Alps Plan to Provide Socio-Economic Development in Northern Albania

TIRANA, September 4

A plan that aims the sustainable and integrated development of the Albanian Alps for the next 15 years will be implemented in the northern part of the country. The main goal of the project is that the Alps’ region enters into a new cycle of tourism development based on a balanced approach on the how to use natural resources.
The Albanian Alps are places of rare beauty and absolutely breathtaking. They reveal a natural order of mountains, valleys, lakes, waterfalls, and water springs. Numerous tourists have been visiting the area during the recent years. Figures have increased during the years and this can lead to an uncontrolled growth of tourism. Such phenomenon poses a potential threat to the region Alps. In order to prevent what unconventional tourism caused in the coastal area, a plan is necessary.
Therefore, a feasibility plan on infrastructural projects in the Alps area was launched by state authorities and the Albanian Development Fund. Meanwhile, the financial support for the project was provided by the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF).
The project will continue with a program of capital investments by the Albanian Government and the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB).
The master plan will help to conduct a detailed survey on the opportunities for further encouragement of tourism in the Alps, on plans for sustainable development, and investments in improving public infrastructure and business coordination of local communities.
Chairman of the Albanian Development Fund said for Monitor magazine said that the purpose of the master plan is to generate sustainable development and balanced use of natural resources in order to create local and maybe national economic growth.
The number of visitors in the Alps during 2016 reached up to 67,000, and it is expected to multiply during the next 15 years.

News Source: Monitor, ADF

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons