Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who visited Albania for a summer holiday like many of her fellow citizens, ensured that a local restaurant owner received his money after a group of Italians left without paying the bill. Meloni and her family spent a few days in Albania this week as guests of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, whose country is experiencing a surge in tourism this summer, with visitors flocking to enjoy its white sandy beaches and take advantage of lower prices compared to the rest of Europe.
Rama told the Italian daily "La Stampa" that when news spread about some Italians fleeing without paying their bill at a restaurant in the central city of Berat, Meloni intervened to help. Rama quoted Meloni saying to the Italian ambassador to Albania, "Please go and pay the bill for these fools."
Italian Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, who is Meloni's son-in-law, was on the trip to Albania and stated that it was a matter of national pride. He explained to Reuters, "Meloni offered to pay the bill. The ambassador was on his way back to Tirana and could do that." Lollobrigida added, "A few scammers cannot embarrass a nation of respectable citizens."
Rama mentioned in a television interview last week that Albania expects to welcome nearly 500,000 visitors from Italy this year. Many Italians are avoiding domestic trips amid rising prices and are instead traveling to the Balkan nation where accommodation and beach resorts are more affordable.
