Tourism in Albania

Berat, the Town of a Thousand and One Windows.

Gjirokastër, the Town of a Thousand Steps.

Ancient Amphitheater of Butrint

Archaeological site of Apollonia

Rozafa Castle overlooking Buna River

Castle of Kruja

Along the Lake Komani Ferry

Albanian Alps

Skanderbeg's Grave and Lezhë Castle

Moscopole, near the ski resort area of Dardha in Korçë. In 2012, the first ever ski tow in Albania was opened by Bigell Ski Center in Dardhe.

Lake Ohrid in Pogradec

Tirana, the capital

Amphitheatre in Durrës

Scenic Llogara Pass on the SH8

Ksamil Islands

Blue Eye Spring

Albanian Riviera

Tourism in Albania is characterized by the archaeological heritage from Greek, Roman and Ottoman times, unspoiled beaches, challenging mountain ranges, Cold War artifacts, unique traditions and unsurpassed hospitality, delicious traditional cuisine, and the wild and peculiar atmosphere of the countryside. Although still underdeveloped, tourism has seen an impressive increase in recent years. Lonely Planet recently ranked Albania as the no. 1 destination to be visited in 2011. A watershed moment was the publication of promotional videos on several global news channels and the writing of promotional articles in important world newspapers. The majority of tourists coming to Albania is made up of Albanians coming from Albania itself, Kosovo, and Macedonia, and expats from Greece, and Italy. These prefer mostly beach tourism, while rural tourism is slowly gaining popularity. Foreign tourists mostly come from Eastern Europe, particularly from Poland, and the Czech Republic. These tend to visit alpine settings. On the other side, Western tourists come mainly from Germany, Italy, France, and Scandinavian countries. Backpackers are common and prefer resting at the many hostels in Tirana, or camping in the countryside or along the coast. Organized groups mainly visit the numerous archaeological sites and historic towns. Some middle-aged couples prefer touring with campervans the unspoiled beaches. A growing trend has become rafting in the many canions, cycling, hiking, or cross-country off-road touring in the countryside. The latter can be explored through the adventurous Albanian railway system. Car rental agencies and information centers have opened branches in Tirana International Airport, in the capital and other towns. Dental tourism has become popular as local dentists offer Western standards with much lower prices. Local delicious food can be tasted at traditional Albanian restaurants located near tourist attractions and scenic spots, in the capital, or at the house of a rural family.

However, tourism is hampered by local management issues such as poor road and public utilities infrastructure, unregulated waste disposal, illegal construction, uncertain land ownership, unreliable public transport, and an unqualified hospitality sector. Recently, some coastal, mountainous, and major roads have been reconstructed, while the local private sector and foreign donors are heavily investing in accommodation and renovations at historical sites. Albania has been dubbed the "New Mediterranean Love".

Entry requirements

Citizens of the following countries do not require visas to enter: All 27 EU members, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chili, Croatia, Vatican, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Malaysia, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, United States of America, and Ukraine.

History

Albania has been visited by a number of important chroniclers, including Evliya Çelebi, Lord Byron, Edith Durham, Rose Wilder Lane, and Edward Lear. Tourism in Albania became established with the creation of the Royal Motor Tourist Club in 1929 serving business travelers. The period also saw the publication of promotional pamphlets, and the construction of some beach cabins by Italian engineers in Durres. At the start of communism, foreign tourists only came from Eastern Europe, and were accommodated at the foreigners only Adriatik Hotel in Durres. Gradually other hotels were constructed nearby from Soviet engineers to accommodate the local working masses and the country's elite. The latter rested at heavily guarded secluded areas mainly in Golem Beach south of Durres, Drilon Swans Park east of Pogradec, some alpine village areas, and along the Albanian Riviera. Additionally, several youth camps were established and a tourist boat constructed called Punetori (the Worker). The population used heavily rail transport as private car ownership was forbidden by law. Following the Sino-Soviet Split, the regime encouraged Chinese tourists to visit Albania. It was only in the 1980s that Western tourists were permitted to visit as part of Marxist-Leninist organizations. They mainly visited historic sites. Upon arrival, some of them underwent shaving by authorities. In fact, beards and long hair in men were banned in Albania as signs of degenerated bourgeoisie manners. Since the fall of communism, visiting restrictions greatly eased while the tourism sector experienced a spontaneous construction spree. The 1997 unrest was a major blow for tourism and contributed to the negative image of Albania as a lawless and unsafe country. In the 2000s, it is worth noting the reconstruction of important roadways, the continuation of illegal/spontaneous construction in some popular areas, and the rediscovery of forgotten parts by domestic tourists and businessmen. A significant watershed moment was the publication of several promotional videos on major global news channels and the writing of promotional articles in important international newspapers. In 2010, tourism in Albania had the greatest increase in the world with a 42% growth.

