Tourism in Albania, Albania

Vlorë

Tourism in Albania is still in its infancy. Albania was under a communist regime which did not allow tourism to become established for a long time. It is a country of great natural beauty which includes sandy white Mediterranean beaches, rocky mountains, fertile plains, big and small lakes, natural monuments, and remote, pristine areas.

Albania has an old history dating to the Illyrian civilization and there are many old ruins and other treasures reflecting the old civilizations. Due to its history, Albania is home to many different styles of architectural, religious and cultural influence.

Syri i Kaltër (The Azure Eye) in Sarandë

Some of the most visited cities include:

• Berat - the Town of a Thousand Windows
• Butrint - a UNESCO World Heritage site
• Durrës - the old port city of Dyrrhachium
• Gjirokastër - Museum city
• Krujë - ("Heroes city") home of Skanderbeg, Albania's national hero, and his castle (now a museum dedicated to him)
• Sarandë - The wedding city
• Tiranë - the capital
• Vlorë

Some of the problems keeping tourism from flourishing in this beautiful country stem from the political instability. There may still be armed bandits in the remote northern regions and pollution from illegal construction is ruining some of the most popular areas. Its proximity to Kosovo in the northeast means that unexploded ordinance may be hazard for unguided tours about the countryside. At present the security situation in Albania is thought to be improving [1].

Furthermore, poor infrastructure greatly limits tourism. Electrical brownouts are still fairly frequent. Alabania only has one true highway (connecting the capital city of Tiranë to Durrës) and most of the other roads, while improving, are in very poor condition. Independent bus and minibus (furgon) operators provide inexpensive transport between most large communities, but schedules and prices are not fixed. Train service is also limited and sporadic.