The former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has now joined forces with Albania’s newest leader, Edi Rama, to advise the Balkan nation on attracting foreign investment, promoting tourism and EU integration.

Blair is hot on the heels of his former adviser Alistair Campbell, who provided advice to the Albanian Socialists during their successful electoral campaign earlier this year with the new Albanian PM saying last week that Blair would be ´personally and voluntarily´ advising the Albanian government and assisting with his ´extraordinary experience and political geniality.´

Announcing his support at a briefing in the capital Tirana last week, Mr Blair and his team will provide advice on how to modernise and implement a reform agenda in order to keep the Balkan nation’s economy growing and inject life into the tourism market with a view to be the next to join the other 28 nations in the EU. This advice is being offered at no cost to the Albanian government.

And indeed the figures are already looking positive. Albania is visited by 4.7 million tourists annually with the direct contribution of travel & tourism to the economy standing at €580m (6.2% of total GDP) in 2011, and forecast to rise by 5.4% per annum to €1.03bn by 2022.

This confident forecast is set to not only further bolster the Albanian economy but drive forward its emerging property as more and more tourists look to make their stay more permanent.

Peter Walshe, Marketing Director of Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa, the 5* luxury residential development located on Albania´s Adriatic coastline, under construction by a British developer, comments,

“As has been witnessed in many other European countries, in tandem with tourism growth comes development of the real estate market and Albania is no exception. Here at Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa we have seen an explosion of interest for new, western style properties in prime locations not least accelerated by the strengthening of the Albanian Lek and the depreciation of the Euro, boosting buyer confidence especially from areas outside of the Eurozone.

“The change of government and employment of eminent political figures such as Tony Blair reinforces the on-going bid for the rising Balkan nation to join the EU. Reaching EU candidate status would further increase the economic appeal of Albania, making it even more attractive to property investors and second home owners alike.”

EU membership may be the end goal but this Land of the Eagles is already a rising star on the global stage. G Adventures, Frommers and the Daily Telegraph amongst others, have all included Albania in their 2013 travel bucket lists. Indeed, “emerging” as it may be this tiny Balkan nation is already a well-known hotspot for regional travellers from Germany, Italy and Macedonia. It´s also well serviced by Europe´s popular budget airlines and will no doubt become an even bigger tourist draw as a future EU member state.

For those wishing to snap up a bargain luxury property on Albania´s hotly tipped Adriatic coastline, why not take a look at Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa?

Only moments away from the beach, the stunning resort apartments and villas are designed to be the ultimate beach properties in Albania affording private swimming pools, BBQ area, tennis courts and superb restaurants. Homes are priced from just €32,000.

For more information on the Adriatic´s secret jewel please contact Lalzit Bay on 0845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com .