text: Formatted: Indent: Left: -0.81", Right: -0.96" Formatted: Left: 1.5", Right: 0" REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM, CULTURE, YOUTH AND SPORTS Tourism Strategy May 2007 Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 1 CHAPTER I STRATEGIC CONTEXT During the years 2005-2006, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports prepared and approved, by a decision of the Council of Ministers no. 395, dated June 21, 2006, the Strategy and Action Plan for the Development of Natural and Environmental Tourism. This document was prepared with the support of the United Nations Development Program, Tirana Office. The Tourism Strategy document is designed in line with the process initiated by the Albanian government to coordinate the strategies of the different sectors of the economy, prioritizing the need for revising the Tourism Development Strategy and linking it to the Strategy and Action Plan for the Development of Natural and Environmental Tourism WHERE DO WE STAND In 2003, the Strategy for Tourism Development was approved, and Albania emerged as a country with potentials that could be used for tourism development, building its image as a tourist destination under the logo "Albania -- Yours to Discover" The strategy was designed to strengthen the tourism sector, centering mainly on the sustainable development principle and identification of challenges to maximize the contribution in the sector. Four years later, important aspects of the strategy and action plan still remain unachieved. They comprise: Sustainable product development and sustainability implementation at all levels, Establishment of institutional local and central structures that ensure the implementation of the strategy's plans and objectives, Designing or revising the city planning of tourism priority areas, based on comprehensive economic, social, cultural and environmental analysis, Establishment of demand and offer trends data collection and distribution system in line with international standards, Development of infrastructure elements, Addressing illegal constructions in the coastal areas and finding solutions to situations developing from the "construct and sell" mentality, Priority development of accommodation structures of an average capacity of 60 to 70 rooms in the coastal areas, Resolution to land ownership title issues, Education and training of human resources in the tourism industry, Increased financing and identification of regulatory schemes, contributing to the creation of attractive sites, Increase of financing for protection and preservation of important natural and cultural sites, Involvement of the public and private sector, Tourism marketing and promotion inside and outside the country, Promotion of best practices. During this time period the number of tourists has increased, while the number of ethnic tourists has remained constant: Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 2 The number of foreign visitors has increased from 309,000 in 2003 to 914,000 in 2006 Tourism revenues as part of the GDP are calculated at 3.8% The number of people employed in the tourism sector is 138,000 Tourist accomodation units (TAU) No. of hotels No. of beds in No. of TAU No. of beds in TAU No. of No. of hotels licensed classified hotels hotels 666 20 917 908 31 712 36 28 80 % of hotels have 1-20 rooms, 13 % of hotels have 20-40 rooms, 7% of hotels have more than 40 rooms, 14.29% of hotels are classified as one-star, 25% of hotels are classified as two-star, 35.71% of hotels are classified as three-star, 14.29% of hotels are classified as four-star, 10.71% of hotels are classified as five-star Distribution of hotels Elbasan Kruje Shkoder Gjirokaster Fier Kukes Diber Shengjin Velipoje Berat Korce Sarande Vlore Golem Durres Tirane 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 Most hotels are found in Tirane, Velipoje, Golem and Sarande. Concerns related to "Incentive Person" titles The existing tourism development situation shows that to date 96 structures, mainly in the coastal areas, have been given incentives. Fifty-one of them have been constructed on non-public state property and 45 on private Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 3 property. The agreements signed with these subjects present developmental, economic, and financial concerns, bringing about: - Development of a site into a different destination (use) from tourism, - Low impact on employment, tourism-related professional updating and limited use of local product, - Use of tourism development priority construction sites (land-site, limited source) for residential buildings, which limits the generation of revenues from tourism, - Incentive benefits for non-tourism related structures. Table: IP with a rent agreement (RA) Types of structures IP with Tourist Surface area Area Tourist Tourist RA Complex Hotels rented out Village ports (resort) 586254 m2 Golem 40 13 16 11 58,6 ha Durres 59100 m2 3 2 1 Shkembi Kavaje 5,9 ha 3 202 130 m2 Sarande-Ksamil 5 2 2 320 ha 127 400 m2 Orikum 2 1 1 12,7 ha 120 000 m2 Gjiri Lazli 1 1 12 ha TOTAL 51 16 18 14 2 401 ha In the World Economic Forum (WEF) report of 2007, which evaluates and ranks country competitiveness, Albania ranks in 90th place of 124 countries, ranking above countries that have a long-time successful and established tourism, such as Kenya, Ecuador and Nepal. This proves that Albania has the potential to compete successfully. The analysis considered strong and the weak points in regard to cultural and natural assets, sector and human resources upgrading, institutional roles in long-term building and successful support of the tourism sector. Albania's ranking proves its excellent potential for tourism. The people are hospitable and open to visitors and the country is secure and stable. However, the ranking also points to weaknesses that harm competitiveness, such as lack of political will to undertake concrete actions, weak system of environmental protection and management, a difficult investment climate, unresolved land title rights and non-effective infrastructure and promotion efforts. WEF REPORT: ALABANIA AND THE NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES Sub-indices General index Regulatory Business Human, cultural framework environment and and natural infrastructure resources COUNTRIES Ranking Ranking Ranking Ranking Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 4 Albania 90 94 114 43 Macedonia 83 114 82 44 Serbia- 61 79 80 13 Montenegro Croatia 38 58 40 11 The Tourism Development Strategy launched in 2003 was an instrument that brought about the following achievements: Drafting the tourism development draft-law. During 2006-2007 the tourism draft-law was drafted, aiming at creating a sector compliant with international standards. It also aimed at assisting tourism industry development with concrete solutions, which are in line with the strategic directions of tourism development, by prioritizing and linking the cultural and natural heritage sources with tourism development. Approval of Tourism Ports law. Infrastructural development: the international Rinas airport, located in the vicinity of Tirane and Durres, is operational by now. Rehabilitation of several road axis and investments into secondary roads (6000 km); sea ports development and rehabilitation projects. Development projects for infrastructural elements in various areas of the country. Design of the tourism development integrated plan for the southern coast. The Tourism Entity was established in 2005 to increase Albania's promotion as a tourism destination, to increase the marketing of the Albanian tourism product and to control and standartize the accommodating structures. The Tourism Entity's main activity is to cooperate and coordinate the work with Regional Tourism Offices (RTO) established in the seven main cities of the country: Shkoder, Durres, Vlore, Korce, Tirane, Berat, and Gjirakaster. RTO are the structures responsible for drafting local strategies, tourism activity supervision, data processing, and providing advice on investment procedures in the tourism industry. These offices are administratively subordinate structures of the prefectures and districts and receive guidelines by the MoTCYS. The following preconditions for tourism development in Albania still remain: 1. Sustainable development implementation by all the planning, decision-making and management structures, at the central and local level and also by the private sector, 2. Completion of tourism legal framework, 3. Effective organization of the public and private sector in order to achieve the vision and strategic objectives, 4. Infrastructure development – road, water, and air transportation development, Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 5 Establishment and improvement of efficient systems of solid waste and wastewater treatment and management, Telecommunication and internet, 5. Revision and establishment of standards for drafting land use plans in potential tourism development areas, 6. Ownership - one of the preconditions for tourism development and sustainability in tourism investment is to resolve as quickly as possible the legal issues relating to land and construction ownership, 7. Increase of financing for the preservation and maintainance of natural and cultural assets, improvement of management systems in areas of cultural and natural interest, development of human resources and improvement of image. Albania should invest in various critical human resources so that the tourism sector is effectively developed, 8. Data collection and processing -- it is necessary to collect and analyze data effectively and in accordance with the international standards nationally, regionally, and locally. Albania should make important investments in data collection and management systems in order to monitor and analyze the characteristics of tourist visits, spending, behavior, and profiles. It is impossible to plan tourism without such data. Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 6 CHAPTER II VISION, GOAL, OBJECTIVES The following vision voices the desired achievements for future Albanian tourism. It aims at 2013 as the date to bring about the desired strategy objectives VISION 2013 "Albania is a safe, high-value tourism destination featuring an unparalleled variety of world-class natural and cultural attractions in a small geographic area, managed in an environmentally and socially responsible manner, easily accessible to European tourism markets." The goal of the Albanian tourism development is to increase the quality of living for a considerable number of Albanians. Tourism development should be measured and assessed in a medium and long-term manner in relation to its ability to improve the well-being of Albanians. As such, it is, can be (and should be) part of the country's strategy to achieve development priorities, such as the Millenium Devlopment Goal commitments. More tourists do not necessarily mean more development or revenue for Albanians. The kind of tourism that the country chooses to develop is mainly defined by the contribution to the well-being of its citizens. Emphasizing natural and cultural tourism will keep in focus the benefits for local communities, which are currently faced with limited economic opportunities. The tangible benefits expected from a successful tourism strategy include: increased employment rates, additional revenues for the economy (core or additional), improved infrastructure, and increased tax revenues that would contribute to the improvement of health-care, education, and other social developments. Less tangible benefits include: confirmation of local culture and traditions, creation of opportunities to keep the young generation interested in residing in Albania or returning to their towns, and exchange of contacts with people of different cultures. Strategy objectives also include: - perception of Albania as a rich natural and cultural destination, - assessment and protection of natural and cultural heritage and understanding of its value by the tourism industry and community. Enhancement of opportunities to increase the knowledge on common benefits of culture and art providers, but also of the tourism industry and community, through education, information, and training, - Encouraging product development by using strengths and identifying the suitable and competitive possibilities of the market, - Establishing a cooperation and integration partnership network. CHAPTER III POLICIES Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 7 The guiding principles for achieving the strategy and the future management of the industry development are: Sustainable development Accepting this worldwide concept is essential for tourism development. Future development of natural, cultural, and human resources is vital and critical for the long-term sustainability of the tourism