Albania is in the top 10 most popular tourist destinations

• Interview with His Excellency Mr. Sami Shiba, Ambassador of the Republic of Albania in Bucharest

Reporter: The 2012 tourism season will open soon. What can you tell us about the values and tourist resources of Albania?

Sami Shiba: Yes, indeed, the month of May marks the beginning of the tourist season in Albania. One of the priorities of my activity is to promote the values, the tourist and cultural resources of Albania. In this context, I want to emphasize that the tourist potential of the coast and mountain areas of Albania is exceptional.

In 2011, Albania had the biggest inflow of tourists in its entire history, over 4 million.

In the most read tourist guide in the world, "Lonely Planet", as well as in a ranking made by CNN, Albania ranks among the top ten most sought after tourist destinations.

Albania has a virgin natural environment and a very enjoyable Mediterranean climate, which turns this country into a top tourist destination for the entire year. Recently, Albanian tourism has grown constantly, focusing on offering services such as: "sun and sea" tourism, " history and culture tourism", "mountain" tourism, etc.

Albania's seaside has a length of approximately 450 km, with many unaltered gulfs, which demonstrates that the seashore tourism is the main source of tourism in that country. Albania has a considerable number of beaches with fine sand and pines, along the rocky shore of the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea, where a simple walk of a few minutes allows tourists to experience the mountain climate of Llogara and the coastal areas such as Dhermi. These are the impressive features of Albania's nature.

As I have already mentioned, Albania has important resources for the development of mountain tourism. The Albanian Alps to the North, the mountains along the Ionian Sea, the Kruje, Berat, Elbasan mountains offer great opportunities to receive tourists during the year, including during the winter, which has a mild climate. The accommodation units which are both specific and traditional, while offering modern amenities, the rich cuisine accompanied by the specific Albanian hospitality creates a truly wonderful ambient at very good prices, which makes Albania into a very sought after destination by the Western tourists who have already visited the country and who frequently return to it.

Aside from its natural beauty, its geographical position and its mild climate, Albania is also set apart by the richness of its cultural and historical patrimony.

Located at the crossroads of two ancient civilizations, the Greeks and the Romans, Albania is the heir of a precious treasure of cultural assets, which are part of the world's cultural heritage. This Albanian treasure can be seen in its natural parks and archeological sites, art galleries, photographs and movie archives, citadels and castles, religious monuments and folk homes, in its old rock-paved streets, as well as in all its museums.

Butrint, in Southern Albania, is one of these archeological websites with an indisputable value, which has already been included in the project of the UNESCO for the protection of the cultural patrimony. The old cities such as Berat and Gjirokastra - also under the protection of the UNESCO, bring a unique value to the world's cultural heritage.

Also, Apollonia, Antigonea, Voskopoja are known as some of the oldest cities, having a major archeological potential.

I want to seize this opportunity to invite Romanian tourists to take Albania into consideration as one of the best options when making their holiday plans. ( see www.akt.gov.al)

Reporter: What are the steps which the Albanian government took to develop tourism?

Sami Shiba: In order to support the tourism industry, the Albanian authorities have continued to work heavily towards correctly applying the law of tourism, foreign investments and tourist safety etc.

The Albanian government is resolute to decide in the road infrastructure. In order to encourage tourism investors, the authorities have decided to eliminate taxes for those who invest in the mountain tourism.

Moreover, it is expected that in the coming two years, Albania would have a modern road network which would allow Albanian citizens, visitors, tourists ad foreign investors to easily travel all over the country.

Romanian citizens do not need a visa to go to Albania. Travel can be done with a passport or merely with an ID card.

In closing, I want to emphasize that in 2012, Albania will be celebrating 100 years of independence, which will provide tourists with the opportunity to witness various activities which will be held on this anniversary.

Reporter: Thank you!