There is a shift in focus to the local economy, as a way to improve the livelihoods of the communities living there, to lay a solid foundation for development in a combination of traditional and innovative ventures.

The support of the German government in recent years has also focused on these dimensions: the establishment of a sustainable model that connects tourism and agritourism to the training of young people, environmental protection, promotion of start-ups, conservation of natural resources.

All these have materialized in some concrete projects, which have come to life and are being developed in municipalities, such as Pogradec, Korça, Pusteci and so on. These models are the way that is being paved for future projects that if properly supported, can somewhat increase well-being and stop the bleeding of leaving Albania.
 
Only two kilometers on the road leading to Voskopoja is what was baptized as the "House of Horses". 

The farm has combined from accommodation service to restaurant with typical products of the area and a riding track. The name of the farm is not accidental. There are 30 horses of different breeds such as Angloarab, English Lipizzaner purebred, where horseback riding courses are offered, tourist guides for which, as Hilmi's wife tells us, the interest has increased. 

"We are a relatively young business. We have a little over a year and the interest of tourists to visit us has been growing steadily. Mostly we see that foreigners have a noticeable preference both for the part of our premises and for the horse guides that are expanding to destinations. 

The business is family and we all work in the respective jobs, while we are also connected with the residents of the surrounding area where we provide some of the products we serve here", Daniela says. 

Of course for a new business it takes time to consolidate and take its place, but at first it seems that they are satisfied with the way the farm is doing. Their desire is to further expand the number of horses, but this probably in a second moment, as prices remain high. 

The flourishing of agritourism farms in the country has started to be evidenced year after year and in support of local economies there have been projects. One of them is Sustainable Rural Development, supported by GIZ, which has started in 2019 with a fund of 15.75 million euros and includes, among others, regions such as Shkodra, Dibra and Vlora. 

The growing number of agritourism seems to have prompted this group to recently unite around an association, the Albanian Agrotourism Association. Sofjola Kotelli, who closely follows the project for sustainable rural development, says that the "boom" of agritourism started after the facilitation package of 2018. 

The treatment with some facilitating decisions, but also the inclusion in some decisions of agritourism as an activity seems to have given impetus to numerous investments, affecting in general the local economy of the areas where these activities take place. 

Kotelli said that agritourism has an added value when discussing the part of the role played by women, that 80% of cases are those who manage or make decisions in these enterprises. 

"We have made some proposals to the government to improve the conditions for this sector. After field studies and consultations, we submitted a draft. While a new law only for agritourism would give a great support to the sector. The effects that such initiatives have on the areas where they take place are visible and measurable. Each unit of this nature transmits its effect to the local economy, with the products and employment it generates", said Kotelli. 

Only a few kilometers away from Korça is Pusteci. The smallest municipality in the country, which consists of 9 villages. The tourist development of this region is in inverse proportion to the natural beauties it has. Prespa National Park, the largest in the country, is an extraordinary tourist "offer" with stunning views of nature and the lake. But one of the "cramps" that the area faces is the lack of accommodation structures. 

Cveta Trajçe, from the Center for Preservation and Protection of the Natural Environment in Albania in this area, when we ask her about structures, she tells us that there is not much. 

"It is a problem for tourists when they come, because there really are not many opportunities or alternatives to stay. A good part of the apartments are empty, as the residents have emigrated or do not live here. Investments are not made much as there are problems with the ownership part in the sense that no legalizations have been made yet.

I have my uncle's house, for example, which is empty and I thought of turning it into a hospitable house, but when I think about how much investment and commitment it takes, I somehow withdraw", she underlines. 

There are not many young people in the area. The rest of the surrounding villages are elderly. Young people have left, or with studies, and never return or have emigrated. The Center for Preservation and Protection of the Natural Environment in Albania finds it difficult to find employees for this region. 

Investments supported by the German government have not been absent from time to time in this region. A similar focus on tourism is expected to launch in early 2023 and is probably one of the investments expected to give another impetus to the tourism development of the area. 

Marsela Maci, coordinator of the Natural Resources Management project, said that at least 20m euros will be made available for the two regions of Pogradec and Pustec. 

“It is one of the beginnings of another project that aims at the development of the area and focuses on Tushemisht and Pustec. It will start with 20 million euros and will be in function of the urban development of these regions. 

For Pustec, the possibility of developing the area through intervention in the urban system will be seen and it is about the construction of a port that will be the place where boats are taken for tourist walks. There will also be a promenade that will connect Zaroshka with Pustec, which can be done on foot or by bicycle. It is being completed as a project by the documents and the works will start next year", said Maci.

(Source: Monitor)