Destinations

Towns and archaeological sites

The most visited towns are:

• A thousand and one window town of Berat
• Old port city of Durrës (Dyrrhachium)
• Stone city of Gjirokastër
• Krujë, the balcony over the Adriatic sea
• Shkodër, the city that is home, among others to the Rozafa Castle
• Tirana, the capital with a vibrant nightlife
• Beach city of Vlorë (the city of olives and grapes)
• Lezha, the historic diplomatic capital of Albania
• Poet's city of Pogradec
• Honeymooners' city of Sarandë
• Year round festive city of Korcë

The most visited archaeological sites are

• Apollonia
• Antigonea
• Byllis
• Butrint

Natural attractions

Some increasingly popular natural features are:

• Albanian Riviera, the coastal area stretching from Vlore to Saranda along the Ionian Sea. The whole coastline of Albania stretches over 450 km.
• Albanian Alps, part of the Prokletije or Accursed Mountains range in extreme Northern Albania where the highest mountain peak of the range is located. Seventy percent of the country's terrain is mountainous.
• Naturally occurring phenomenon of the Blue Eye Spring near Sarande in extreme Southern Albania
• Lake Komani Ferry, a unique journey amidst spectacular mountain views in Northern Albania
• The 20 km long Osum Canyon, the largest in Albania located near Corovode in Skrapar District
• Coastal areas of Lalzit Bay north of Durrës near Rodon Cape, and General's Beach near Kavaje
• Curative beach sands of coastal Velipoja in Ada Bojana near the Montenegrin border, and Shengjin near Lezhe.

Village areas

Some emerging agritourism destinations are:

• Historic Moscopole, and alpine Dardhë, Vithkuq, and Boboshticë villages near Korcë
• Albanian stretch of Ohrid Lake in Hudenisht stretching from Qafë Thanë/Kjafasan to Pogradec
• Area of Përmet District in southeastern Albania, and Libohovë village near Gjirokastër
• Fishing village of Shiroka along Shkodër Lake
• Drilon Swans Park east of Pogradec
• Emerging agritourism villages of Gjinar near Elbasan, Rovje in Gramsh District, and Shishtavec in Kukes County
• Suburban area along Rruga e Elbasanit, and panoramic region of Mount Dajt both in the outskirts of Tirana

Panoramic routes

Due to the varying geographic elevation, Albania features endless panoramic routes with the main being:

• Vlora-Saranda route in Southwestern Albania along the Albanian Riviera starting from coastal Vlore into Llogara Pass and along the Ceraunian Mountains
• Rreshen-Kalimash motorway along the Fan River Valley in Northern Albania
• SH83 Jergucat-Delvine route overlooking the Dropulli Plain in Southern Albania
• Elbasan-Pogradec route along the Shkumbin River valley and Ohrid Lake
• Koplik-Theth and Koplik-Vermosh in the Albanian Alps overlooking steep cliffs, challenging mountain peaks, and crystal clear rivers and waterfalls

Festivals and national heritage

See also: Culture of Albania and History of Albania

As elsewhere in the world, the Albanian culture holds some unique traditions showcased in various forms:

• Gjirokaster National Folklore Festival is held every 5 years in Gjirokaster (last held in September 2009)
• Lock-in Tower of Theth as an artifact of the bloodfeud tradition
• National Historic Museum in Tirana, Skanderbeg Museum in Kruja, Skanderbeg's Tomb in Lezha, and the many Ethnographic Museums scattered in various cities
• Albanian traditional wedding celebrations mostly take place in the summer time and can be observed at historic sites as well. Moreover, some conservative older men and women mainly from the North still wear traditional clothing in their daily lives. Instead, older women from the South usually wear all black outfits.
• Evening walkabouts are a traditional ritual usually in the summer months as locals promenade along the town squares or seaside promenades to relax after tiring hot summer days. Cafes are usually full mainly with retirees and students, while local parks with families. In addition, Tirana enjoys a very active nightlife where luxury cars and charming women invade the streets and bars of the former politburo residence area known as Blloku. The afternoon Siesta is observed as some shops close down for a few hours after midday.
• There is a strict code of conduct when meeting with Albanians.
• Throughout the year, many regions organize local exhibitions and festivals of regional crafts and delicacies.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Albania is home to three World Heritage Sites:

• Butrint, an ancient Greek and Roman city
• Gjirokastër, a well-preserved Ottoman medieval town
• Berat, the 'town of a thousand and one windows'

Issues affecting tourism

The main problem acting as an obstacle to the establishment of a viable tourism industry is the lack of a clear strategy. Some problems include spatial planning issues such as illegal construction, unregulated waste disposal, poor infrastructure, lack of urban regulatory plans, and unclear land ownership. In the education aspect there lacks a clear accommodation classification system and qualified hospitality personnel. The private sector has taken some tasks from the local government as the latter has proven ineffective in tackling most of the above problems, while foreign institutions are financing public infrastructure and town planning projects.

