Anti-tourism protests have devastating impact on growing holiday hotspot as hotel booking cancellations surge

Crowds estimated of up to 200,000 people filled the streets of Tirana on Saturday, demanding the socialist leader step down from office.

The unrest was initially sparked by opposition to a luxury tourism development valued at approximately $4.6billion linked to Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, which would transform an abandoned island and adjacent coastline along the Adriatic Sea.

The area of Zvernec is famous for its flamingos and is home to a local turtle nesting site.

The Prime Minister said: "The direct consequence (of the protests) is the cancellation of reservations by foreign tourists."

He added that plenty of local businesses which rely on the summer season to propel their businesses through the remainder of the year have raised their concerns with the leader directly.

But Mr Rama argued that the ongoing protests are being also used by individuals to strike political instability over matters beyond the tourism industry, issuing a fiery warning against the troublemakers.

More than 100,000 protesters flocked to the streets of Tirana

REUTERS

"This is fascist, it is scandalous, and it must be stopped," the Prime Minister said on the latest during the explosive interview.

The long-serving leader even drew a parallel between the movement and Nazi-era Germany, characterising the protesters' message of the nation belonging to Albanians as echoing the nationalism that made Germany "Europe's 'black sheep' for years."

Zvernec is situated on a narrow peninsula and has a lagoon where flamingos tend to flock during the summer months, with the coast lined with beaches, rugged cliffs and olive groves.

Environmental campaigners have raised alarm over the proposed site, which sits within a protected zone of significant ecological value.

The area of Zvernec is famous for its flamingos and is home to a local turtle nesting site

GETTY

The area is home to a lagoon that serves as habitat for migratory bird species including the flamingos that have given the protest movement its name.

The Rama administration insisted the investment into the area will revolutionise Albanian tourism and bolster the nation's European Union membership aspirations.

Now, what began as environmental activism has evolved into Albania's most substantial anti-Government mobilisation since the collapse of communism in 1991.

Demonstrators have shifted their focus from demanding the resort project's cancellation to calling for early elections and Mr Rama's departure from power.

The Prime Minister blamed the wider unrest to malicious online agitators operating from abroad, insisting he will not retreat from the development plans.

Solidarity rallies have spread beyond Albania's borders, with members of the diaspora gathering in cities including London, Berlin, Vienna and New York.

Meanwhile, Albanian communities in neighbouring Greece have also joined the protests as they scuffle over a possible land grab.

Disputes over land are relatively common as a result of a combination of poor record-keeping, local corruption and a long-standing complicated history.