Leadership Traits and Tourism Development: Evidence from Albania

Abstract

This paper investigates the intricate relationship between individual political leadership and national tourism development, an area often underexplored in academic literature. Focusing on Albania’s remarkable tourism expansion between 2016 and 2026, which saw annual visitor numbers surge from 2.6 million to 11.7 million, this study posits that specific leadership traits and styles significantly contributed to this boom. Through the lens of Prime Minister Edi Rama's tenure, a theoretical framework integrating leadership traits theory, charismatic and transformational leadership, political branding, and tourism governance is applied. The analysis reveals how Rama's artistic background, modernizing vision, diplomatic skill, and strategic communication fostered a coherent national brand, amplified international media presence, and strategically repositioned Albania on the global tourism map, thereby facilitating the extraordinary growth experienced. This paper argues that tourism development is not merely an economic process but a politically mediated and symbolically constructed field, profoundly shaped by the unique characteristics of its leadership.

Keywords: Leadership Traits, Tourism Development

DOI: 10.7176/JTHS/69-05

Publication date: May 30^th 2026