Conference on Tourism and Visitor Services Promotes Best Practices from Shengjin and Velipoja LGUs

On the frame of Decentralization and Development Programme – dldp, the Swiss Cooperation and Ministry of Tourism held a conference on 25th May 2012. The conference aimed to promote two examples of strategies and action plans for visitor services from Shëngjin and Velipojë. The event was carried out in the framework of a decentralisation and local development programme that has assisted local governments in designing tourism and visitor services strategies.
Present at the event were the Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports, Mr. Aldo Bumçi; Deputy Minister of Interior Mr. Ferdinand Poni; Swiss Cooperation’s Country Director Isabel Perich; representatives from other ministries, Qarks, local government, private businesses, non-governmental organisations, and international donors. In this conference, The Swiss Cooperation programme on Decentralisation and Local Development presented cases of strategies and action plans designed for Shëngjin and Velipoja communes. 
The importance of horizontal and vertical cooperation should be more visible in the tourism sector, as a comprehensive economic sector, stressed in his speech, Minister Bumçi.  We are responsible to our national wealth and development of their use should be based on the principle of sustainability. Together, we must have a clear vision for the development, promotion and making easily accessible, of this property, by all domestic and foreign visitors who are seeking a unique experience, presented in a truly authentic.
Meanwhile he expressed the gratitute and commitment for both LGUs and the product developed on the prag of touristic sesion opening. “The process of decentralisation involves to a large degree the delegation of management of tourism and visitor services to the local level”, said Swiss Cooperation’s Country Director, Isabel Perich. She mentioned that local authorities do not have to wait for central government in order to take action and responsibilities with regard to developing tourism and improving services in their territories. “The experience of other countries – including my own country, Switzerland – show that when local government units take action and responsibility, this usually gets the proper response from central government and other actors as well, and in the end the whole cycle of services is complete”, added Ms. Perich in closing.
Participants were presented with several innovative instruments for improving touristic and visitor information services, as well as with the process and methods that can be used elsewhere from other local government units. The two specific cases of Shëngjin and Velipoje were mentioned as examples which can be replicated in other areas of Albania. These initiatives were prompted by the growing numbers of tourists and visitors and a corresponding lack of information tools.
Representatives from the two communes shared their experience in developing their own sustainable tourism strategies and information instruments. Several products were disseminated among participants including a 15 minute video film which depicts an innovative instrument for informing tourists and visitors and keeping them attracted to potential locations. The event ended with a cocktail and informal interaction between participants.
Swiss Cooperation’s decentralisation and local development programme has assisted local authorities in Shkodër and Lezhë regions with technical know-how and funds for improving public services, increasing the communication flow with citizens, and enhancing the overall function of municipalities and communes. The two main objectives of the programme include the enhancement of capacities of local government units and the sharing of best practices at national level.

Prepared by
Djana BEJKO, HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Albania