UNKNOWN ALBANIA A Case Study: Cultural and Environmental Tourism This document has been produced with the financi- al assistance of UNDP Albania. Its contents are the sole responsibility of IPS and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the views of UNDP Albania. 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 ince the end of the East-West cold war, tegy. UNDP is assisting the Government to create SAlbania 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 UNDP Albania. 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 irana - Albanians are among the most Euro- pessimism expressed by every visiting EU repre- Tenthusiastic 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) 7 The ferry harbour of Brëgelumë (Klaus Friedl 2007) 8 A Few Greeks Discover Their Neighbour By Apostolis Fotiadis thens - Some years ago most Greeks knew emphasis is given to the archaeological site AAlbania 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 Greece in 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. A gradual 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 been to, or they are motivated by curiosity," he Lack of infrastructure told IPS.