 kg of waste per day, while a person in Europe generates an average of 1.4 kg of waste per day, but this average varies from country to country within the EU.

If we calculate the number of visitors for 2023, the waste generated by them exceeds the amount of 42.6 thousand tons of waste (14.2 thousand tons x 3 days of stay), mainly as organic, plastic, glass, wood, metal waste.

The waste currently generated in all areas of Albania is more than the waste generated in the Berat region, or slightly less than the waste generated throughout the year in the Shkodra region[1], which means that their generation creates acute problems for their management at the current level of local capacities.

[1] https://www.instat.gov.al/media/12918/vjetari-statistikor-rajonal-2023__.pdf, faqe 218