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Australian media "The New Daily": How is Albania returning to the great destination of European tourism?
2024-11-14 08:21:02 / EKONOMI&SOCIALE
Travel company Intrepid Travel reported an increase of more than 30 percent in bookings for travel to Albania between 2023 and 2024 alone.
"Since Albania only opened its doors to visitors 30 years ago, it remains largely untouched, with far fewer tourists than neighboring Greece or Croatia," said Intrepid Travel project manager Dyan Mckie.
"With vast landscapes ranging from beachside towns to bustling cities, fresh local produce, sustainable agriculture and home-cooked meals, Albania offers the variety and experiences visitors love," she said.
"It's a place that still feels like a discovery," Mckie said.
"Our trips to Albania offer a more budget-friendly option than many other European destinations, with an average daily cost of around $288 compared to over $400 in countries like Spain, Italy or Greece," she said.
"It is a great attraction for tourists looking for affordability without compromising on the experience," she emphasized.
The recent growth in tourism is a far cry from Albania's former "personality" - as a closed communist dictatorship.
During the height of communist rule, dictator Enver Hoxha closed the country's borders and built hundreds of thousands of bunkers.
State surveillance and brutality gave Albania the nickname "North Korea of Europe".
After three decades since Albania became a democracy, tourists are free to explore the fascinating past of a country that has seen the rise and fall of civilizations dating back thousands of years.
Although the country is keen to move on from the - still healing - wounds of the last dictatorship, the embrace of history has proved fruitful for tourism.
"New Albania"
From Bunk'Art 2, an interactive museum housed in a nuclear-grade bunker, to Mrizi i Zanave, a communist-era prison now used to showcase Albania's historic gastronomy, the painful memories remain unforgotten. while building a new future.
British-trained Albanian chef Ismet Shehu is one man who puts his country's communist past - front and center - in his business ventures.
His restaurant and hotel "Kazerma e Cereni" is located in the former barracks and military complex near the country's capital, Tirana.
Visitors are greeted by waiters in military uniforms, sometimes equipped with fake weapons.
"Kazerma is about fresh food grown and produced locally," Shehu told CNN.
"It is about helping Albanians and our neighbors. When people come here, they say: "Wow!", this place used to be for soldiers, it used to be for tanks, tritol and grenades. It is now a place of peace – with people serving with a smile; good food and very nice desserts. And this is a big change, isn't it?", said Shehu.
In the rooms, Shehu placed large cylindrical concrete blocks to recall barracks showers while adding old military radios, wooden rifle butts and flower pots turned into canteens.
He said that although the years of communism were painful, his aim was for people to move forward – rather than continue to fear it.
"During communism, I was very young," said the 35-year-old.
"But I know my father fought a lot. I never want to forget what was before, but now history has changed. We are doing new things, this is the new Albania", he added.
Other parts of Albania's rich history (under the rule of the Roman and Ottoman empires) are also major attractions, along with the country's idyllic countryside.
For example, the city of Berat is known for its Ottoman-style houses and Byzantine churches, while the village of Theth attracts nature lovers to Albania's forests and mountains.
New smiles and other body parts on offer
Albania's history, culture, nature and food are not Albania's only tourist attractions – medical tourism has also proven to be a boon for a small country.
Albania is welcoming visitors looking for quality cosmetic surgery - cheaper than in their own countries.
This can range from dental treatments to breast enhancement.
The globally popular Botox is conspicuously absent from the offer, as its import for injection treatments is prohibited in Albania.
Frenchman Stephane Pealat is one of many people who have visited Albania for a new and affordable smile.
In an interview with AFP, Pealat said that the dental implant surgery he chose cost about 50,000 euros in France, compared to only 13,500 euros in Albania.
"It's important to have a beautiful smile," he said.
The Italian boss, Vera Panaitov, told AFP that she initially went to Albania to get her teeth done, but after arriving in Tirana, she chose to remodel her breasts and slim her waist.
Dermatology and university lecturer based in Tirana, Monika Fida said that 750 to 1000 foreign patients visited her clinic every year, - for treatments with hyaluronic acid injections mainly on the lips.
The head of the National Association of Doctors of Albania, Fatmir Ibrahimaj, told reporters that both foreign and local patients should not rely solely on online advertisements for aesthetic procedures and should do due diligence before undergoing treatments. .
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Nga Blendi Kajsiu
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