industry. Developments that have a negative impact on the environment or offer only short- term benefits should be avoided. The main aspects of sustainable tourism policies include: land use, site management, preservation of important natural and cultural sites, project development, and human resources investment. Three main sub-principles are: o Ecological sustainability – ensure that development is in line with the preservation of essential ecological processes, biological biodiversity and resources, o Social and cultural sustainability – ensure that development increases people's control over their lives and is in line with the culture and values of the people it affects, and also preserves and strengthens community identity, o Economic sustainability – ensure that development is economically efficient and the sources are properly managed to create premises for future generations. Local community benefits Tourism should bring benefits to the community or people living in the vicinity of the cultural and natural areas of interest, increasing their standard of living. It should use financial mechanisms and incentives to support the efforts for the preservation and improvement of revenue sources in the rural areas. Partnership While the market changes rapidly, national and international partnerships should be successful in order to be competitive ("cooperate to compete"). Such partnerships are beneficial for all the parties concerned. Public-private sector partnership. The international experience shows that successful destinations are the ones built on public-private partnerships. Such partnerships should be considered in planning, development, marketing, and promotion issues. Quality By improving service standards, the quality of the work force in tourism industry and offering continuously products of required value and quantity to the target groups, Albania will be able to compete successfully in the international markets. General Strategy Albania is a beautiful and fascinating country. It has a wide range of historical, cultural and natural attractions that are of great interest to international tourists. The country is safe and the people are welcoming, hospitable and friendly. Most importantly, the country still remains "authentic." It remains largely unspoiled by foreign influence, people live and work in traditional ways in much of the country and local culture expresses itself in varied ways on regional basis, even from town to town1. The combination of these factors makes the country unique and its potential value to international tourism markets is very high. 1 For example, wines, white cheese, olives and lamb have distinct flavors village to village. Behavior, history ethnography and cultural traditions are visibly different across very small geographic areas. 2 In most countries, but particularly in wealthy western countries and Japan, there is a direct correlation between the level of education and income. Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 8 Albania is not an easy tourism destination to understand for international markets. It offers the potential for dozens of tourism activities in dozens of destinations. Individually, they are all interesting, however only few of them are unique or sufficiently compelling on their own to draw international tourists. It is the precise combination of activities and destinations within the country that offers the best possibility of building a successful tourism sector. The country is complex. Its culture, history, geography and archeology are fascinating, but complicated and not easily accessible, even to educated tourists. For a non-Albanian, it is virtually impossible to understand and fully appreciate the country without substantial assistance. However, it is through this understanding and appreciation – the "discovery" of Albania – that the country achieves its maximum tourism potential. Experiences that unlock new discoveries for visitors are the most valuable tourism products in the world, because of whom they attract and how they spend their money in a country. The discovery of Albania through its natural and cultural attractions is of interest primarily to educated and relatively affluent international tourists2. This demographic segment spends considerably more for tourism products that include new experiences such as education, adventure and culture. In addition, their spending patterns are highly favorable for development, as they prefer to interact directly with the communities they visit (shops, restaurants and other local businesses) and tend to purchase a great deal of locally provided products and services, in particular excursions, guided cultural and nature tours, adventure experiences and handicrafts. This segment does not make a clear distinction between cultural, natural and other tourism products. Visitors in this segment tend to combine many different activities during their visits and usually see the various natural and cultural activities as part of the process of discovering the destination. The typical vacation periods for this segment are from 8 to 14 days. During this time, these visitors prefer to visit several destinations, usually in 2 to 3 day blocks, focused around a central location. Albania's geography and cultural are ideally suited to this approach. There are already great advances in tourism product development in a number of cities, which have several strategies and plans for multi-day itineraries in place, based on their culture, history, and nature3. The discovery of Albania will depend on detailed explanations and interpretation that open the culture and its history to understanding by outsiders. Albania must be marketed to international audiences as Albania. The country does not have strong enough assets for its central marketing position to be either geographically based (north versus south versus coast) or theme- based alone (eco-tourism, cultural monuments, etc). Albania's core (primary) tourism product must be a general one, which encourages visitors to discover the many facets of Albania's culture and nature. Main tourism products and their strategy Based on the surveys and the analysis of the tourism potential of the country and other factors, the main tourism products in Albanian are the following kinds of tourism: 3 The regions of Tirane, Sarande, Gjirokaster, Berat, Vlore, Shkoder, Korçe and Kruje are ready for such visitors with interesting itineraries. For example in the region of Vlore, the MEDWET project has produced an outstanding guidebook detailing the cultural and natural monuments and the AULEDA organization is working with the local communities on the concept of small town bed and breakfast lodging focused on small towns/centers with interesting nature and culture. A number of itineraries could be designed to offer tourist guided tours of many combinations, with minimal additional efforts. Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 9 1. Sun and beach tourism 2. Special interest tourism 3. Business and conference tourism Tourism market Cultural Rural Natural Health Sun and Business and tourism tourism tourism tourism beach TOURISMBus rural Turizmi Tourism natyror Plazhit Ecotourims Adventure tourism Special interest tourism includes: natural tourism, ecotourism, adventure tourism (nature excursions, horse-riding, boat rowing, river rafting, parachute jumping, mountain bike trips, scuba-diving, canoeing, sail boating), rural tourism, cultural tourism (historical towns, archaeological centers, etc.) Specialized tourism products can and should be developed under a general umbrella, broadening the diversity of products for the core tourism market and specialty markets. Graphic 1 presents a simple scheme. Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 10 Formatted: Font color: Auto Position One of the important objectives of the strategy is to achieve a geographic balance in the distribution of tourism activities throughout the country. Currently, even the areas with tourism potential have been excluded from the status of areas of tourism development priority. This requires the revision of the legal framework and the undertaking of development initiatives in little-developed areas and areas of considerable Formatted: Font color: Auto potential. Coastal area of the Adriatic Sea – it is necessary that current developments be controlled for compliance with the present legal framework. The product development should be aimed at offering the visitor a combination of experiences, by combining attractive natural and cultural products that complement each other and are in line with the permitted environmental, social and cultural capacities. Due to the flat terrain, resort constructions (hotels or villages of 3, 4 or 5 stars) should be of low height to fit the landscape, should preserve the green coastal areas and should be grouped together. Other developments could include camping sites or casinos. Sea parks should be created for preservation purposes and water sports. While planning facilities for local tourism, the balance between local and international tourism should be considered. Buildings should preserve the local architectonic style (material, colors, details, etc.). The density of constructions should be 100 tourists per hectar. Coastal area of the Ionian Sea – The product development should be aimed at offering the visitor a combination of experiences, by combining attractive natural and cultural products that complement each other and are in line with the permitted environmental, social and cultural capacities. The area should be reserved for the development of potential high-class tourism, hotels and village resorts of low height and a density of 100 tourists per hectar, which are designed to create the least possible changes in the natural environment and local topography. The existing villages along the coast should be taken into consideration not only with regard to construction but also in economic and social terms. Navigation access should also be developed in this area. Mountainous areas – developments should be compact, using existing constructions or new resorts village constructions to fit the green landscape. The density of the construction should be 150 tourists per hectar. Albania will seek to position itself as an attractive destination for tourists seeking a unique experience featuring high quality cultural sites and nature destinations presented in a truly "authentic" way. Albania's core product will be the "discovery" of Albania. The product is a presentation of a broad cross-section of Albania's history, nature, archaeology, living culture, cuisine and hospitality. By participating in this discovery, visitors will be left with a lasting impression of the diversity, complexity and beauty of the culture and the land. Albania will specialize in attracting educated and independent travelers and specialized group travelers. The principal target markets will be the upper-middle income individuals from Europe (primarily northern Europe and Great Britain) and North America. This segment represents the demographic segment, which is highly willing to pay for Albania's unique products and whose spending patterns will contribute most to advancing development goals. Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 11 Albania´s strength will rest in creating value for tourists in a wide variety of geographic locations. This approach opens up more of the country to "discovery," which: - offers a great variety of products, strengthens the range and diversity available to visitors. - creates spaces for the diverse local culture to express itself, in particular the particular customs and traditions of the various regions of the country. - allows more provincial and rural communities to participate in and benefit from tourism visitation and development. - creates the basis for geographic linking of Albanian tourism with that of the neighboring countries - increasing visibility and allowing tourism to develop in provincial and rural areas, bringing development opportunities to a broader section of the population. - permits the development of complementary specialty tourism markets (such as trekking, climbing, diving, agriculture, hunting and fishing, archaeology, culinary, festivals, among others), within the existing infrastructure and proposed central tourism products. Albanian tourism will grow "organically" as an authentic destination, true to its culture, history and natural environment. The best international practices in nature and culture tourism, hospitality and logistics will be studied and adapted to Albania's specific needs and cultural context. In keeping with the concept of authenticity, lodging, dining and other hospitality elements will be developed wherever possible in small to medium-scale, by locally owned businesses. This approach reinforces visitor connections with the cities and sites and generates greater income generation in the communities. Tourism growth will be driven and supported by conscientious marketing, creative design of products, appropriate infrastructure, high quality human resources and tourism and "business climate" with clear rules of the game and appropriate structures to ensure its long-term economic viability. Ensuring repeat visits and achieving "word of mouth" recommendations will be the key to sustainable tourism development. This ultimately will depend on the long-term quality of cultural sites and nature destinations and the overall experience of visitors based on the knowledge and interpretation of their guides. To create a virtuous cycle of sustainable development based on tourism, the Government of Albania (GoA) together with municipalities, tourism operators and NPOs, must protect and re-evaluate the sites, parks, cities and protected areas that are the core assets of its tourism sector. Justification Albania has excellent tourism development potential. Many cultural and natural resource attractions are of very high quality and would attract high levels of visitation, if they were more widely publicized within the target market segments. Albania can position itself according to the important comparable priorities of the countries of high quality sites in a small geographic area and create an identifiable position in the international market place, based on the discovery of the country. More important for Albania, however, are the trends in tourism preferences. Culture, adventure and "eco- tourism"4 are considered the fastest growing tourism markets worldwide. Their popularity points to a switch away from "passive" resort-based vacations, which were characteristic of the development of mass tourism since the 4 The International Ecotourism Society (TIES, at www.ecotourism.org) defined ecotourism as "responsible travel to natural areas, which conserves the environment and improves the well-being of the local people." Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 12 1970s. "Theme" travels focused on special-interest activities, such as discovery and adventure, sports and education, are increasingly popular. Traditional "sun and sand" tourism (large-scale, undifferentiated packages) is losing ground to ecotourism, cultural tourism and adventure tourism. While sun and sand tourism remains the largest tourism segment within the international tourism, it is experiencing growth rates of no more than 2 to 4 percent per year5. Meanwhile, markets for cultural tourism are currently believed to represent more than 60 million tourists per year, with projected annual growth rates of 15% through to 20106.Adventure tourism is another small but rapidly growing segment, with nearly 5 million annual tourists and with a growth rate of 20%7. Depending on the definition, the full range of nature-oriented tourism could represent as much as half of all tourism and has shown spectacular growth rates for more than a decade. Neighboring countries, such as Greece, Turkey and Croatia have focused their efforts on sun and sand tourism, further crowding an already very crowded tourism market (which also includes North Africa, Coastal Spain, the Caribbean, Indian Ocean islands and many others). Albania has a unique opportunity to differentiate itself from neighbors and avoid a crowded market with decreasing revenues and profits. Nowadays tourists evaluate a country's environmental responsibility and conservation efforts. Consumers from developed countries may change their buying decisions based on the perception of negative environmental impacts or performance. The tourism focused on independent tourists visiting local communities and participating actively in nature and culture activities has been shown to yield 5 to 10 times more development benefit per dollar of tourist spending than the large-scale sun and sand tourism. Studies conducted by INCAE (Inman 1999) and others, have shown that the nature-based tourism in Costa Rica yields about 50% of the total spendings made by visitors in the country (air travel excluded), while the sun and sand sector in Cancun, Mexico (based on general mass tourist villages) yields about 10% of the visitor spendings in the country. Moreover, the general expenses and multiple effect of the expenses (guides, tours, equipment, handicrafts) in Costa Rica tend to be greater. Data on travels to Central America show that the tourists who come to try a combination of natural and cultural attractions (including the beaches) spend 25% more for their stay than the ones coming only for sun and beach tourism8. The experienced tourists seek to find not only quality destinations or activities of increasing value, but also destinations that offer conformity of lodging facilities and that are in line with management practices following environmental guidelines. Unfortunately, Albania has no alternatives for real positions. Its individual destinations are attractive, but not unique. Ancient ruins of better quality can be found in Greece, Italy and Turkey. Sun and sand tourism competes with very many countries and it presents challenges due to declining prices and little contribution to the local economy. The nature and culture present few alternative destinations, but they still compete with a wide variety of destinations. What makes Albania unique is the close proximity of a rich variety of attractions and the relative proximity of these attractions, in a unique cultural context, to a large number of local and international tourists. 5 World Tourism Organization 6 WTO, Travel and Tourism Analyst, No. 4, 2001 by Travel and Tourism Intelligence 7 Travel and Tourism Intelligence (TTI) 8 Deshazo, George, 1997. This was concluded by the author based on several studies conducted in Central America by the Harvard Institute for International Development Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 13 While the unique market position is born primarily of necessity, it is a powerful position in the international market place. Trends in tourism visitation worldwide clearly identify nature and culture tourism as the fastest growing segment and with very large numbers of potential tourists. Albania appears to be ideally situated to meet the shifting demands of an increasingly nature and culture oriented tourism market. Challenges The development of Albania's tourism sector presents a number of challenges. As they enter international markets, there are general tourism development challenges that all countries face and also specific challenges related to establishing a successful nature and culture-based destinations. General challenges for Albania in tourism development Establishing a clear market position in an overcrowded marketplace. There are many products and countries competing for the attention of travelers, travel agencies and publications. Overcoming previous conceptions and associations with Albania. Initial research points to a "non-image" among tourism professionals. There is interest in new destinations and also increasing interest in the type of experience Albania has to offer, but this will require a coordinated effort. In certain target markets, the general associations with Albania range from neutral to negative due to the historical developments during the transition period. Investment must be planned in the short, medium and long term. The country as a whole cannot enter this commitment lightly. Success in international markets requires consistency in message and market presence year after year. It requires investment of political capital by the government and private, public and civil society sectors. Further, success also requires a number of new or adapted mechanisms to ensure consistency and coordination, but also to avoid conflict and provide reliability in investment and decision- making. Infrastructure. One of the visible advantages of the natural and cultural tourism is that the requirements for specialized infrastructure are minimal. However, the basic capacity to move the tourists safely (in cars, mini-buses, buses and airplanes) is an imperative. Telecommunication and internet are an important and increasingly necessary component for the promotion of the tourism sector, communication, (by operators and local tourism offices) and for visitors. Albania faces significant challenges in all these areas. Coordination among a large number of governmental institutions. A successful tourism sector for Albania will require the coordinated efforts of a number of ministries, local government, institutes, as well as NPOs, academia, international agencies and bilateral assistance programs. Market Intelligence. Without detailed knowledge of the tourism markets and the forecast of the target segments' expectations and desires, Albania risks wasting substantial investment and precious time. The country will need to invest in market information and knowledge to pinpoint opportunities and fine-tune products and services. Internal data. Albania will need to invest substantially in domestic data collection and management systems to monitor and analyze tourism visitations, spending, behavior, tourist profiles and other characteristics. Without this data, tourism planning is virtually impossible and the scarce resources will be wasted. Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 14 Specific Challenges for Nature and Culture Tourism A strategy focusing on nature and culture tourism presents a diversity of additional challenges beyond the general ones. The concept of sustainability is built upon the strategic position according to need. Without aggressive efforts to ensure the sustainability of the natural and cultural resources, Albania cannot reasonably expect to maintain a market position capable of attracting international tourists. Without involving the local communities and providing real opportunities to participate in and benefit from the development process, the attractions will continue to degrade or will be converted for other economic uses – nearly all of which offer much less long-term development potential than the tourism. Developing a successful sector requires substantial levels of investment in infrastructure, marketing, human resources, natural area management, historical preservation, and living culture. The country will Formatted: No underline not be successful, without a serious commitment for investments. There are no "recipes." Albania's tourism products must be authentic, while meeting the general expectations of international tourists. International experience, knowledge and best practices should be sought aggressively in order to make informed decisions and plans for the country. However, the products themselves must represent, to the maximum extent possible, an authentic Albanian approach. The most likely outcome will be the adoption and adaptation of strategies and mechanisms from a number of countries with best practices in different regions of the world. Local-national issues. Nature and culture tourism require actual involvement of local governments in Formatted: No underline tourism planning, urban planning, infrastructure development, cultural preservation and environmental protection among others. While there is considerable local capacity in the larger cities and identified cultural centers, many cities and towns will require substantial amounts of additional support from the Formatted: No underline central government, Tirana-based institutions and international experts. The nature and culture tourism segment is highly dependent on very specialized human resources. Very high-quality tour guides are perhaps the most critical success factor for Albanian tourism and will need to be aggressively recruited and trained. The country will need qualified managers for natural and cultural sites. In addition, there is an identified shortage of qualified hospitality personnel at all levels and in all regions. Limited language skills (English in particular) across these categories and in particular in provincial areas presents a challenge. A number of alternative tourism strategies have proven to be non-complementary and potentially harmful to building high-value tourism. Large-scale sun and sand tourism represented by all-inclusive packages in isolated tourism complexes will likely do great harm to the country's efforts to build a high-value sector based on nature and culture. The massive sun and sand tourism is a highly competitive segment that attracts primarily discount-oriented travelers. The arrival of large numbers of such travelers tends to make destinations much less attractive to "higher-end tourists". A similar effect has been observed with the arrival of large cruise ships. Tourism growth can be slow in the early years. If successful, the sector will begin small, but grow rapidly as it gains a positive international reputation. While it will be possible to observe progress and measure advances with meaningful indicators, the tangible benefits critical for ongoing political support Formatted: No underline and commitment will be observed in the medium term. Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 15 Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 16 CHAPTER IV ACTION PLAN AND RESOURCES This section presents a plan for the country to advance its tourism sector and tackle its principle challenges within the context of the strategy presented above and the existing policy, legal and institutional structure. In operational terms, the country is ready to move forward with its tourism sector. Today the country has the capacity to receive substantially more overnight international tourists than it is currently receiving. Although the country is not ready for aggressive marketing to broad international markets, it is absolutely ready to receive tens of thousands of additional adventurous and "pioneering" tourists who are willing to be flexible and "forgiving" in exchange for being among the first to experience a unique new destination. The numerous challenges that Albania faces must be addressed, but most would not be solved prior to beginning tourism promotion. However, due to the interrelated nature of the identified challenges, the country must begin work immediately in a number of areas in order for tourism to grow effectively. The specific items of the Action Plan are presented as priorities in nine different areas. Awareness and Marketing Product Development Investments in Nature Areas to Strengthen the Tourism Sector Investments in Culture to Strengthen the Tourism Sector Human Resources Infrastructure Business Climate Enhancement/Re-evaluation of Tourist Experience Formatted: No underline Data and Information Management Awareness and Marketing Albania must work at multiple levels to increase awareness of the country, increase positive associations with Albania, consolidate a unifying theme to link the country's tourism product with international markets, convince market opinion-leaders that the country is worth visiting, increase contact between specialized outbound travel companies in target markets and local tourism companies (inbound operators, outfitters, hotels, etc), establish a credible internet-based presence and establish a sustainable structure for continued marketing efforts. Awareness and positive association This must be a diplomatic and political effort. Coverage in the international press continues to be neutral to negative. Albania has not managed this aspect of its public image very successfully. Tourism, nature and culture provide excellent opportunities for senior officials to communicate positive messages. Every time the Prime Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 17 Minister or other senior officials visit a target market country (particularly Germany, Great Britain, United States and northern Italy), he or she should set aside time to promote tourism to select audiences and to the media. They must be supported by the national unifying theme presented in "b)" below. Action 1.1 Development of a national tourism press kit and stand, with printed materials, video, scripts and other materials to enable easy presentation of the country in any priority location. Action 1.2 Increase positive media coverage in target markets. Albania must be more aggressive in communicating positive messages in target markets. Positive news on natural and cultural issues should provide substantial benefits. Commercial officers, press officers, consuls and even ambassador's in Albanian mission abroad should be briefed on the use of the prepared materials and provided with frequent news feeds to create opportunities for advancing a positive image. Action 1.3 Work closely with Albanian Diaspora. It is very important that Albanians abroad feel proud and willing to visit Albania with relatives and friends. As an example, Mexico has conducted a promotion campaign "Welcome Home Paisano." Consolidate a unifying theme to link the country's tourism product with international markets Today Albania is using a number of different themes to present itself – two can be found on the official tourism website and others in different promotional materials. This takes away focus and could eventually create confusion. The country needs professional assistance in selecting and designing a theme that reflects the national cultural and environmental strategy and the image the country wishes to portray to the world and connects these with a message that finds a proven resonance within the target market group that the country is seeking to attract. Action 1.4 Hire an international public relations firm with experience in the strategic positioning of tourism destinations. This is imperative. There are decades of experience, knowledge, science and art behind the design of market positioning. The process includes creative design process, analysis of open potentials, testing of the concept in various target markets and other steps to guarantee the strength and clarity of the message. Convince market opinion-leaders that the country is worth visiting Specialized products are only successful in the tourism market if their qualities are "validated" by respected opinion leaders. For a destination such as Albania, the most important opinion-leaders are frequently writers and publishers of articles, journals and guidebooks oriented toward nature, culture and travel. Occasionally they are travel companies known for "discovering" new destinations. The model of validation can be depicted as concentric circles (see Graphic 2), with each ring looking to the next inner ring for advice and recommendations. Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 18 Graphic 2: Concentric circles of information marketing Action 1.5 Engage in an aggressive effort to increase Albania's visibility in opinion-leader publications. Sub-action 1.5.1 Albania must conduct a study, in conjunction with the public relations firm identified above, to determine which publications and information sources the desired target market uses to make decisions to travel to a destination. Since much early-stage tourism development happensis by "word of Formatted: No underline mouth," a secondary objective is to identify the decision processes of the "pioneering visitors." Sub-action 1.5.2 Increase coverage and presence of Albania in tour guidebooks directed at independent "adventurous" travelers. Specifically, Albania should convince: Bradt Travel Guides Ltd (UK) to expand and update its excellent travel guide; Lonely Planet Guides (UK) to produce a dedicated guide (rather than appearing in shared Eastern Europe one); and Rough Guides (UK) to consider including Albania in their portfolio of guide books. Action 1.6 Invest in presence in "paid" space in high quality magazine. Marketing professionals argue that a good article about a product or destination in a credible publication is worth 5 to 10 times more than an equal Formatted: No underline amount of paid advertising space in the same publication. Certain high credibility publications (in particular National Geographic and National Geographic Traveler) decide on much of their editorial content based on paid Formatted: No underline advertising space (X pages of advertising space "entitles" the purchaser to Y pages of editorial content from national geographic staff and photographers). The specific selection of publications should be based on the research conducted in 1.3.1 above. Increase contact between specialized outbound travel companies in target markets and local tourism companies Action 1.7 Increase presence at major fairs featuring nature, culture, adventure and "alternative" tourism destinations. Trade fairs are considered by most country-promoters as a "necessary evil." Positive results can be of varying quality, but lack of presence is universally regarded as bad. Albania's participation in these fairs must be coordinated under a unifying national theme to maintain focus on the message and with clear objectives to achieve as a country, not just as individual organizations. Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 19 Action 1.8 Establish an International Tourism Fair in Albania. The best place to show Albania is Albania. The Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports recently reiterated his support for the Fair of 2006. Best practices in planning suggest that Albania evaluate the best available times slots on the international calendar and allow for approximately one year to ensure proper organization and communication. The national unifying theme must be the overarching position presented in the show. International expertise on tourism fair organization should be secured. Credible internet-based presence Action 1.9 Strengthen Albania's presence on the internet. The National Tourism Organization's web site (http://www.albaniantourism.com) is a good initial effort to ensure that potential visitors can find basic information on the country. And it sends a message that the country is "open for business." Design a comprehensive internet presence strategy that includes: A second generation of the National Tourism Organization website to include more detailed explanations and information on routes and contact with licensed tourism companies and the private sector portal. A linked private sector portal to provide easy access to tourism industry participants, such as inbound operators, lodging, restaurants, outfitters, etc. Creation of an Albania tourism forum, attached to the national tourism website, linked to numerous sites, and monitored and responded to daily by a tourism promotion program person. Search engine placement. Information experts can assist the Ministry and the private sector in strategies to ensure that the national website and other sites rank in the top of "Google searches." Establish a sustainable structure for continued marketing efforts Action 1.10 Establish a permanent financial structure that ensures a consistent marketing budget each year and allocation of that budget toward nationally agreed-upon marketing priorities. Albania should implement a mechanism used by a number of countries. A dedicated tourism marketing fund is financed by a special tourism tax. All funds collected from the special tax (ranging from 2% to 5% applied to all hospitality businesses) should be earmarked for the marketing of tourism. Annual budget and expenditures are agreed upon by a special tourism promotion committee (or Board) comprised of Ministry representatives and the tourism sector. Albania will need to identify seed capital for this fund, but should conceive it as a revolving fund in a relatively short time – replenishing the fund with dedicated tax revenues Product Development The general tourism strategy establishes the overall framework for tourism centered on the discovery of Albania through its nature and culture. Touirsm development has evolved with a regional focus, centered around the principal cities and their surrounding areas. A continuation of this evolution is natural and desirable. While strategy and national planning is a "top-down" function, the development of the type of tourism sector Albania desires is predominantly "bottom-up." Nature and culture tourism depends, at its core, on the ability of the local areas to effectively organize themselves to convert their natural and cultural assets into a viable tourism product, complete with recommended sites and activities, information and interpretation, lodging, food, guide services and a variety of other features that determine the quality and value of a destination. Action 2.1 Establish mechanisms to support local efforts to bring culture and nature products to market. The first step of this process is to identify the needs of the tourism sector, the local government and civil society Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 20 sector in each region. The second step will be to design a support plan to assist the local actors in whatever way resources permit. Action 2.2 Establish and publish recommended tourism routes and activities for each city-region. With the assistance of the national government, the private sector and NPOs, each tourism center must articulate recommended tourism itineraries for visitors – designed in blocks of half days, full days, two days, etc. The routes will be presented with detailed information, photographs and other materials in electronic and printed form and distributed on the web and in print format to visitors. The recently published compact disk "Albanian Nature Formatted: No underline Monuments," produced by the Ministry of Environment with support from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Small Grants Program is an outstanding contribution to this effort. Action 2.3 Develop small businesses. Small or family busines is the mechanism through which the spendings of the vistors contribute to the local or national economy. Several training session need to be conducted and tourism stakeholder groups encouraged and supported by the local government need to be established in order to develop this mechanism. It is vital that the local government provide continuous information on the development of tourism product. The personnel providing this informatiion should be trained accordingly. It is very that the information on development opportinities be published. Action 2.4 Set up simple tour offices in each major tourist city. While these offices exist on paper for some cities, they are not yet a reality. With shared funding and infrastructure, each of the current cities of tourism importance must have an office (even if in shared office space or in another government office) that has, at a minimum, a responsible person with up-to-date listings of attractions, hotels, restaurants, stores, health facilities, tour guides, transportation companies and, if practical, a telephone line to help connect tourists appropriately. Establish an Information Management System that consists of: Identification and collection of the existing data on what the region has to offers, structuring of the database, identification of itineraries in guide pamphlets accompanied by photos, product profile and establishment ofing national signals, symbols, and logos according toin line with the local tourism product offered. Investments in Nature Areas to Strengthen the Tourism Sector Albania has a long tradition in protected areas management, with substantial legislation and technical expertise. Budget constraints have led to institutional limitations that threaten the legitimacy of the system and perhaps even its viability. Nature areas (in particular protected areas) are one of the three "jewels in the crown" of Albanian tourism. The country cannot be successful in the long term without significant investment in upgrading and continued maintenance of the core natural assets that form the underlying basis for the sector. While there are many areas and budget needs, the following priority areas are those of most critical importance to involve the protected areas effectively in tourism development and generate the necessary conditions for effective synergies between tourism and the areas. Albania must begin to invest now, because the costs of remediation of damage are high and can take longer than tourism markets are willing to wait. Action 3.1 Establish long-term financial mechanisms. New mechanisms and structures must be established to ensure increased funding for nature areas' protection and tourism development. Sub-action 3.1.1 An aggressive search for additional external funding. Albania must explore the wide variety of funding mechanisms (traditional and non-traditional) that can be directed at natural areas. Lead time for successful proposals is typically one to two years from initial approach to approval of the project. Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 21 Sub-action 3.1.2. Maintain and expand the fiscal mechanism currently used for hunting and forestry revenues, which are maintained in special accounts with 70% automatically designated for re-investment in nature areas. Sub-action 3.1.3 Environmental services payments. Eco-systems (particularly forests and wetlands) provide extremely valuable services to the economy that are not traditional market goods (e.g., they have no price). These ecosystems provide: water capture and filtration, climate control (global and local), wildlife and biodiversity hosting, scenic beauty, recreational space, among others. Many countries are beginning to establish internal markets to recognize the value and correct economic distortions that lead to sub-optimal land use9. Sub-action 3.1.4 Establish new financial mechanisms to direct funds toward nature areas. The country needs trust funds or a foundation capable of operating outside the Ministry of Finance to channel complementary resources. The most common mechanisms used at an international level are: a) "National Parks Foundations," usually private foundations (with government sanction and representation), providing complementary funding such as additional investments channeled from private contributors or international donors; and b) "Nature Trust Funds" specialized funds usually managed for specific purposes such as biodiversity conservation and reforestation activities, that can be managed more simply under established rules administered by a trustee(s). Action 3.2 Accelerate the development and approval of tourism plans for nature areas. Traditional protected area management calls for the development of comprehensive management plans that include tourism plans as a component. While this is the technically correct approach, management plans require very complex processes that consume large amounts of financial and human resources and can take years. Albania must establish an accelerated process for establishing tourism plans in a number of identified priority nature areas with tourism relevance (due to the attraction itself and its proximity to tourism centers). The plans should be environmentally conservative (erring toward protection in absence of complete management plans) and be discussed formally and informally with a broad group of stakeholders to establish a consensus "best professional judgment" on visitor strategy, carrying capacity and infrastructure needs. Action 3.3 Instill a culture of "National Park" among Albanians, beginning with Dajti. This effort will focus on three particular aspects of Dajti to begin to educate Albanians on the importance of "enjoying and caring for parks." De-militarization, reinvestment of entrance fees and waste management should be the program priorities. Action 3.4 Signaling standards. National standards for ecotourism signals in attractions and sites of interest, Formatted: No underline should be established and implemented, based on the internationally recognized symbols and colors, should be Formatted: No underline established and implemented. These standards should be part of the Development Program by the local Formatted: No underline government. Investments in Culture to Enhance Tourism Development Albania has a long tradition in cultural preservation, with substantial legislation and technical expertise. The needs for cultural preservation in a country with such a rich history will always exceed its ability to protect and restore. However, the country cannot be successful in the long term without significant investment in upgrading and continued maintenance of the core cultural assets that underlie its tourism position. While there are many areas and budget needs, the following priority areas are those of most critical importance generate the necessary conditions for effective synergies between tourism and the areas. As with natural 9 For example, in several countries hydroelectric generators pay land owners (including protected areas) to maintain or increase forest cover in their watersheds in order to ensure water flow, particularly in dry season when water is more scarce (or energy purchase prices are higher). In theory, park entrance fees are a type of environmental service payment, if the funds are used to maintain or enhance the park. Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 22 resources, Albania must increase investment now, because the costs of remediation of damage are high and cultural patrimony is frequently irreplaceable and represents a loss to national identity. Action 4.1 Establish long-term financial mechanisms. New mechanisms and structures must be established to ensure increased funding for cultural site protection and tourism development. Sub-action 4.1.1 An aggressive search for additional external funding. Albania must explore the wide variety of funding mechanisms (traditional and non-traditional) that can be directed at natural areas. Lead time for successful proposals is typically one to two years from initial approach to approval of the project. Sub-action 4.1.2. Charge modest to substantial admissions fees of visitors to sites to help defray the costs of operating them. Many prime cultural locations in other countries charge as much as $10 or $20 for admission for foreign visitors. Economic analysis (travel cost modeling and contingent valuation) can assist in establishing correct prices for major destinations. Sub-action 4.1.3 Establish new financial mechanisms to direct funds toward conservation areas. The country needs trust funds or a foundation capable of operating outside the Ministry of Finance to channel complementary resources. As with the protected areas mechanisms (discussed above), "foundations" and "trust funds" have proven to be successful in many countries. Action 4.2 Economic Mechanisms to slow destruction of historic buildings and districts. The high cost of maintaining the nation's privately owned historic buildings is beyond the economic capacity of many (if not most) owners. Properly enforced zoning and planning laws establish the rules and permitted behavior. However, without financial assistance or the use of new economic instruments, historic buildings will deteriorate (following the law) or be torn down (violating the law). As tourism continues to expand, there will be increased pressure from entrepreneurs wishing to build cheaper structures instead of refurbishing historic ones. Inserting cultural patrimony into the tourism sector may be a viable strategy. Sub-action 4.2.1 Explore the successful (and unsuccessful) experiences of other countries in establishing economic mechanisms for historic preservation in private buildings (the U.S., UK, Switzerland, Austria, France and Spain are recognized leaders in this area; Cuba recently started a program in old Havana). Sub-action 4.2.2 Increase the cost-share for rehabilitation of historic buildings for inns and other tourism infrastructure. The current system of sharing the costs of refurbishment of important buildings (particularly homes) appears to be functioning in Gjirokaster and Berat. In those cases where owners wish the buildings to become part of the tourism infrastructure, the expenditure of additional government funds can be justified as the building will be increasing visitation, spending and revenue in the medium term. Sub item 4.2.3 Spain has had outstanding success with its system of "Paradores," promoting the use of "castles, palaces, monasteries and other unique buildings of Spanish patrimony" in a network of "high quality" historic hotels and inns. Similarly France has been successful in promoting a national network of "Auberges" and "Chalets" with similar goals. Action 4.3 Improved cultural access in museums. The most common weakness cited by Albanian and foreign visitors to the country's museums is the lack of meaningful interpretive information (in Albanian or English). There are three complementary strategies to be explored. Printed material for individual galleries, trained guides (part of museum staff, or trained and authorized private guides for hire) and new electronic guiding systems (recorded information under visitor control). Sub-action 4.3.1 Begin a pilot project in the National Historical Museum to implement an electronic guiding system. Action 4.4 Support, enhance and publicize cultural events and folk festivals. Living culture is a highly sought-after tourism product. A great number of tourists seek to plan their travels to coincide with important folk Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 23 events (dance and music competitions, religious events, feast days, local town celebrations, important dance and music performances, etc). Sub-action 4.4.1 Publicize existing events. Albania has a great number of these events that should be, at a minimum, well documented and placed in an "official national calendar of cultural events." This information should be published on the national tourism website and include history of the event, descriptions of the activities, photographs and sound-bites and links to tourism companies capable of providing services. Sub-action 4.4.2 Develop a long-term plan to direct government and private sector support to priority cultural events of interest to foreign visitors. Human resources Albania must invest in several critical human resources for the tourism sector to develop effectively. Action 5.1 Establishment of an "Elite" Tourism Guide Corps. Ensuring repeat visits and achieving "word of mouth" recommendations will be the key to sustainable tourism development. Because of the complexity of Albania, the knowledge and interpretation provided by the country's best tour guides will be perhaps the single most important factor for successful tourism development. Educated tourist willingness to pay for high quality guides is very high. In