unknown albania

43 Pages·2007·1.66 MB·English

UNKNOWN ALBANIA
A Case Study:
Cultural and Environmental Tourism
This document has been produced with the financi-
al assistance of UNDPAlbania. Its contents are the
sole responsibility of IPS and can under no
circumstances be regarded as reflecting the views
of UNDPAlbania.
Contents
Introduction Ramesh Jaura 5
European Integration Takes More Than Attitude Alba Çela 7
A Few Greeks Discover Their Neighbour Apostolis Fotiadis 9
Civil Society Far From Local Needs Zoltán Dujisin 10
Forget Communism...Or Sell It Zoltán Dujisin 13
UNESCO Not A Life Saver Zoltán Dujisin 15
Ambitious New Framework To Regulate Tourism Alba Çela 17
No Time To Waste Claudia Ciobanu 18
Preserving A Beauty Called Biodiversity Vesna Peric Zimonjic 20
Energy Needs Clash With Tourism Claudia Ciobanu 22
A Provincial Capital On The Move Claudia Ciobanu 25
But Where Are the Differences? Vesna Peric Zimonjic 27
Saving Beaches For Others - And Itself Claudia Ciobanu 28
Time To Know The Unknown - Interview with Speaker of the 30
Albanian Parliament Jozefina Topalli
Tourism Brings Environmental Challenge Vesna Peric Zimonjic 32
Environment And Tourism Can Hold Hands Zoltán Dujisin 34
Landing Might Be An Idea Sanjay Suri 36
Albania On The Road From The World - Interview with Sanjay Suri 38
Dr. Ylli Pango, Albanian minister for tourism
Long And Winding Road Straightening Out Altin Raxhimi 40
Imprint 42
Introduction
By Ramesh Jaura
Since the end of the East-West cold war, tegy. UNDPis assisting the Government to create
Albania has made significant strides in esta- the right circumstances for tourism-driven deve-
blishing the foundations of democratic instituti- lopment, as well as providing assistance to local
ons and a market economy, including its 1998 tourism development.
Constitution. In 2000, Albania became a member
of the World Trade Organisation, which illustra- Culture and environment can indeed be impor-
tes its determination to build an open and inte- tant parts of the tourism industry, and a boon to
grated economy. rural communities. IPS examines this approach -
and to what extent it finds success -- using Albania
And yet it remains Europe's last "unknown" as a case study in a globalised world with funds
country - in part, because it is not an easy tourism from UNDPAlbania.
destination for international markets to under-
stand. But the fact that the country maintains a This publication compiles all articles that have
cultural "authenticity" with its wide range of been written by independent journalists from the
historic and natural attractions could hold great IPS European network and disseminated through
allure for the outside world. With this in view, IPS website, in special publications, newsletters and
Albania has turned its focus to tourism develop- by way of translations among others into Dutch,
ment. In the process, the quality of life of a signi- German and Spanish. The articles in English are
ficant number of Albanians could be improved - available in internet at a special website:
in tune with the country's commitment to the www.ipsnews.net/new_focus/tourism/index.asp
Millennium Development Goals.
In the six months since the special website went
UNDP Albania is working closely with the online, thousands of people from around the
Government of Albania, in particular with the world have visited it. Nearly one quarter of a mil-
Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports lion page views underline the great interest IPS
and the National Tourism Organization to imple- has created in Albania's cultural and environmen-
ment the country's eco and cultural tourism stra- tal tourism efforts.
Berlin, December 2007
Ramesh Jaura, Project Coordinator | IPS European Director
5
Llaman Beach close to Himare with a colourfully decorated bunker to the right (Klaus Friedl 2007)
6
European Integration
Takes More Than Attitude
By Alba Çela
Tirana - Albanians are among the most Euro- pessimism expressed by every visiting EU repre-
enthusiastic people in the Western Balkans, sentative. Commissioner for education, training,
surveys show. But that does not mean they belie- culture and youth Jan Figel told the media on a
ve they will join the EU in a hurry. As many as visit to Tirana last month that Albania has made
93.8 percent want to join the European family, progress on its road to the EU, but that much
according to a study 'Rethinking EU Integration: remains to be done. "It is up to Albania to do its
Albanian realities and perceptions 2007' by the fundamental homework as it is your own country,
Albanian Institute for International Studies and we can only support you all the way," Figel
(AIIS). The AIIS has been gauging perceptions said.