Construction, infrastructure, and waste management

Illegal construction is ruining some popular areas while poor road and public utilities' infrastructure greatly hamper tourism. Electrical power outages are still common, while water supply in some areas is intermittent. New water supply systems are being constructed at tourist areas through money financed by foreign banks. The consumption of bottled water instead of tap water is recommended. In recent years, most main roads have been undergoing reconstruction thus further adding to delays. Independent bus and minibus (furgon) operators provide inexpensive transport between most large communities, but schedules and prices are not fixed. Train service is also limited and sporadic.

Uncontrolled waste disposal is a problem mostly visible along major roadways and some coastal stretches in the countryside, as waste is dumped along major rivers or burned into the atmosphere. Volunteers' groups have taken the initiative to clean the affected areas as local authorities are ineffective and powerless. A number of landfills have been constructed recently while some towns have started to implement recycling programs. Some towns lack city master plans while other do not implement them. Localized burning of tires for producing lime takes place near Kruja, while air pollution from car exhaust mostly affects Tirana. The area near the Steelworks in Elbasan and the Lime Factory of Fushe-Kruje are affected by uncontrolled emissions.

Even though 70% of the country is mountainous, ski lifts and mountain rescue structures do not exist but only several ski resorts and some modest ski courses. International beach resort chains are not present in the country as of yet, though they have expressed interest.

Since 2006, the Albanian government has imposed a moratorium on all domestically owned, motor-powered boats on all Albanian lakes, rivers, and seas to curb organized crime. This has acted as a halting factor to the domestic sailing and tourism industry. However, foreign and government owned boats, fishing boats, and jet boats are exempted from the moratorium. For sailing information, visit.

Progress in ecotourism, and the private hospitality sector

Significant progress is being made particularly in ecotourism. Coastal-bound roads have been reconstructed, while private businesses have heavily invested in acceptable accommodation and in keeping clean the surrounding environment. A successful example of a private sector initiative is the 40 Guesthouses Initiative in the Albanian Alps. Locals with aid from foreign donors have organized in turning their inns into accommodation enmities for ecotourism. Once a deprived area, it became a leading part of a self sustainable project providing much needed income to locals. As part of UNESCO membership, Albanian sites are being awarded funds for the reconstruction of important landmarks. The World Bank and other donors finance regional master plans and public utilities infrastructure projects. In the professionalism aspect, the European University for Tourism (EUFT) opened in Tirana to better train hospitality sector personnel. International hotel chains are established in Tirana, while trans-border travel agencies organize day trips from Corfu to Sarandë and nearby Butrint. Other tour operators are including Albania as part of their Balkan region packages. Club Med has proposed a development between Vlorë and Sarandë at Kakome Bay.

See also

• Geography of Albania
• Transport in Albania
• List of World Heritage Sites in Albania
• List of castles in Albania
• List of national parks of Albania, including archaeological and marine ones

References

Panoramic view of Tirana from Mount Dajt.

Further reading

• Inter Press Service. Unknown Albania - A Case Study. UNDP Albania: Tirana, 2007
• Gorica, Klodiana. 2005. Albanian Tourism Management: The Future Path to Sustainable Development, Amfiteatru Economic 7, no. 18: 104-112
• Gorica, Klodiana. Issues of European Integration for Tourism: Challenges of Albania as an Emerge Destination. University of Tirana
• Kruja, Drita and Albana Gjyrezi. 2011. The Special Interest Tourism: Development and the Small Regions, Turizam 15, no. 2: 77-89
• Kushi, Evis and Enkela Caca. 2010. Some Problems of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Albanian Holiday Hotels, Regional Science Inquiry Journal 1, no. 2: 63-70

External links

• Template:Wikitravel
• Albanian Tourism Official Portal
• Albania at In Your Pocket City Guide
• Blue-Albania.com (regional cultural heritage)
• National Agency of Tourism Portal
• Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth, and Sports of Albania
• Albania From the Air photo album by para-glider Alket Islami
• Albania Interactive Travel Map
• Online booking Albania

Official Regional Travel Guides

• Visit Korca
• Explore Kolonja
• Visit Permet
• Himara Region
• Berat Guide
• Gjirokastra.org
• Thethi Guide
• Durres Guide
• Visit Kukes Region
• Pogradec Guide
• Visit Saranda
• Shengjini Tourism
• Velipoja Guide