many high quality nature destinations they are among the highest paid employees in the tourism sector. An Elite Guide Corps will become the hallmark of Albanian tourism and differentiate it from the generally mixed quality of tour guides found across Europe. It will also provide income- generating opportunities for university graduates (with majors in the respective fields), currently in temporary employment. Action 5.2 Train natural and cultural site managers. The increasing importance of the country's natural and cultural sites will require more sophisticated management expertise. Today, park and site directors tend to have under their supervision well-trained technical personnel (foresters, curators, architects), who generally lack the training (or interest) to be effective managers. Skills such as planning, budgeting, accounting, project management, human resource planning and others are critical skills. There are two priorities in this area: 1) identify appropriate mechanism to train current managers in the required skills and 2) investigate strategies for recruiting and educating future managers to assume the new challenges. Action 5.3 Train hospitality professionals and staff. Albania will require many more well-trained individuals in order to support an international tourism sector. The tourism sector and a number of supporting programs cite this aspect as one of Albania's weakest. Sub-action 5.3.1 Ensure that the tourism faculties at the Albanian universities are preparing managers for the type of tourism Albania seeks to develop. Their curricula should include course work on Albanian history and traditions, nature and culture preservations, in addition to traditional hotel and management training. Sub-action 5.3.2 Vocational training for young people. The tourism sector will require trained individuals in areas such as plumbing, electricity, carpentry, maintenance, cooking, hotel service, restaurant service and driving, among others. Sub-action 5.3.3 "Continuing Education." Many adults currently in the sector or wishing to enter the sector need and desire the opportunity to improve skills or acquire new ones. Action 5.4 Enhance language skills. Albania is a remarkably multilingual society. Additional effort needs to be directed at ensuring that tourism industry personnel, particularly those in provincial and rural areas possess the basic foreign language skills needed to conduct their jobs effectively. English and German are top priorities. Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 24 Infrastructure One of the advantages of an emphasis on natural and cultural tourism is that the requirements for specialized infrastructure are minimal. However, the basic capacity to move tourists safely (in cars, mini-buses, buses and airplanes) is a necessary condition. Telecommunication and internet are an important and increasingly necessary component for tourism sector promotion and communication (by operators and local tourism offices) and also for visitors. Albania faces significant challenges in all these areas. The following are the priority areas of action. Action 6.1 Improvements to two critical roads in the North. 1) Improvement of approximately 19 km of road connecting Lura National Park with the national road, to permit passage of vehicles other than 4-wheel-drive during summer tourist months. 2) Completion of road from Shkoder to Theth, to connect the extreme northern region with the rest of the country for tourism and trade. Action 6.2 Maintenance of secondary national roads. Natural and cultural tourist experiences are greatly enhanced by moving visitors (by bus, taxi, rental car) on secondary roads. It is the secondary roads that provide the opportunities to see Albanian towns, culture, people and way of life. Highways are culturally "sterile" and are not valuable for purposes other than rapid delivery of tourists. Travel on these secondary routes permits tour guides to take advantage of numerous opportunities to explain Albanian culture and history. Further, these routes create opportunities for tourists to spend money in villages that are not their destinations. Secondary roads of tourismtic importance (for example, Kelcyre to Berat) should be made passable for regular vehicles in the most economic manner possible. Action 6.3 Connect the South. Current road conditions and lack of alternative transportation make the southern region unnecessarily far from the rest of the country. In the short-term, continued improvements of the highway between Vlore and Sarande will help. However, it is imperative to provide additional means to access the south. Sub-action 6.3.1. The country must move to provide domestic airplane service. The priority is to conduct rapid feasibility studies for simple airstrips and related infrastructure and equipment in Sarande, Gjirokaster, Berat and Korçe and for the financial viability of private airplane service .10. Sub-action 6.3.2 A feasibility and financial viability study of sea routes connecting Durres, Vlore and Sarande should be conducted. In addition to providing an additional connection mode, travel by sea is an attractive alternative for many tourists and would likely be popular among a large number of tourists and locals. Action 6.4 Increase rural and provincial connectivity. Internet and telephony are extraordinarily important for tourism development. High quality access permits local businesses to market their products directly and maintain more direct and fluid contact with their customers and suppliers. Internet access is also an important and valued service for international guests. The specific action to be taken is the exploration of ways to collaborate with the Ministry of Education and Science's new "Internet to Schools Project" to connect all schools in the country to internet. Increased usage of the systems by local tourism business could help defray the costs of operating the network. Action 6.5 Improve Signage. There is a shortage of road signs indicating the direction to towns, cultural monuments and natural sites. The lack of signage makes navigation complicated for local professionals and nearly impossible for visitors. 10 Discussions in Gjirokaster have suggested that there is likely economic justification for airplane service based solely on business travelers. Locals estimate that dozens of business people are currently paying $120 for taxi service to Tirana each week. Cutting the trip from more than five hours to less than one hour would be valuable for business people and visitors. Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 25 Business Climate A successful tourism sector requires a stable and rather sophisticated business climate. Business sectors grow more successfully with a regulatory framework that is clear and ensures that all actors are playing by the same set of "rules of the game." Albania's tourism business climate is unclear at this time. Several priority items will make positive advances toward building a healthy business climate. Action 7.1 Formalize the tourism sector. Albania must establish clear and simple mechanisms for informal actors in the tourism sector to formalize. Low-cost incentives, such as inclusion in the national website and a voice in how tourism promotion funds (to which they contribute) will be spent have proven effective in many countries. It will be incumbent on the private sector (particularly its associations) to push formalization as a necessary and important part of the associations' work. The government needs to ensure that licensing and other requirements are appropriate and do not unnecessarily impede formalization. The tourism sector is strong. That should be made clear, but simple incentives encourage tourism. Action 7.2 Calibrate to international tourism standards. Albania must encourage its tourism companies to compete at the highest levels of quality. One of the most convenient mechanisms to encourage this is the active promotion (by government and the private sector) of adherence to international standards. Among the most relevant are the international "stars" system for lodging classification, "Blue Flag" certification for beaches (coasts and lakes), Green Globe 21 for sustainable tourism practices and various EU standards for transportation, organic agriculture and food safety. Widespread use of these standards raises quality and makes it more obvious, which companies are lagging behind. Action 7.3 Design and establish a National Tourism Quality program. Achieving high levels of quality in all tourism services (lodging, food, nature sites, culture sites, transport and logistics, guides) will be an important characteristic differentiating Albania from its competitors. Countries with diverse tourism sectors, such as Peru, are currently embarking on strategies to ensure customer satisfaction within the context of nature and culture tourism. Albania should start an initiative to incorporate quality principles in parallel with the growth of the sector. It is easier to establish good practices with a small sector and then replicate them. Action 7.4 Update the tourism taxation system. Albania must review its system and adjust it to meet the current position of its tourism sector and revenue generation needs. An initial review suggests that: 1) the system is not collecting enough tax overall relative to prices and other countries, 2) the tax is too highly concentrated on hotels (which artificially inflates a visible factor in tourist decision to visit the country and encourages avoidance), 3) none of the funds collected from tourists are directed towards strengthening the sector, which is out of step with current best international practice. Action 7.5 Provide strict enforcement of urban plans in coastal areas and historic districts. The mostly costly evasion of rules for Albania is what leads to destruction of cultural patrimony or deterioration of visitor quality. Local governments require resources, knowledge and political will to maintain control over land use. The national government and the tourism sector must assist them in these areas. Enhancement of Tourist Experience Action 8.1 Prevent Physical Risk to Visitors. Albania must avoid deaths or severe illnesses of tourists at all costs. While tourists understand that there is some risk in all travel, they expect a country (particularly a European one) to take reasonable provisions for their safety. The death of a tourist or group of tourists could virtually shut down country's newly developing sector. The four greatest concerns identified by international visitors, tour guidebook authors and a number of local experts are: Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 26 Sub-action 8.1.1 Improve safety on roads. While poor quality roads are surmountable, the combination of poor roads, undisciplined drivers and high speed is of great concern. Sub-action 8.1.2 Increase disease prevention awareness. Water-borne and insect-borne (mosquito and tick) diseases present significant health threats currently. Long-term solutions are needed for drinking water and irrigation water integrity, as well as wastewater management. In the short to medium term, tourists need to be advised of health risks and basic measures to avoid them. At a minimum the country and the tourism sector need to advise visitors on sanitation precautions - avoid tap water, ice and street food and bring appropriate clothing and repellent to avoid mosquitoes and ticks. These advisories are normal in many parts of the world and are considered valuable information rather than deterrents to tourism. Sub-action 8.1.3 Improve food safety practices through education campaigns in the hospitality sector and vocational schools. Priority areas should include 1) personal hygiene, 2) application of best practices in the handling of meat, poultry, fish and shellfish, 3) water temperature and cleaning techniques. Sub-action 8.1.4 Emergency medical attention. Albania must put in place a national system for treating visitors who become seriously ill or injured. Infrastructure and language skills in the country's health sector are weak, particularly in provincial and rural areas, where the country seeks to develop tourism. While substantial investment in equipment and personnel is not viable at this time, the country should employ systems and protocols for attending to sick and injured tourists through existing mechanisms. A system of on-call doctors and translators in tourism areas should be complemented with protocols for deciding when and where tourists will be moved to and specify logistical mechanisms. Given the somewhat elevated risks to tourists in Albania, this system would inspire confidence and be seen as a highly attractive feature. Action 8.2 De-militarization of tourism destinations. The heavy police presence on roads, in coastal areas and mountain destinations is a strongly negative factor. This