Tourism in Albania

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Berat, the Town of a Thousand and One Windows.
Ancient Amphitheater of Butrint
Gjirokaster, the city of stone
The Wild Albanian Alps in Northern Albania
Kruje Castle
Skanderbeg Grave and the Lezhë Castle
Korçë, the city of Serenades.
Winter in Lake Ohrid near Pogradec
Taivani, the most popular restaurant of the vibrant capital Tirana
Seaside town of Saranda across from Corfu
Ksamil Islands
Blue Eye spring

Tourism in Albania is characterized by archaeological heritage from Illyrian, Greek, Roman and Ottoman times, unspoiled beaches, mountainous topography, delicious traditional Albanian cuisine, Cold War era artifacts, unique traditions and hospitality, and the wild and peculiar atmosphere of the countryside. Although still underdeveloped, Albania is set to prime its debut on the world scene as it celebrates a century of independence.[1] Lonely Planet ranked Albania as the no. 1 destination to be visited in 2011.[2] A Huffington Post article outlined 10 reasons for visiting Albania in 2013.[3] In August 2011, American actress with Albanian origin Eliza Dushku visited Albania to film a promotional documentary on her father's country of origin entitled Dear Albania.[4][5][6][7] Albania has been officially dubbed as "A New Mediterranean Love" or more recently as "Europe's Last Secret".[8]

The bulk of international tourists going to Albania are from Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Greece, and Italy.[9] Foreign tourists mostly come from Eastern Europe, particularly from Poland, and the Czech Republic, but also from Western European countries such as Germany, Belgium, France, Scandinavian countries, and others.[10] To better enjoy ones's stay and for useful information, first time travelers to Albania are strongly encouraged to consult online/print publications and travel forums on specific tips and itinerary. Backpackers are common and prefer resting at hostels, camping in the countryside or along the coast. Organized groups visit the numerous archaeological sites and historic towns. A growing trend has become canyon rafting, cycling and mountain biking, hiking, or off-road touring in the countryside. The latter can also be explored through the adventurous Albanian railway system. Recently, car rental agencies, tour operators, and tourist information centers have opened branches in the capital and other towns. Dental tourism has become popular as local dentists offer services with much lower prices. Local delicious cuisine can be tasted at traditional Albanian restaurants located near tourist attractions and scenic spots throughout the country.

However, tourism is hampered by local management issues such as poor road and public utilities infrastructure, unregulated waste disposal, illegal construction and hunting, uncertain land ownership, and an unqualified hospitality sector. Despite such setbacks, most coastal, some mountainous roads, and water supply and treatment facilities are being reconstructed mainly through IPA pre-accession funds to the EU. The private sector and foreign donors are heavily investing in accommodation and renovations at historical sites, while others are expressing interest in building tourist resorts and marinas.

Contents

Destinations[edit]

Towns and archaeological sites[edit]

Stemming from a rich history of civilizations, Albania holds a mix of interesting artefacts. The most visited towns are:

The most visited archaeological sites are

Natural attractions[edit]

Albania is known for its breathtaking landscape. Some increasingly popular features include:

Village areas[edit]

Albania is a rural and agricultural oriented country. The main emerging agritourism destinations are:

Panoramic routes[edit]

Scenic Llogara Pass overlooking the Albanian Riviera

Due to the varying geographic elevation, Albania features endless panoramic routes with the main being:

  • SH8-AL.svg Vlora-Saranda route in Southwestern Albania along the Albanian Riviera starting from coastal Vlore into Llogara Pass and along the Ceraunian Mountains
  • Autostrada A1 Italia.svg Rreshen-Kalimash motorway along the Fan River Valley in Northern Albania
  • SH78 Jergucat-Delvine route overlooking the Dropulli Plain in Southern Albania
  • SH3-AL.svg Elbasan-Pogradec route along the Shkumbin River valley and Ohrid Lake
  • Koplik-Theth and Koplik-Vermosh in the Albanian Alps overlooking steep cliffs, challenging mountain peaks, and crystal clear rivers and waterfalls

