Municipality of Himare Himara
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MUNICIPALITY OF HIMARE HIMARA • Himara is located in between two dynamic urban centers, Vlora and Saranda. • Himara Municipality belongs to the District of Vlora, along with the District of Saranda and Delvina. • The city of Himara is one of the seven towns of the Region of Vlora, and constitutes a relatively important urban centre. • Along with the seven settlements of the Municipality, Himara functions as a coherent socio-spatial entity, with its historical, geographical and cultural specificities that have had a direct impact on the formation of a local identity, on the patterns of spatial development, as well as on its role in the regional context. Arial View of Territory General Data Description Unit Specifications Area size of local government 13,200 Ha Natural Areas, Agricultural land, unit Urban Land Number of existing population 4,500 Resident population according to municipal data Zones of national interest, Ngjipea Canyon natural and cultural protected Alluvial fan of Palasa zones Canyons of Dhermi and Livadhe Architectural ensembles of Himara Castle, Old Qeparo and old core Vuno Castle of Alisa Pasha in Porto Palermo Listed Monuments of Culture General Local Plan Description Unit Specifications Type of development expected for the Mild form of Mass Tourism (Hotels next 10 years and Resorts) Residential Development Special Interest Tourism Activities Main purpose uses of land Residential, Tourism, Agriculture, Natural Number of additional residents 5,000 - 6000 inhabitants Evaluation by economic and expected for the next 10 years demographic studies Total number of tourists expected for 50,000 – 60.000 / year Including returning immigrants, the next 10 years seasonal employment and inhabitants of second homes Total existing urbanized surface 180 Ha According to the 2007 orthophoto mapping Total surface of construction added 150 Ha Primary and Second Homes in for dwelling Settlement expansion zones and new areas Total surface of construction added 250 Ha Designated tourism zones including for tourism development camping and eco-activities General Local Plan Description Unit Specifications Total surface of construction added 40 Ha Services and Activity Zones not for dwelling Total surface of protected zones 4.270 Ha Natural Monuments and Natural Heritage Areas, Protected Landscapes( marine landscapes and mountain ridges), cultural and agricultural protected landscapes Additional green surfaces 420 Ha Structural Green Space and Urban Open Spaces Number of structural units 18 Structural Units Map (Scale 1:25.000) Number of structural subunits 72 Detailed Zoning Maps (Scale 1:5.000) Reasons of the low development of the region The development of this region has been slow due to a number of factors: • Lack of accessibility due to the poor road infrastructure and underdeveloped sea and air transportation. • Lack of a complete strategic development plan and detailed urbanistic plan; • Uncertain of the property and land registration • Lack of investments, both public and private. • Lack of foreign direct investments in the private sector. Initiatives Several national and regional initiatives have been taken to boost development in this region: • The approval of the first Strategic development Plan for the Municipality • The government of Albania has invested in road infrastructure such as: - Durres-Fier-Vlore highway - All the road that connects the national road to the sea • Recent FDI laws aim to facilitate foreign investments in Albania protecting the private initiative. • The Municipality is developing and implementing a number of strategies and action plans with a focus on tourism. Economy • During the 1990s Himara’s economic sector was dominated by livestock and agricultural activity. • Recent trends show that today this region’s economic driver is in fact tourism. • The number of private business enterprises has increased significantly over the past five years . Business Development (2005-2010) Business development in Himara Municipality 2005-2010 Evaluation of Enterprise Years by size 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Increase % Micro enterprise (1-5 123 129 136 146 148 156 27 employers) Other (> 5 employers) 19 19 20 20 21 23 21 Sesonal activity (< 3 32 34 37 48 73 123 284 months) Total 174 182 193 214 246 302 74 Cultural Heritage • Himara Municipality is characterized by a particularly rich cultural heritage, with a long-lasting history going through the prehistoric, Illyrian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman eras. • This cultural heritage constitutes one of the area’s major assets and shows the history, the particular identity and the cultural richness of the area. • Presently, a large part of the local cultural heritage serves not only as a tourist attraction, but also as a living tradition and an integral part of everyday life. Archeological Sites The entire municipal of Himara offers a wide range of archaeological findings: • Cave of Spilea- has been inhabited since the prehistoric times, with more than 1,000 objects that have been found in archaeological excavations. • Traditional settlements- the most characteristic element of the Municipality’s cultural heritage are the traditional settlements: Old Himara, Dhermi, Vuno and Old Qeparo. • Houses & cultural monuments- the traditional settlements consist of stone-built houses of rectangular layout, one to three floors high and four-sided wooden roofs with tiles. • Churches & Monasteries- religious monuments are also particularly important part of local cultural heritage. • Porto Palermo- constitutes a specific case, as one of the most important cultural monuments of southern Albania and a major tourist destination. The 19th century • Castle of Ali Pasha of Tepelena is built on a small peninsula within the bay of Porto Palermo. New Strategic Development Plan • In view of recent economic trends, the municipality of Himare conducted a study on the General Local Plan on Territorial Planning of the Municipality of Himarë, with a focus on tourism development. • The aim of this study is to precede the economic and touristic development of the area, harmonize and discipline the development and the civil and touristic constructions, by directing the strategic development of the area. • The goal is to create the conditions for a contemporary tourism, offering quality services, caring for environmental protection, and for the maintenance of the natural ecosystem and having peculiarities that will render it competitive on the tourism market of the Mediterranean Region. GOALS – Study Findings Goal 1 • Position the area in the national market as a Establish Himara as a quality tourism diversified and quality tourism destination destination on the Southern Coast • Attract and facilitate domestic and foreign offering high standards of investments in tourism development accommodation and services in a diversified leisure economy • Develop the organization of tourism sector and quality of services • Improve tourism infrastructures Goal 2 • Promotion and protection of cultural heritage Himara as a well maintained natural ecosystem and valorized cultural • Protection of the natural landscape, heritage where human activity and panoramic views and visual qualities of the area visitors experience is integrated with • Himara as a clean and healthy Municipality environmental protection. • Develop public utilities infrastructures and manage water resources • Promote environmental awareness GOALS – Study Findings Goal 3 • Improve quality of life and standards for the Himara as a prospering community local community where tourism is well integrated with • Revitalization of the economy of mountainous all aspects of the local economy and settlements becomes the catalyst for a balanced development throughout the year. • Revival and upgrading of traditional farming and development of agro-tourism • Development and standardization of local products and brands Goal 4 • Improve administrative capacities Increase local capacities in managing tourism development through soft • Attract funding and improve financial actions, encourage private initiatives management and enhance horizontal and vertical forms of cooperation • Promote training, learning and knowhow • Develop new forms of cooperation and institutional capital Our Vision Borsh Dhërmi Himara Llogara Lukovë Palasë Spille Piqerras Qeparo .