presence sends a message of insecurity to foreign visitors (European and North American, in particular) in a country that is remarkably free of crime, violence, or political problems. This is particularly noticeable in the form of roadblocks, in coastal tourism destinations and certain mountain destinations. It is very common in developing and transition economy countries for the prevailing attitude to be that more police and military presence implies more security for locals and visitors. Unfortunately, while this may be true in certain cases and certain situations, it is not true for tourism in a very safe and peaceful country like Albania. This is not a recommendation for the military to cease its functions of providing security; it is a recommendation that certain practices and policies be reconsidered as they relate to tourism development in a number of critical areas. Other countries have established tourism development as an economic priority of vital national importance, placing it on an even footing with other national security priorities. Action 8.3 Reduce rubbish in tourism areas. Local attitude toward trash is troubling. The tourism towns, rivers, roads and lakeshores are embarrassingly covered. The amount of trash is shocking to most foreigners and the message received by visitors is that the Albanians do not love or respect their towns or their culture. Solutions to this problem must include improved municipal waste collection service (public or private), campaigns to make locals aware of the impact of the problem and massive community-organized clean up campaigns. Action 8.4 Manage Wastewater. Effective management of wastewater must be an integral part of the development of locations. In coastal, river and lake destinations visitors and locals literally participate in activities in their own sewage (and that of the town they are visiting). Inappropriately managed sewage is of great health concern, projects a very negative image and deteriorates the quality of the tourism product that the country is selling to international markets. Sound management is critical for the long-term viability of the tourism sector and could become an attractive feature showing how responsible Albania is being with its core tourism resources. Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 27 Data and information management Data on international tourism markets and comprehensive data on the Albanian sector are absolutely essential to tourism planning, marketing and monitoring. Action 9.1 Ministry Data Department. Establish an office within the Ministry responsible for collecting, analyzing and distributing timely data to the tourism industry and other relevant stakeholders. The development of the national and local product and the design of the marketing plan require information on the market and its trends. A system for data collection and processing should be put in place nationally and locally, and which is in line with the international standards should be put in place nationally and locally. Action 9.2 Maintain and analyze international tourism data. World Tourism Organization (WTO) and Menlo Consulting Group, Inc are the most widely used tourism data sources. The Ministry's WTO repository status allows the Ministry to receive large amounts of high quality market intelligence and data on international tourism. This data should be shared with collaborating universities and NPO researchers to increase analytical capacity. Item 9.3 Implement the Tourism Satellite Accounts (TSA) data system. The WTO has promoted a comprehensive, internationally developed methodology for collecting and presenting domestic tourism information systematically. This approach permits countries to collect meaningful data and track impact at various levels within the economy and compare the data domestically and internationally. The Ministry will make these data available to researchers to assist their analysis and to inform tourism planning and development further. The comprehensive collection of survey data from international visitors is included in this system. Institutional Issues Success for Albania in international tourism markets will require a higher level of cooperation and fluidity among government ministries, between local and national government and among private, public and civil society organizations. High (Central) Level Support It is imperative that nature and culture tourism development be made, considered and believed to be a priority at the highest level of the Albanian government. Without this visible level of commitment, it is unlikely that sufficient focus or cooperation among the various structures of government will be possible. Based on the various meetings in which the consultant participated, the technical staff of the various ministries and institutes understands the importance of this effort. They were willing and able to contribute with their knowledge and institutional expertise, but were clearly in need of instructions and formal direction from their management. Ministerial Level Coordination The implementation of the Strategy will require a comprehensive and strong leadership process from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports, as well as a very close collaboration of other line ministries and central institutions. The main responsibilities of the ministries concerned include: 1) The Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports is the lead Ministry for the overall process and is responsible for the set-up, implementation and monitoring of the National Tourism Strategy, the comprehensive legal framework for tourism development, related planning and development process, support for regional administration and tourism organization at the national, regional and local level. Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 28 2) The Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communication is a supporting ministry responsible for urban planning, road maintenance or investment for new tourism roads, development of the sea transport and civil aviation transport in the priority heritage areas. 3) The Ministry of Interior is a supporting ministry, which will assist and support with grants to the municipalities and communes which are part of the itineraries for culture and nature tourism. 4) The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Water Administration, is responsible for environment policies and sustainable management of nature resources that will enable the development of tourism in protected areas, sustainable use of resources, access rules, payback schemes as well as tourism environment impact assessment. 5) The Ministry of Agriculture and Consumers' Protection is responsible for the development and implementation of strategies for rural development, including development of tourism in rural areas, as well as for issues related to quality and safety of food and beverages. 6) The Ministry of Education and Science provides education and training for qualified tourism workers, guides and others and could develop specified curricula for local tourism guides and operators in the regions with high tourism potential. 7) The Ministry of Finance is a key ministry for tourism development, particularly in the area of taxation policy and related framework. 8) The Archeology Institute and the Culture Monument Institute (under the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports) are critical for providing the information needed for the handouts, handbooks, websites for cultural tourism sites and materials for educational programs for tourism professionals. Local Government The local governments will require varying degrees of assistance and support in procedural issues and subject matter expertise. The highest priority for the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports and other ministries is to become allies, supporters and facilitators of local government processes (efforts) to develop tourism. Most of the cities and regions of tourism interest have substantial human resources with knowledge on culture and nature issues and a very clear understanding of the tourism destinations and products in their areas. They tend to be very unclear on how to proceed administratively and institutionally to obtain appropriate authorizations and approvals and have access to complementary human and financial resources. The main priorities for the national government are to: 1) Establish a clear "road map" for local governments on how to develop tourism in their towns describing steps, information requirements, procedures, assistance available and seek to assist them through this process. 2) Find ways to streamline the process to ensure that all rules are followed and requirements fulfilled, but in the smoothest most expedient way without unnecessary steps or hurdles. 3) Channel available assistance funds to local government directly (project-based) and through NPO programs that assist these governments. Public – private - civil coordination The successful implementation of the cultural and natural tourism strategy will require the involvement of public, private sector and NGOs, as well as coordination of activities among them. Private sector operators will take the lead on product development. The sector is responsible for developing accommodations, hospitality facilities, tour and travel operations, on-site infrastructure, marketing activities, logistics and others. They also have a lot to contribute to destination management based on their knowledge of tourist expectations and market. Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 29 Albania's tourism associations are key institutions in the development of the tourism industry. Albanian Tourism Agency Association (ATAA), Albanian Tourism Operators Union (ATOU), Albanian Hotel Association and other tourism related NGOs provide services of value to their members and provide legitimate voices for the sector in discussions with government. Priorities for future efforts identified by association include: relationship with the Government, collaboration in attracting foreign tourissttourists and training management and staff. At this time, environmental and governance NGOs appear to have the greatest level of experience and knowledge in cultural and nature sites in many regions. They also possess specific skills in planning and processes of local government development. They are important allies in the tourism development process that should be included wherever possible in planning and operations programs to improve regional destinations. ANNEX I : ACTION PLAN CHAPTER V MONITORING Progress monitoring It is suggested that a Group for the Implementation of the Tourism Strategy be created, comprising members of the public and private sector, in order to achieve the strategy vision, to supervise the implementaion, and monitor progress toward key indicators. The group should meet annually. Its findings and proposals should be included in a written report to be distrubuted to the industry stakeholders. The indicators for identifying concerns and measuring strategy implementation progress are identified as follows: - warning indicator: decrease in the number of tourists intending to return, - performance indicator: increase in the number of first-time and returning tourists, - system stress indicator: interruption of water and energy supplies and telecommunication - tourism industry status indicator: local employment and tourist satisfaction, - tourism development impact indicator on the biophysical and socio-economic environment: deforestation levels and local economy revenues, - management indicator: cleaning of natural and cultural areas, cleaning of beaches and pollution percentage, and the over-all pollution level, - policy indicator: attended and unattended concerns by the legal regulatory system. Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 30 Tourism Strategy and Action Plan page 31


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A marksman aligns his sight on the target 25 yards away. He pulls the trigger, steadies the recoil, and watches the round pierce near the bull's eye?but he never fired a bullet. The target wasn't actually 25 yards away, either. That's how precise Gander Mountain Academy's virtual range can render its simulated targets. Gander Mountain's ownership developed this training technology upon recognizing that with more than 140 stores in 26 states, it was among the nation's largest retailers of firearms. This led to Gander Mountain Academy, places where technology such as the virtual range meets elite-training resources previously available only to the military and law enforcement. Blending multimedia classroom and hands-on range training, instructors use fundamentals, repetition, and simulation to help students of all levels operate firearms safely and proficiently in more than 15 classes.
