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The British daily "Metro": Visit the natural paradise of Albania!
2024-08-09 10:04:42 / EKONOMI&SOCIALE
ALFA PRESS
For five hours by car, we traveled along the winding Albanian coast, through forested hills almost eclipsed by shiny shopping malls and apartment blocks to Saranda, a tourist town that has been billed in TikTok videos as "Europe's Maldives." ", writes Alice Murphy in an article published in the British daily "Metro".
But as we approach this famous piece of paradise, buildings become more common, mushrooming into a cluster of high-rise hotels on Saranda's horseshoe-shaped bay shore. Having recently visited the Maldives, I can confirm that Albania's southern coast boasts a similar view of the bright blue ocean.
But what does a sudden increase in popularity mean for Albania and its visitors? How can its natural beauty be protected from the scourge of mass tourism?
A knife with two presses
Travel expert Nausheen Farishta said that the tourism boom in Albania is a "double-edged sword". "On the one hand, it brings necessary opportunities to local communities. But we cannot turn a blind eye to the challenges that come with this rapid growth," said the founder of Globe Gazers.
Albania welcomed 7.5 million international visitors in 2022 and 10.1 million last year," according to data from the World Tourism Organization. And this trend is only growing. It's a remarkable turnaround for a country that was once one of Europe's most isolated nations. A country that opened its doors to foreign visitors when communism fell after four decades of dictatorship in 1991.
An affordable paradise
We were on a girls trip, lured by the fascinating story and viral videos of the turquoise waters and pristine white sands. A host of online travel sites gave us reason enough to book a holiday in the southern European country that borders Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Greece, with a coastline of around 400 kilometers dotted with beautiful beaches. . Also with UNESCO world heritage sites, warm hospitality and sunny weather.
Albania has many tourist attractions. It was exciting to explore the museums and trendy bars of Tirana and definitely enjoyable to stay in cabana beds along the Albanian Riviera.
"Everywhere we went there were idyllic beaches, hilltop wine bars, restaurants serving world-class seafood," writes Jenoa Matthes, a travel expert.
"We think that we are complementary in this tourism map between Croatia, Italy and Greece", said in an interview for "The Independent" at the beginning of this year, the Minister of Tourism, Mirela Kumbaro.
Tourism boom
The fallout from years of mass tourism is rocking Europe this summer, as anti-tourism protests fill the streets of major Spanish cities and demonstrations force ships to alter their course. In Barcelona, locals have taken it upon themselves to drench tourists with water guns. Earlier this year, demonstrators in the Canary Islands staged a hunger strike to protest the increase in holidaymakers.
Cities including Vienna, Berlin and Barcelona have imposed rental restrictions, meaning landlords can only rent out premises to tourists for a limited period of the year.
But, while many destinations are withdrawing from tourism, Albania is moving forward towards its development. It is clear that the recent boom in tourism has offered Albania tremendous opportunities to generate economic development and troubling challenges.
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