Festivals and national heritage[edit]

See also: Culture of Albania and History of Albania

The Albanian culture is known for its rich folklore and unique traditions showcased in various forms:

  • Gjirokaster National Folklore Festival is held every five years in Gjirokaster (last held in September 2009)
  • Lock-in Tower of Theth as an artifact of the bloodfeud tradition
  • National Historic Museum in Tirana, Skanderbeg Museum in Kruja, Skanderbeg's Tomb in Lezha, and the many Ethnographic Museums scattered in various cities
  • Albanian traditional wedding celebrations mostly take place in the summer time and can be observed at historic sites as well. Moreover, some conservative older men and women mainly from the North still wear traditional clothing in their daily lives. Instead, older women from the South usually wear all black outfits.
  • Evening walkabouts are a traditional ritual usually in the summer months as locals promenade along the town squares or seaside promenades to relax after tiring hot summer days. Cafes are usually full mainly with retirees and students, while local parks with families. In addition, Tirana enjoys a very active nightlife where luxury cars and charming women invade the streets and bars of the former politburo residence area known as Blloku. The afternoon siesta is observed as some shops close down for a few hours after midday.
  • There is a strict code of conduct when meeting with Albanians.[12]
  • Throughout the year, many regions organize local exhibitions and festivals of regional crafts and delicacies.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites[edit]

Albania is home to three World Heritage Sites:

Issues affecting tourism[edit]

The main problem to a viable tourism industry is the lack of a clear strategy. By far, tourism is not seen as the main economic industry of the country. Some problematic issues include spatial planning such as illegal construction, unregulated waste disposal, poor road and public utilities infrastructure, illegal logging and hunting, and unclear land ownership. On the education aspect, there lacks a clear accommodation classification system and qualified hospitality sector personnel.

Panoramic view of Tirana from Mount Dajt.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Richardson, Whit (22 October 2012). "The Place: Albania Steps Into the Spotlight". National Geographic. 
  2. ^ 400,000 More Tourists Visited Albania in 2008 "From BalkanTravellers.com http://www.suite101.com/content/lonely-planet-albania---in-from-the-cold-in-2011-a303777". BalkanTravellers. 
  3. ^ Giray, Leyla (27 December 2012). "10 Reasons 2013 Is The Time To Visit Albania". Huffington Post. 
  4. ^ Rider, Taryn (July 3, 2012). "Eliza Dushku On Her Albanian Passion Project: I Have An Emotional Connection To This Country (EXCLUSIVE Q&A)". Celebuzz. Retrieved July 10, 2012. 
  5. ^ Dushku, Eliza (September 2, 2011). "Why You Must Visit Albania". Huffington Post. Retrieved March 11, 2012. 
  6. ^ http://news.bostonherald.com/track/star_tracks/view/2011_0808inside_track_headline_2/srvc=home&position=also
  7. ^ "Eliza Dushku në Tiranë, promovon vlerat turistike të Shqipërisë". Koha.net. August 6, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2011. 
  8. ^ ALBANIE 2009 LE PETIT FUTE By AL. DOMINIQUE page 7
  9. ^ http://www.mtkrs.gov.al/web/Treguesit_statistikore_te_turizmit_30_1.php
  10. ^ Turizmi ne Shqiperi: Reklama per Evropen Lindore, Shqiperia.com
  11. ^ Tourist Attractions in Albania – VirtualTourist
  12. ^ http://www.balkanology.com/albania/article_albania_for_beginners.html

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

Wikivoyage has travel information related to: Albania
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tourism in Albania

Official Regional Travel Guides[edit]

Albania topics
History
Albania state emblem.svg
Geography
Governance
Economy
Society
Culture
Tourism in Europe
Sovereign states
Dependencies and
other territories
Other entities
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