Albania

TIRANA – 29 September 2007 – During the summer tourist season of 2007, UNDP Albania conducted a cultural and natural site survey in Berat, Gjirokaster, Butrint and Theth National Park. The survey aimed to provide detailed information about the socio-economic profile, activities, degree of satisfaction, expenditures and desires of visitors to the country. The data gathered will help Albania guide its investment in cultural and nature-based tourism as an important engine for future economic growth for the country.

“Albania has great potential as a cultural and nature-based tourism destination,” said UN Fellow for Tourism and Environment Marco Bordoni. “However, there is currently very little systematically collected information about visitors to Albania and its main destinations.”

In carrying out the survey, UNDP Albania partnered with the Gjirokastra Conservation and Development Office, the Regional Directorate of Cultural Monuments in Berat, United States Peace Corps Volunteers, Butrint National Park, and the UNDP Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme. The surveys were conducted from June to September and only non-resident visitors to Albania were interviewed. Over 800 surveys were collected from all four locations. Results from the survey will be available mid-October.

UNDP Albania is also implementing an outgoing survey at the “Mother Teresa” international airport that assesses foreign visitors’ experience in the country, and is being carried out by UNDP’s Image of Albania project.

“The airport survey is the first of its kind in Albania,” said Ms. Dasara Dizdari, Project Coordinator for the Image of Albania. “This information will be invaluable for making informed decisions on marketing and investment in Albania’s tourism sector.”

Both surveys are a part of the UNDP Eco and Cultural Tourism Support Programme that aims to strengthen Albania's capacity to implement the Government’s Tourism Sector Strategy to develop a successful tourism sector based on Albania's unique cultural and natural assets. The primary partner of the programme is the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports.

The UNDP Albania Eco and Cultural Tourism Support Programme was launched in April 2006 to provide direct support to the Government in implementing its December 2005 tourism strategy, “Strategy and Action Plan for the Development of the Albanian Tourism Sector Based on Cultural and Environmental Tourism.” Implemented in full partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports, the primary objective of this programme is to support the Government of Albania in achieving its development objectives through building a successful tourism sector based on cultural and environmental assets. The programme supports the Ministry to strengthen its capacity to meet the challenges of modern tourism, and provides direct support in critical areas where the Ministry lacks human and other resources.

For further information please contact Tourism Programme Manager Lauren Bohatka at 0692020276 or by e-mail: lauren.bohatka@undp.org

The UNDP Image of Albania project aims to address the information gap about Albania internationally by improving the quality and the quantity of information about the country in order to increase positive associations. The project works with the Albanian Government, international partners and the media to set a more positive agenda reflecting Albanian realities.

For more information about the Image of Albania project please contact UNDP-Albania: Dasara Dizdari, Project Coordinator at dasara.dizdari@undp.org