German support turns Theth into top tourist destination
“Tourism has turned into the main source of income. The number of tourists in Theth this year reached 15,000 with income ranging from 10,000 to 15,000 per household,” says Theth’s head of commune
TIRANA, Nov. 5 – Back in 2006 when the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), the current GIZ International Cooperation, launched a project to turn the century-old towers into inns accommodating tourists in the Theth mountain area in northern Albania, only five households accepted to become part of the project.
With modest investments of Euro 2,000 per inn, the GTZ provided beds, reconstructed the toilets, fixed showers and the kitchen using solar panel technology.
“When we came in 2006 and asked to talk with local inhabitants, most of them had migrated to Europe or moved to Shkodra and other neighbouring towns. We made an announcement with the local radio to meet the remaining local people. The first talks were difficult. Inhabitants told us we haven’t got a school, a healthcare centre and electricity, wondering if their towers could turn into inns for tourists and concerned over their hospitality tradition if they took money from foreigners for accommodation and food,” Ismail Beka, a GIZ project manager tells Deutsche Welle in the local Albanian service.
Currently, Theth numbers 25 inns and 100 households dealing with tourism. With total investment of Euro 250,000 by GIZ and small grants by the German embassy in Tirana, a school and a healthcare centre have been built and two stone mills also made available. Local streams were fortified to avoid flooding of crops, a water supply system was built and green areas are now being set up in the village centre.
Many households have returned from migration to deal with tourism and send their children in the local Theth school.
“Tourism has turned into the main source of income. The number of tourists in Theth this year reached 15,000 with income ranging from 10,000 to 15,000 per household. Tourists come from the beginning of summer until the end of October, during winter the snow depth reaches five metres. Theth is completely isolated for six months, there is no automobile road and most inhabitants move to Shkodra,” says Bal Vuksani, the head of the Theth commune.
GIZ has compiled certified tour guides to accompany tourists to Theth’s most attractive destinations.
Tourists have considerably increased especially after the launch of the Peaks of the Balkans, a cross border hiking trail which connects mountainous areas of Albania.
German Ambassador to Albania Hellmut Hoffmann says German support to family tourism in Theth will continue. “The combination of German assistance with the inhabitants’ own initiative is very important. Taking the initiative is the keyword. The model which has been established must be followed, the project must be extended and more people get involved. The landscape should not be destroyed and Theth should not be concreted. Heritage must be preserved and public spaces kept clean, otherwise tourists will leave.”
The Peaks of the Balkans
The Peaks of the Balkans, a cross border hiking trail which connects mountainous areas of Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro, has been shortlisted by prestigious London-based World Travel & Tourism Council as one of the twelve finalists for its Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.
The quite ambitious “Peaks of the Balkans” trail comprises 192 km and completes a circuit crossing the three countries. It leads through high alpine landscape up to 2300 metres above sea level in the border region in Dob쳤ol (Albania) and Milishevc (Kosovo).
The hike can be started in each country: Theth (Albania); Plav (Montenegro); or, in the small town of Pej련Kosovo). The 10 stages of the trail can be hiked in 10 to 13 days, depending on the motivation and condition of the hiker. The level of difficulty ranges from easy to moderate, but requires good physical condition and mountain equipment (e.g. hiking boots, waterproof clothing, lamps, GPS, first aid kit, mobile phone). Even though the whole trail is marked and signposted, it partly leads through uninhabited mountain regions. Hence, it is recommended to hike in a group or accompanied by a hiking guide.
Local mountain guides, trained by the DAV (Deutscher Alpen Verein) and familiar with the trail, are ready to accompany individuals and small groups.
The development of the cross border hiking trail “Peaks of the Balkans,” which connects mountainous areas of Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro, is the central part of a cross border mountain tourism development project, implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft f