about the EU and the integration process for the Aspirations for the EU have in the past been
last five years, and has found approval rates for controversial. One of the most powerful slogans
Albania's entry to the EU always above 80 per- raised by Albanian protesters who challenged the
cent. The enthusiasm is fed in part by the growing communist regime in 1991 was, "We want Albania
number of European visitors who have been to be like Europe!" Significant reforms are neces-
coming to Albania as it puts infrastructure and sary before Albania can hope for EU membership.
environment improvements in place to bring The government is trying to come to terms with a
itself up to EU standards. range of political and economic problems that
impede the integration process, among them
Opening of markets
widespread corruption and an energy crisis.
"Albanians and people in the Balkans generally
In 2005, the approval was 83.9 percent. In 2006
will benefit largely after integration, in terms of
it jumped to 92.5 percent, following the signing of
democratic stability, economic modernisation and
a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with
social welfare," Xavier Vidal-Folch, deputy editor
the EU in July 2005. Such an agreement is a first
of 'El Pais' told Albanian journalists at a training
step towards eventual membership. "One of the
session in September.
most important conclusions of our study is that
Albanians see the EU as their country's most strate- Ticket to free movement
gic partner," AIIS executive director Albert Rakipi
told IPS. The AIIS study found internal nuances of "On the other side, they will have to sacrifice
attitude among the polled people. The business time and effort to convince the existing members
category seems to be more skeptical, and is concer- of the added value. This should be done by the
ned about the economic costs of accession and the aspiring countries' political class, intellectual
opening of markets. But even so, the vast majority elite and journalists." But the move to the EU
of businesses are positive about EU accession. gets more difficult with time. "The larger the EU
But though Albanians want to join the EU, gets, the harder it is going to be to make it lar-
their expectations are different. "One of the main ger. Members will seek guarantees that expansi-
findings of the survey is that despite the extreme- on will be for the better of the Union," Vidal-
ly high level of support for integration, Albanians Folch told IPS. For most Albanians, entry in the
have no illusions as to their country's readiness to EU means a ticket to free movement. But a first
enter the EU," Maklen Misha, director of research step has been taken with the signing of the visa
at AIIS told IPS. As many as 82.8 percent of the facilitation and readmission agreements in
people polled said Albania is not ready to join the Brussels Sep. 18. Meanwhile, Albanians remain
EU. The majority of Albanians place their acces- keen on something they do not believe will hap-
sion date no earlier than 2020. This reflects the pen in a hurry. (Reported in November 2007)(cid:132)
7
The ferry harbour of Brëgelumë (Klaus Friedl 2007)
8
A Few Greeks
Discover Their Neighbour
By Apostolis Fotiadis
Athens - Some years ago most Greeks knew emphasis is given to the archaeological site
Albania only as an unknown frontier. It was Butrinti, 290km south of Tirana, and other
a country from which impoverished migrants southern cities with an ethnic Greek populati-
crossed into Greecein search of a job and a bet- on like Gjirokaster, Himara and Sarande.
ter life; a place that people were leaving, where Greek tourists say they are attracted largely by
nobody wanted to go. Agradual if limited inte- ethnic ties and feelings.
gration of the newcomers and the opening of a Nikos Petalotis, a 33-year-old dentist, said
newborn market for Greek business in Albania his visit to Albania was a dream come true. "It
has created an opportunity for a few in the is important for me to visit this region of
Greek public to learn more about their Hellenic culture about which I have read many
neighbour. books and heard innumerable stories. I am
Historical links have been rediscovered. The interested in the Byzantine and post-Byzantine
flow of people has started becoming reciprocal monuments." Andrea Litis, a pensioner, says
even if marginally. Stefanos Hatzimanolis is the he goes for personal reasons. "My parents
one travel agent to have sensed this change. The came from a small village outside Gjirokaster,
last two years he has been organising holiday but they never managed to return after the
packages to Albania. Second World War. Indirectly, through their
"People who buy packages for Albania are stories, I became nostalgic about these places. I
either experienced passengers who want to add felt strong emotions during my trip."
this destination to the list of places they have
Lack of infrastructure
been to, or they are motivated by curiosity," he
told IPS. "They are well educated, and they are
Despite the country's natural beauty and the
usually informed about their destination."
