MEDITERRANEAN ACTION PLAN

Market structure
Annexe 2
Etudes de cas
Case studies
The situation of instability, which started in Albania at the beginning of 1997,
made the existing tourism disappear. The actual situation still presents an
irrelevant tourism activity.
In the past, the international tourism was in form of organised tours (guided
groups which travel in buses to reach pre-established destinations). During the
period 90-95, the largest part of foreign tourists was from Macedonia and Kosovo,
very few Italians, almost inexistant other West-European nationalities.
The national tourism of the coastline is a seasonal one, which makes use of the
existing structures (hotels, private and public rented rooms), usually during two
week periods per person/family. The season lasts usually 4 months, from the end of
May till the beginning of September.
Touristic development retrospective
It is important to stress that, no long time ago, in Albania international tourism
was a kind of “representative” one (limited groups, conducted to the touristic areas
in form of a guided tour). The democratisation process and the free market changed
the concept of tourism, but now we are faced with an almost complete lack of
infrastructures and models to support the activity.
At present, it is not possible to talk about influences of tourism activity in local
economy, community, etc. The area is in continuous change due to population
movements (from the north-east to the south-west of the country). There have been
enormous damages to the environment and landscape (abatement of trees, use of
the sand for construction) for many reasons, one of them is the construction of
structures without permission along the coastline, for eventual future touristic use.
Management of the system
Until now the market is managed by the local population which offers rooms to
seasonal tourists. Recently, investments for the construction of two big tourist
villages have been approved by the government.
Measures for tourism development and its integration into a
system of sustainable development
The Albanian Coastal Zone Management Plan, which has the National
Environment Agency as counterpart, foresees important measures for the
development of tourism and its integration into a system of sustainable
development for the area of Saranda-Butrinti.
The solutions for the investments in this area seek (1) the restoration and
protection of the biodiversity; (2) the development of tourism and infrastructure;
and (3) the institutional capacity building. Potential solutions have been identified
in terms of institutional investments, policy and legal framework, education and
training, information systems and monitoring, capital investments.
Institutional investments. The activities will be:
1. Establishing the authority responsible for the planning and administration
of the Saranda-Butrinti Coastal Zone. This authority will direct the
implementation of the plans for the region and will take the necessary
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Plan Bleu