Snow-capped panoramic peaks, majestic woods, numerous opportunities to practice mountain sports, cultural and historical heritage and countingƴhe multiple assets of Northern Albania are starting to compete with the conventional tourism packs that offer ‘lulling by the sea’ in tourism marketing projects.
The Albanian Tourism Ministry is beginning to target the mountain tourism sector, taking as an example the successful experience of other countries in the region and the assets of Albanian nature and climate. Hence a new project, supported by this Ministry, will assist the building and rehabilitation of old “hans”, house hotels which have been a remarkable traditional feature in the Albanian mountains. Forty such sites are projected to be built. According to a specialist of this Ministry, Olsi Lafe, the sites have already been identified. The hotels have the structure of characteristic area houses. The decision has been welcomed by tourism operators that offer customers sports tours in the northern region. “This journey is recommended to people Šwith a good adaptation spirit, because the only accommodation choice is the hospital traditional houses of the Albanian “malesore” – highlanders ,” reads the Northern Albania Program of Outdoor Albania, a company that offers interesting adventure tourism options. The diverse range of tourism packs include the opportunity to practice sports such as trekking, rafting, kayaking, mountain-biking, 4×4 driving, snowshoeing, and others in the immaculate surrounding of alpine Albania in the northwest. “More and more people are getting interested in the north, the dramatic mountain- landscapes, high pointy peaks, beautiful valleys, rivers and a rural lifestyle make it very appealing,” Laura Payne, one of the guides of Outdoor Albania told Tirana Times. Natural attractions in the North include Lake of Koman, a narrow and twisting body of water, stretched along the bed of river Drini with vertical cliffs on both sides creating a spectacular landscape similar to Norwegian fjords; the Valbona Valley with the Valbona river turquoise waters flow in the middle, while the dramatic steep mountains rise on both sides; Theth Valley, a national park at the heart of the Albanian Alps; the Lura National Park with its many lakes, and Peshkopia Thermal Waters and Spa. It is usually who is looking for a physical adventure that seeks to explore the North. “Tours of this level demand that you be really in good shape. The paths are not always in the best condition and the marking can be scarce. There are day-treks with big ascents and descents. Changing weather conditions play an important role when trekking at a very high altitude and may cause changes of the preliminary route,” the program of the Norht Albania trekking trip is clear as far as the challenges are concerned. Marking has proven to be a challenge for adventure as well. Youth camping groups from Germany and France last year organized special trips to provide tourism and trekking signs for future visitors. More investment in infrastructure is needed. Head of the Thethi commune, Preke Harusha complains about roads, schools and hospital services lacking in the area. Thethi has 20 families that live there permanently, even when isolated by snow in the winter. Seven of them have adapted their houses to host tourists. Last year the commune counted 2800 visitors, mostly alpinists and mountain bike riders. The presence of guaranteed basic services is important to tourists, however adventurous they might be.
The encouraging of mountain tourism is being increased to eliminate the seasonal character of tourism in Albania, which is conditioned by the short summer season which attracts most visitors. A similar project has been supported by the GTZ, the German development program which has financially assisted the villagers of tourist zones to help them in improving their houses. Beneficiaries were areas of Pogradec, Kor衠and some parts of the Northern Albania.
The development of tourism is one of the key priorities of the Albanian government’s economic program. Tourism and Culture Minister, Ylli Pango told the media last month that the administration has recently approved to finance the start of the production and transmission of a special advertising spot that will promote Albanian tourism, to be aired by the world famous CNN, in it CNN International Europe division.