attractiveness of its cultural wealth, Albania's
Customers mostly from Greece tourism development is widely challenged by
lack of infrastructure. "It is obvious that they
His customers come mostly from northern need a new road circulation network," said
Greece, and are interested in four or five-day Natassa Siniori, a journalist who has travelled
excursions which include transportation, hotels, extensively around Albania. "Distances are not
meals and a tourist guide. "It makes it easier for calculated by kilometres but by minutes or
the visitor since these services do not work per- hours. Narrow streets with bad quality tarmac
fectly all along the country. Currently we move make an otherwise pleasant journey tiring and
more than 800 people annually by airplane or difficult."
bus." The trip that the agency offers covers many But problems with infrastructure do not deter
sights and cities in central and south Albania. all. Hatzimanolis says cultural and other attracti-
"Visitors are usually impressed with the castle ons more than compensate.
at Berat, the city of Durres, and the city centre in "Perhaps the tourist sector and basic infra-
Tirana. The cost of the trip is between 295 and 340 structure still need a lot of advancement. But the
euro, depending on the services someone wants will of people to improve things, and their limit-
to buy, plus any personal expenses. It is very dif- less interest in opening up this market creates
ficult to convince someone to travel to Albania for good conditions for cooperation. And local cui-
more than that at the moment," Hatzimanolis sine and Albanian culture are likely to grab the
said. The trip focuses on the ancient heritage and attention of the tourist from Greece and the broad-
the ethnic Greek element of the country. Specific er Mediterranean.” (Reported in September 2007)(cid:132)
9
Civil Society Far From Local Needs
By Zoltán Dujisin
Tirana - Achieving environmentally sustaina- standards than the rest of the population, and
ble tourism in Albania will also be up to the access to Western goods or visas in a country that
efforts of communities and civil society organi- up until recently had little contact with the outsi-
sations, but as in much of the post-socialist de world. While acknowledging that Albania is
world, non-governmental organisations living under a "very hard capitalism" similar to
(NGOs) and their donors will have to clean up that of "150 years ago in America", Tare is even
their act first. The dependence on foreign more critical of the NGOs' raison d'être.
donors and philanthropists is still causing
Democratisation as primary goal
Albanian civic organizations to respond more
to donor requests than to the local needs they
"Everybody makes an NGO because that's a
supposedly represent.
way of making money out of Westerners. And
Organisations fostering civil society deve-
Westerners want to work with NGOS. This
lopment are powerful actors in Albania, and
creates another East-West world of corruption."
have been central in promoting democratisati-
Tare describes NGO work as "just a way of
on in the formerly communist country. Donors
doing a lot of paperwork, seminars, workshops,
are often accused by local civic organisations of
but nothing on the ground." Asked if he could
being inflexible, withholding vital information
pinpoint any concrete achievements by NGOs,
on common projects and of putting forward
he said, "I don't know of any yet." Representa-
abstract guidelines which are not based on any
tives of NGOs, however, disagree. Xhemal
study of local conditions and needs.
Mato, executive director of the Ecomovement
Centre, says there is truth to some of the accu-
Lack of altruism
sations, but explains difficulties faced by well-
"Morally civic organizations should represent intentioned activists in Albania. "We are only
those who they claim to represent, but legally given money for meetings and seminars, not for
they are obliged towards the donors, so I think starting something concrete," Mato told IPS. "It
donors should be more responsible," Auron Tare, is very important to be able to find funds to
director of the Albanian National Trust told IPS. raise awareness on challenges such as Illegal
But not everything can be expected from donors. building in the coast or building without consi-
"If local Albanians themselves don't engage in deration to environmental needs."
protecting the coastline and the environment,
Pushing the municipality
whatever donors do, it's not going to happen,"
says Tare. "They have their own interests, and With donors seeing the primary goal of
these are never purely altruistic." democratisation as having been partly achieved,
The lack of altruism is also pervasive among funds have started to dwindle, and competition
activists themselves. "Mostly NGOs here are from the many Albanian NGOs for the little
opportunistic, not specialised, and they will available funding is stiffening. "Donors are not
chew on whatever is thrown at them in terms as abundant as at the beginning of democratisa-
of funding," Arian Gace, national coordinator tion, and there is very big competition," says
for the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Mato. "Now that the political aspect is over,
small grants programme told IPS. Working for donors feel governments should continue doing
an NGO often means access to higher living the job." Even with poor funding, Mato believes
10