Thekabarnews.com—Albania is in its fourth day of public protests over a luxury resort project involving businessman Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump.

Protesters have marched in several parts of the country. They warn that the planned tourism boom could endanger ecologically fragile areas and limit public access to the seacoast. Furthermore, they worry it could change some of Albania’s most treasured natural settings.

The proposed project, according to reports, includes development plans that would impact the Vjosa-Narta wetlands and Sazan Island. These two locations are considered ecologically important.

Construction activities could also disrupt wildlife habitats. In addition, they might add to pressures on protected ecosystems that support biodiversity along Albania’s Adriatic coastline.

The size of the project and the value of the investment have stoked the controversy.

Reuters reports put the price tag for the luxury resort development at around $1.6 billion. Meanwhile, Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama has put the wider investment package at up to $4.6 billion. This makes it one of the largest tourism-related investment proposals in the country’s recent history.

Supporters of the project say the investment could create jobs, boost tourism revenues, improve infrastructure, and raise Albania’s international profile. They believe Albania could become a Mediterranean travel destination.

Government officials have repeatedly highlighted the possible economic benefits, including increased foreign investment and long-term growth opportunities for local communities.

However, critics remain unconvinced. Protest organizers say the development is mostly for the benefit of wealthy investors and luxury tourism interests, not local residents.

But many demonstrators fear rising property values and increased coastal privatization. As a result, they worry large parts of the coastline could become less accessible to ordinary Albanians.

Some of the protestors have framed the issue as a broader discussion about public land ownership, environmental protection, and economic inequality.

“This is about protecting the coast of Albania for future generations,” some activists said at recent demonstrations, underlining worries about conserving public access and natural resources.

Vjosa-Narta wetlands have special environmental importance as a habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife species.

The area has been a long-standing campaigning issue for conservation groups. They want to see it more closely protected as one of Albania’s most important ecological treasures.

Sazan Island, at the mouth of the Bay of Vlorë, is also of strategic and environmental importance. The island has been relatively undeveloped for decades and has a unique natural environment and historical significance.

The row highlights the growing difficulty faced by many countries in balancing economic development with environmental protection.

Governments are also looking more and more to foreign investment to spur growth. Meanwhile, local communities and environmental advocates are demanding better safeguards for natural resources and for public spaces.

The protests go on, but the Albanian authorities have not indicated that they will stop the project. But growing public opposition could force policymakers to do more environmental reviews and public consultations.

For now, the controversy is one of the most closely followed political and environmental issues in Albania. That debate is likely to continue for weeks to come, given the potential for billions of dollars in investment and major conservation concerns.

The outcome is likely to have implications not only for the future of the proposed resort but also for the broader Albanian trajectory toward sustainable tourism development and environmental governance.

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