Unveiling Albania’s Secret Surveillance on Foreign Tourists
Albania Secretly Monitored Tourists. In the coastal city of Durres, two courageous professors have fearlessly delved into the creation of a captivating exhibition that explores how Albania’s Communist-era Sigurimi secret service monitored foreign tourists who ventured into one of Europe’s most isolated nations.
A Glimpse Into Albania’s Hidden Past HowAlbania Secretly Monitored Tourists.
In his 2002 book Rumpalla: Rummaging Through Albania, American journalist Peter Lucas shares his chilling experience from the 1980s, when Sigurimi officers rifled through his belongings and confiscated a Western novel. Albania was a hermit state for much of the 20th century, closed off to its citizens and the outside world. Yet, starting in 1958, the country’s need for hard currency led to a cautious opening to tourism, which brought intense surveillance from the Sigurimi and Secretly Monitored Tourists
A Unique Exhibition Experience
Running until December in Durres, the exhibition ‘Peeping Tourist’ reveals the dual role of the state tourism agency Albturist in promoting tourism and aiding the Sigurimi in its surveillance efforts. The exhibition, set in the private home of retired teacher Albina Mima and a nearby repurposed bomb shelter, features original surveillance equipment, archival footage, and even homemade jam for visitors to enjoy.
Licaj, one of the professors behind the exhibition, estimates that by the mid-1980s, 5-6% of Albania’s 15,300 foreign visitors were under constant surveillance, confined to specific hotels and monitored closely. This exhibition, nestled in the heart of Durres’ archaeological area, is a testament to the city’s rich history and the collaborative spirit of those who worked to bring this hidden chapter of Albania’s past to light.