Gwen Willhite founded Cookies by Design in 1983, when an unsatisfying brainstorming session about gift ideas led her to ponder one question: why should flowers and sweets remain separate? Her solution was to design the cookie bouquet, where custom, hand-decorated cookies are displayed on sticks and arranged like flowers in gift baskets. Her invention quickly became a popular gift among locals, particularly those allergic to real blooms or too bashful to look at naked cookies.
Twenty-five years later, there are more than 200 Cookies by Design locations across the country. Each shop's team of bakers creates cookie baskets with a degree of care that matches Willhite's original vision, decorating and arranging sweet shapes for birthdays, holidays, and any other special occasion.
Corona Cigar Co. welcomes all types of cigar lovers, from casual smokers to rolled tobacco connoisseurs to four-star generals in need of chomping sticks. The shop's friendly atmosphere encourages ample browsing, which is made easy by a stock of millions of premium in-store cigars that patrons can savor as they sit back, relax, and enjoy a rare spirit, cocktail, or glass of wine at the bar.
ClickInks offers affordable ink cartridges, toners and office supplies.
The ink & toner business is more than a business to us - it's our life! We are committed to bringing value to our customers. We know that ink is more than just ink. It is how you bring your memories to life & how you do business every day.
Since 1989, Play It Again Sports has been buying and selling new and used sports and exercise equipment. They are keeping sports green, recycling gently used athletic equipment into new-to-you gear. Products from brands such as Nike, Adidas, Easton, Wilson, Nautilus and Schwinn, make up each store's enormous selection of new and recycled gear, which is replenished daily with goods for a wide selection of sports that ranges from baseball, golf, soccer to lacrosse and football. Treadmills and exercise bikes equip bodies with muscular suits of armor, and pintsize and adolescent equipment arms youngsters with protective padding until they eat enough bologna to grow muscles of their own. Knowledgeable staffers man each location, ready to answer questions, arrange gear deliveries or pick-ups. To ensure their stock remains robust, they also encourage athletes to collect their lightly used gear—including bicycles—and bring it into a local store to either sell or trade.
During their online classes, Market Traders Institute's expert analysts and instructors teach traders of all experience levels how to capitalize on fluctuating foreign-exchange rates. Each class is designed around MTI's mission statement, which pledges to offer inclusive education and advanced technology to all of their students while helping them develop the skills to make insightful, profitable decisions on the foreign-exchange markets. Their product list contains classes that show students how to analyze return on investment graphs, see predictors in the market, and learn handy market strategies like ballistic scalping, swing trading, or yelling, "SELL, SELL, SELL!" without stopping to breathe.

subset: commoncrawl


text: We drove into this winery to be greeted at the TOP of the long drive with a sign stating 'Closed - no entry'. We turned around and started slowly down the gravelled hill. I asked my husband to stop so I could take a picture of the vines. An elderly women came from the home, rudely asking if I had... More


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HUF Old English Baseball Jersey T-Shirt
£64.99 £54.99
HUF x Cheech & Chong Nice Dreams T-Shirt
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HUF Makin' Bacon T-Shirt
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Zoo York was created by a group of artists and skaters from the hip hop scene of New York. Bringing a mix of urban culture and action sports together they created a brand and products to represent their roots. The Zoo York logo and name can be seen across their clothing range which includes t-shirts, shirts and hoodies.


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I received a sample of this tea from Courtney, a fellow Steepster. She was generous enough to send me some samples of teas so that I can expand my taste buds further than DAVIDs.
I couldn't have been more pleased with the tea I chose to sample first. This one is now one of my current favorites! After drinking my first cup, I had to research all about Brioche (the pastry) and being an avid baker, will likely have to try to make myself some in the near future.
I find this tea is comparable to DAVIDs Sugar & Spice or Glitter & Gold; however, it dominates both of these in the ways of smell, taste, and smoothness. Brioche, to me, tastes like a more high quality tea. I found Sugar & Spice to have a harsh spice taste where Brioche's flavors blend together perfectly, and I found that Glitter & Gold lacked the amount of flavor that Brioche has.
I will definitely be checking out American Tea Room and adding this tea to my wish list. Yum!


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AKC Labrador Retrievers - 2 choc females, 1 yellow male, 1 yellow female. Dewormed 4x, 1st puppy shot, dewclaws removed. Dam is choc and American x English. Sire is black American and an avid hunter. Socialized and ready to go to new homes. $600-700
Aug 29 -
Charlottesville :
Oakpark - Dogs & puppies
We have stunning male AKC Lab puppies for sale! At this time we have Lab puppies for sale in Red, Yellow, and Black! We have both English and English/American crosses starting at just $800.00.These puppies are AMAZING! Smart, playful, and sweet! Please visit www ...
Aug 21 -
Blacksburg :
Green Valley - Dogs & puppies
English type with blocky head and otter tail. Gorgeous lab-tested champagne with black nose. Champion bloodlines. Sweet girl! Turned 2 in June. Last heat cycle was late May. Email for photos, I couldn't get them to load.
Aug 20 -
Fayetteville (NC) :
Dunn - Dogs & puppies
I'm looking for either a male or female adult chocolate lab. Must be purebred and English style. I'm willing to pay a good price for this dog. Contact ASAP
Aug 3 -
Charlottesville :
Goochland - Dogs & puppies
We have 2 female chocolate Labrador puppies. They are 8 weeks old. They come with all their papers. The father is a national champion show dog. Both parents are English. Contact with any questions!
Jul 22 -
Charlottesville :
Goochland - Dogs & puppies
A K C English Blockhead lab puppies. Breeders are honest Christians. We have 4 female and 3 male pups for sale. $800.00,parents are on site pups come with health guarantee contract,vet checked,UTD on shots & dewormed,they will be ready for there new loving homes 7-31-14 ...
Jul 18 -
Greensboro :
Lexington - Dogs & puppies
Labrador Retriever breeder of over 40 years, Beach Bum Labradors raisies English Labs with a quiet nature. I am dedicated to produce puppies that will be smart, friendly, and make great family additions whether you are looking for a pet, "hobby hunting lab", obedience, ...
Jul 17 -
Virginia Beach :
Virginia Beach - Dogs & puppies
English black lab puppies 7 1/2 weeks old up to date on all shots and have been wormed since 2 weeks old. Call or text 252-661-5888
Jul 16 -
Eastern North Carolina :
Jamesville - Dogs & puppies
I have 4 males left.
Mom and dad is on site. The mom is fox red yellow.
mom and dad have a lot of champian titles in their pedigree
and they both have extreme drive for training.
8 weeks old now.
Jul 13 -
Charlotte :
Monroe - Dogs & puppies
3 female puppies available. Both parents are AKC registered(as are the puppies) both parents are chocolate. The father is a national champion show dog. Both parents are English. Both parents have had hips, elbows, and eyes checked to make sure nothing is passed down. The ...
Jul 9 -
Charlottesville :
Goochland - Dogs & puppies
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