The Albanian experience in ecotourism
The Albanian experience in ecotourism
Our planet today lives on the brink of an abyss, as the pace of environmental and climate challenges is increasing at an alarming rate. The most prominent of these challenges is the rise in sea levels and the increase in the severity of extreme weather phenomena, in addition to the deterioration of ecosystems and the loss of biodiversity. In the face of this difficult reality, we must all assume our responsibility and strive to build a more sustainable future.
In this context, tourism is of great importance. It can be a driver of positive change in the face of these challenges. Therefore, in this article, Earth Guards will address the importance of ecotourism, pointing out how to benefit from this experience in promoting Egyptian ecotourism.. So keep reading.
Albania – located in southeastern Europe on the border of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas – has proven its success in achieving a balance between economic growth and environmental protection. It recognizes the value of its biodiversity as one of its greatest assets. It also sees its natural landscapes as not only a source of pride, but also a source of enormous economic income that can be exploited by prioritizing ecotourism and integrating environmental conservation efforts into its tourism strategy. In doing so, it offers rich and inspiring lessons that Egypt can benefit from. Including.
The beginning of the journey
Tourism in Albania has witnessed growth in recent years. In 2023, Albania ranked fourth in the world for the largest percentage of increase in the number of tourists, as many visitors come from all over the world to enjoy the country’s nature and beaches. Since this level of tourism growth poses a risk to nature, lands and biodiversity loss, in 2017 the Government of Albania established a Ministry that brings tourism and environment together; Believing that sustainable tourism development can only be achieved through protecting the environment and preserving natural resources, this merger was a strategic step to ensure coordination between the tourism and environmental sectors, so that tourism growth is enhanced without harming sensitive ecosystems, ensuring that local communities benefit while preserving the environment.
Accordingly, the country expanded its protected areas to cover 21.4% of its territory instead of 17.5% in 2022, according to Mirela Kumbaro, Albania’s Minister of Tourism and Environment, who stated that this includes the establishment of an Alpine park, which covers an area of about 83 thousand hectares (830 square kilometers), and has stunning natural landscapes and mountain valleys, and its establishment is a step towards promoting responsible tourism that It benefits both local communities and the environment.
Viosa River Park
A prominent example of this is also the Fjosa Wild River National Park, which in 2023 became the first wild river national park in the world. It was established with the aim of protecting the unique biodiversity of the river area and preserving its unmodified ecosystem. It is considered a global model in how to integrate ecotourism with nature conservation, where activities such as rafting and fishing are organized in a way that ensures their compatibility with environmental conservation goals while protecting cultural traditions and agriculture in Region.
In order to achieve these goals, the government conducted extensive consultations with local communities before establishing the park, and these communities had a pivotal role in planning the park. It has been involved in decision-making processes to ensure that it benefits from tourism and environmental projects, which strengthens the partnership between the government, local communities and non-governmental organizations in efforts to preserve the environment and develop sustainable tourism.
Albania’s efforts to preserve the environment
In addition to local efforts, there have been international efforts, as partnerships with organizations – such as the United Nations Environment Program and the World Environment Fund – have played a role in helping Albania expand its network of protected areas. These partnerships have strengthened local capacities by supporting projects such as the “Kune-Vaini lagoon” and the northern Albanian mountain region, which has benefited the tourism sector and environmental conservation efforts.
Furthermore, UNEP supports Albania in several other key areas including science into policy, capacity building, technology transfer and outreach activities. Ecosystem-based adaptation approaches are now being integrated into national development strategies to build capacity, raise awareness about climate change and reduce its impacts.
How is Egypt inspired by Albania’s experience?
From the above, we see that ecotourism is not just an exploratory trip, but rather a philosophy of life that aims to achieve a balance between economic benefit from natural resources and protecting the environment from degradation. Hence, Egypt can draw inspiration from the Albanian experience in integrating local communities into planning and decision-making processes for tourism and environmental projects, and strengthening international partnerships to support environmental conservation projects and expanding the network of protected areas. Because it has charming natural sites that make it an essential destination for tourists.
This is because the coral reefs in the Red Sea, in addition to the Western Desert, Sinai, and the White Desert with its amazing rock formations – are all considered distinctive tourist attractions, through which distinct opportunities are available to experience adventure tourism, such as camping, safaris, and cave exploration, as well as amazing natural reserves, such as the Wadi Al-Hitan, which tells unique geological stories, and the Wadi El Gemal Reserve, which is located in the southeastern part of Egypt along the Red Sea coast and covers… A total area of 7,450 square kilometers, and many other reserves characterized by rich biodiversity, making it an ideal destination for nature and adventure lovers.
All of these features and others make Egypt able to benefit from successful global models in thefield of sustainable tourismsuch as the model of Albania, which succeeded in creating new protected areas that support biodiversity, as it involved local communities in project planning and implementation. By adopting these practices, and relying on Egypt’s unique tourist and environmental attractions, it is possible to develop tourism policies that focus on environmental sustainability, enhance cooperation between the government, non-governmental organizations and tourism companies, and support initiatives that seek to preserve the environment and its natural resources, ensuring a balance between economic development and resource protection.
In conclusion, Earth Guards encourage the adoption of such practices to achieve ecotourism; This is why it spreads awareness of the importance of preserving the environment and promoting sustainable practices in the tourism sector, and calls on all concerned parties from the government, the private sector and civil society to work together to achieve this common goal.
