Peter Titihalawa
Coming from: The Netherlands Destination: Cavalli Beach, above Durr쳉 Occupation: Project Manager
Surprised by: “I was very surprised here at the religions living together. Moslem, orthodox and catholic like brothers. For it in French they say “Chapeau !” [My respects] Ţ
I learnt about Albania through the Cavalli Beach project. This is the third time that I am coming. And it is very nice to be here. Very, very nice. The people that run the project are Albanian. There’s Albanian people who invited me, and also Dutch people invited me because I speak 5 or 6 languages. And that’s why they wanted to put me here, to learn the language Šthe Albanian language. I have also begun to learn Albanian. Po, po, po Š(Po – means “yes”). Mir묠mir렅 (Mir렭 means “well”).
How do you find the economic situation influences holidaying? Many people are speaking of crisis. A lot of people do not go on holidays at all. Crisis seems to be the cause of postponing travel ō
Yes it is. I know what it is in my country because few people, not many people, go on holidays abroad. But many stay in their own country. Still if the weather is fine of course. Because if it is raining all the time [in the home country], they go to Spain or France ō
But not to Albania. Because people are still thinking Albania is woo Šwoo Šwoo Šlike Š. “What a peasant doesn’t know, he doesn’t eat” – they say. But I know this is a nice, this is a hospitality people and a hospitality country. But it is very hot. I’m used to it.
During the first moths of 2009 Albanians abroad are reported to have spent a percentage more than foreigners in Albania. Why do you think ſ
It is a secret. Š[laughs] ŠThat is very confusing, you see the poverty and you see the richness of this country is side by side. But I think Albanian people are in the lift. Of course, I think because they have nothing to do with Europe. They can ŠThey have their own economy, they have their own laws. There is not someone who is saying from top : “Hey you have to do like this, according to the laws of Europe Š”
What is your impression of the prices here? Do you think that in general a foreigner spends more in Albania than an Albanian abroad or Š?
I think for myself ŠI think the tourist here is spending more [as a global sum], because when you make the calculation from Lek롡nd Euro, it is unbelievable. Normally I pay for a salad, for example, I pay in Europe usually nearly 10 Euros, yesterday I paid 3 Euros or 2 Euros. For Europeans with Euro it is very cheap I think Šbut the European doesn’t know.
Do you think many people from abroad will come to Albania ſ
We are inviting in the future very well-known DJ-s, like in Valona [Vlor읠DJ Tiesto is coming and I didn’t know, but Š2000 people are coming Šmaybe I’m coming back Šfriends of here may be making sure I have a ticket but I don’t know ō
You see big names are coming also to Albania. So if the people here in Europe they know that hey Ša DJ like Tiesto is coming in the country and the tickets are cheap and you have a nice holiday then you have tourism here.
The prices are affordable. I paid to try out for myself Što check out ŠI paid 50 Euros for a very big room., including a swimming-pool outside, a pishin롛the Albanian for swimming-pool] downstairs and the fitness for free. Also the minibars were very cheap.
This is the third time that you are coming. How do you think things are going ſ Are the prices changing? What is the difference from the economic point of view?
Look around. When you drive in the car, you see they are building and building and building. Even locals are building. That means that is is growing, blooming the economy ŠI think.
We are going to the villages and you see at every sideŠto the left, to the right Šthey are building. Also at the ground where we put our building there, at the sea Š[the Cavalli beach project] Štwo months before, there was no asphalts. And that is asphalts ŠI think, from 3-4 kilometers away from the highway to the beach.
Do you think Albania is a good touristic destination compared to other touristic destinations?
If the Albanians still live out of Europe, I think so Š[laughs]. That is my vision ŠI am just a normal guy Šif Albanians stay out of European laws and everything, which is not possible I think, but if Šit will become the Hong Kong of the future in Europe Šyou are at the walls of Europe and they have you a small little state that could become a Singapour or a Hong Kong Šbecause the position and strategy of this country is very important. You are Mediterranean … [Mediterranean literally means from the middle of the earth].
