Tourism in Albania is still in its infancy because the former communist regime did not allow tourism to become established. Groups of Western tourists were first permitted to visit in the 1980s. It is a country of natural beauty which includes sandy white Mediterranean beaches, rocky mountains, fertile plains, lakes, natural monuments, and remote areas. Official data, presented to the media by the ex-Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports, Ylli Pango, showed that 2,089,538 tourists have entered Albania from abroad during the first six months of 2008, which is a 23 percent increase compared to the same period of the previous year. In 2009 up to 6.5 million tourist are expected to visit Albania.[1]
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Visitor attractions
Albania has a long history dating to the Illyrian, Greek, and Roman civilizations and there are ruins and other treasures reflecting these ancient civilizations.
Some of the most visited cities include:
- Berat, the town of a thousand and one windows
- Durrës, the old port city of Dyrrhachium
- Gjirokastër, the city of stone
- Krujë, the balcony over the Adriatic sea
- Tirana, the capital
- Vlorë, beach city of Vlora
- Lezha, the diplomatic capital of Albania
- Pogradec, the poet's city
- Sarandë, the honeymooners' city
Albania has been dubbed the "New Mediterranean Love"
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Albania is home to three World Heritage Sites:
- Butrint, an ancient Greek city
- Gjirokastër, a well-preserved Byzantine town, together with Berat, the 'town of a thousand and one windows'
Issues affecting tourism
Some of the problems holding back foreign tourism include illegal construction which is ruining some popular areas. Its proximity to Kosovo on the northeast border means that unexploded ordnance may be a hazard for unguided tours into the countryside of that border region. At present the security situation in Albania is much improved however.
Poor infrastructure greatly limits tourism. Electrical power outages are still common. Independent bus and minibus (furgon) operators provide inexpensive transport between most large communities, but schedules and prices are not fixed. Train service is also limited and sporadic.
Beggers are a problem in every large city, and Albania is no exception. Often using their children as persistent panhandlers, parents will sit on sidewalks and in crowded squares nagging passersby for money . If you must give something please buy the children some food. If you ignore them you will be fine.
Despite the above problems, Albania is making progress and it has 6.0% GDP growth, the highest in the region. Foreign tourists are not uncommon. International hotel chains are established in Tirana and organised day trips are available from Corfu to Sarandë and nearby Butrint. Club Med has proposed a development between Vlorë and Sarandë.[citation needed]
South of Durrës, there is a long, uncoordinated beach development popular with Albanians. There are other, off-the-track beach areas, locally popular, with acceptable food and facilities. There are several five star hotels along the beaches of Albania.
See also
Gallery
 Ksamil, Sarandë |
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 Remains of a chapel in Butrint, Albania. |
 Ali Pasha's Castle, Albania. |
 Azure Eye, one of the many fresh water springs in Sarandë, Albania, (known as the wedding city). |
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 The valley of river Vjosa in Kelcyra. Surrounded by mountains, the valley is of an extreme beauty. |
 Sunset in Jala beach. |
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 Orthodox Church in Korçë |
Shkodra Kisha.jpg
Shkodra Cathedral |
 On of the many late medieval castles in Albania. This one is situated in Elbasan. |
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 Ksamil, Sarandë |
References
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tourism in Albania |
- Official Albania tourism site
- Albania travel guide from Wikitravel
- Albania travel and tourism at the Open Directory Project
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