Albania’s National Day and UNWTO News

Published on Nov 28, 2010 by Phillip Butler

In news from the UNWTO Seminar on “Tourism for Sustainable Regional Development” Southeastern Europe is the focal point for discussing the long term effects of a vibrant tourism industry within the region. Boosting economic growth, creating news jobs, essentially propping up emerging economies, these are some of the benefits discussed at Tirana, Albania last week.

Overall, Eastern European economies will witness a proportional diversification within their economies with the implementation of cutting edge strategies in this sector. With more regional cooperation and national initiatives, Albania and her neighbors might enjoy a boost not only in economic advantage, but in forging new bonds of international friendship as well.

Tirana, Albania

This seminar was organized and supported by the UNWTO along with Albania’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth, and Sports, the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The focus was aptly aimed at establishing cross regional, national and international cooperation in implementing more effective tourism strategies. Albania’s Prime Minister Sali Berisha had this to say before the conference attendees:

“Albania has the potential to build a new tourism sector for the 21st century and set an inspiring model for other countries.”

Diversified local economies and opportunities for isolated area economies are just a couple of the peripheral benefits travel and tourism can have across economic sectors. The biggest gains where travel influenced emerging economies is concerned will obviously be in cross national cooperative initiatives. Albania and her neighbors obviously being one example where intimate cooperation could accelerate and accentuate the growth of regional tourism.

Gjipa Beach - photo courtesy akos

For more information on Albania’s emerging travel industry please visit Welcome to Albania. Of further interest for Albania this coming week, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and many other world dignitaries are congratulating Albania on their National Day today. On this day in 1912 Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire. We wish to congratulate the over 3.2 million citizens of Albania too.

Vjoses Valley - photo courtesy akos