Albania seeks to attract more Polish tourists

TIRANA, Oct. 16 – Albanian Tourism Minister Aldo Bumci on Saturday met with Polish tourism operators and media representatives in another effort to attract more tourists to its stunning coast. The group of Polish media and tourism representatives, part of the General Assembly of the Polish Chamber of Tourism, were on a visit to the small Balkan nation to explore the country’s tourism and investment potential. Albania has set tourism as a main resource offering its coast and also mountains. For the moment the main group of tourists in the country comes from neighboring Kosovo and Macedonia, mainly ethnic Albanians. Albanian tourism is experiencing something of a boom as things are changing quickly. There are better roads and also services along the shore. Albania’s massive tourism potential was endorsed by travel guru Lonely Planet as its Top Destination Tip for 2011, putting the country firmly on the tourism map. Albania’s highlights include a stunning 350km of coastline, most of which is full of virgin sandy beaches, among the most attractive in Europe. A one-hour, daily ferry ride from the Greek island of Corfu brings visitors to the southern resort town of Saranda, gateway to the UNESCO-protected ancient archaeological site at Butrint. With increased direct connections from Western Europe, as well as Hungary, Greece and Bulgaria, Albania has never been more accessible. Bumci’s meeting with the Polish delegation is part of a concerted effort to attract more tourists to Albania from Central Europe, whose potential holidaymakers could be enticed by the cheap prices, plentiful beaches and excellent weather.