Albania is one of Europe’s poorest countries and continues to face severe difficulties adjusting to the new Europe after decades of Stalinist isolation. Only in 1985, after the death of Enver Hoxha, its President, did Albania, began to develop contacts with the outside world. More recently, conditions were worsened by regional political instability and the collapse of ’pyramid’ investment schemes in 1997. New components of the economy, such as tourism, which were mostly set up with foreign investment, suffered badly in the wake of the 1997 upheaval. Nonetheless, Albania now enjoys access to funding from the main international donor bodies (IMF, World Bank and EBRD), as well as growing contacts with major European countries, such as Italy and France. Albania hopes to follow the rest of eastern Europe into the European Union and NATO.

Despite this, travelers can enjoy Albania's wild and mountainous landscape, with its extensive forests, sandy beaches and many beautiful lakes. Bathed by the Adriatic Sea, the southern coastline remains unspoilt and many activities such as swimming, diving, sailing and fishing are possible.

Geography
Albania shares borders with Serbia & Montenegro to the north, with Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic of) to the northeast, and with Greece to the south; to the west are the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. Most of the country is wild and mountainous, with extensive forests. There are fine sandy beaches and, inland, many beautiful lakes.