Tourism Association concerned over constructions in Pogradec lake area

TIRANA, Aug. 16 – Albania’s Tourism Association (ATA) has expressed its concern over the construction of apartment blocks in the Pogradec- Tushemisht area along the Pogradec lake, in southeastern Albania. ATA is worried about the damage it might cause to sustainable tourism in one of the few remaining unspoiled areas in the country.
In a statement, ATA warns the construction of eight-storey apartment blocks in the Pogradec-Tushemisht risks turning the area into an ‘urban massacre” similar to that of Golem beach in Durres.
“Such constructions, be they legal or illegal, completely ignore the urban planning law and tourism businesses who strive to survive in this region bringing revenues for local communes and municipalities and employing the jobless,” says ATA in its statement.
The Association calls on local authorities, including the Korca Prefect and Pogradec Mayor, to give an end to informal constructions which are spoiling the identity of the area, it has proposed for UNESCO protection.
Earlier this year, ATA also expressed concern over the escalation of the political crisis before and after the May 8 local elections, and violent incidents marring Albania’s tourist image.
Albania’s announcement as the top travel destination in 2011 by Lonely Planet Guide and the sixth global destination by CNN experts has proved a success for the country’s tourism industry during the first half of this year despite grim expectations following the escalation of the political crisis. This is also confirmed by data published by the Tourism Ministry which show the number of foreign tourists entering Albania during the first half of this year to have grown by 39.2 percent to 764 539, compared to 549,105 a year ago.