TIRANA – Thanks to the support of USAID, Albania is one of six countries featured in the Western Balkans Geotourism Mapguide – Land of Discovery, an interactive web-portal hosted by the National Geographic. The portal, available on http://www.balkansgeotourism.travel/ publicly launched June 18-22 at the headquarters of the National Geographic in Washington D.C., presents the traditions, heritage, culture and exciting geotourism opportunities in the Western Balkans. Residents, visitors, tourism organizations, and local businesses in each country nominated the featured sites for travellers in search of unique destinations and authentic experiences.
Through this partnership, USAID is helping the region benefit from the National Geographic’s considerable expertise in promoting the Western Balkans as a world-class destination, while contributing to its economic health and encouraging sustainable tourism development according to the well-known principles of geotourism stewardship. Tourism is recognized as an important sector for regional collaboration in order to help the Western Balkans economies, including Albania, weather the effects of the European economic crisis while building country and regional competitiveness. More importantly, tourism stands in a special position to economically and socially benefit local communities while raising support for environmental conservation.
Rritje Albania, USAID’s Competitive Enterprise Development project, promotes sustained, broad-based economic growth in Albania by expanding trade and investment, increasing enterprise productivity, and improving Albania’s workforce. The project assists non-agricultural enterprises in becoming more competitive, increasing sales, and creating additional jobs.
The Albanian Folklore Tour, Berat, Bird watching in Butrint National Park, the Blloku area in downtown Tirana, the Butrint National Park, the Gjirokastra Folk Festival, Horse Riding in Lord Byron’s Footsteps, the International Human Rights Film Festival, the Korca Beer Festival, Lake Ohrid, the Ethnological Museum of Kruja and the Natural Rasma Resort are some of the stories featured in the website.
Albania
Located at the crossroads of the eastern Adriatic, Albania is home to many unique natural and cultural wonders.
Inspired by his 1809 equestrian tour of southern Albania, Lord Byron wrote in his epic poem, Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage: “Land of Albania! Let me bend mine eyes on thee.” Potential tourists echoed Byron’s sentiments until the country emerged in 1990 from an isolating communist rule.
Small, mountainous, with pristine wilderness and several rivers, Albania showcases many natural attractions. Syri i Kalt철(Blue Eye), a deep, dark blue forest spring surrounded by light blue water, hosts emerald-green turtles, water-lilies, blue dragonflies and kingfishers. Rafting in the many canyons, cycling, hiking, and rural tourism attract tourists. With 362 kilometers (225 miles) of coastline along the Adriatic and Ionian seas and still-pristine beaches, Albania is a popular destination.
Cultural sites abound. The UNESCO World Heritage site features: in Berat, fourth-century archaeological remains, a 13th-century castle, Byzantine churches and Ottoman-era mosques; and, in Gjirokaster (Gjirokast첩, in the Drinos (Drin) river valley, a rare, surviving Ottoman town with two-story houses and cobbled streets. Butrint, a port from Hellenistic to Ottoman times on the Straits of Corfu, is another UNESCO World Heritage site, where the Greco-Roman theater stages ancient dramas.
Memorable sounds include sheep bells, calls to Muslim and Christian prayers, and the ancient chant unique to Albania, still heard in cafes, which UNESCO proclaimed a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”. Varied handicrafts and delicious traditional cuisine complete Albania’s attractions.
