Revitalizing Agriculture, Unlocking Tourism Potential
Revitalizing Albania’s rural road network has breathed new life into the agricultural sector, enabling farmers to better access markets and processing centers as well as reducing spoilage.
Along segments like Pogradec-Tushemisht, Roskovec-Poshnje, Fier-Seman, Bence-Lekdush, Gusmar-Kuç and Nivice-Progonat, better connectivity has spurred agricultural trade, reduced transportation costs, boosted farmers’ incomes, and stimulated local economies. In Kuç village, Qazim Balili, the owner of a fish farm, reflected on the difference these investments have made: “Now the new road saves me time and money, while guardrails and road signage make driving safer.”
These bucolic communities—central to Albania’s natural beauty and cultural heritage—are now more accessible, helping to open new opportunities and jobs in tourism and hospitality. 2023 marked an unprecedented boom for the country’s tourism sector, with more than 10 million visitors in a country of roughly 2.8 million inhabitants. Tourist hotspots like Theth, Tushemisht, Nivice, Kuç, Spille and Golem have experienced a surge in visitor numbers, which is boosting local economies and private sector initiatives. And emerging attractions like the National Park of Theth, Vlora River Valley, as well as waterfalls, canyons, castles and caves in Kuç, Nivice, and Kurvelesh, have attracted flocks of would-be adventurers to explore scenic landscapes, leading to increased demand for local services and accommodations—all contributing to job creation and economic diversification.
All this activity, both in tourism and the improved infrastructure, is also helping attract and catalyze private sector investment that will promote more sustainable, resilient growth in Albania. As Fatmir Berishta, owner of a guesthouse who built the first zipline in Theth remarked, “Many emigrants are coming back to invest. People have repurposed homes into hostels and hotels. And new private initiatives are complimenting the tourist offerings, making our area more diverse and entertaining.”
Pogradec-Tushemisht road, East Albania. Photo by Elton Baxhaku.
Copyright: World Bank