Travel Mindfully: Tips on Preserving Albania’s Beauty
On World Environment Day, IntoAlbania invites you to read over and keep note of these simple tips on how to become an active player in sustainable tourism.
If you are looking to sunbathe on pristine beaches, as well as hike through lonely mountains, olive groves, and ancient ruins, look no further than Albania. Keep in mind, however, that these same natural and man-made monuments must be properly preserved in order to be enjoyed by you and future generations. Taking care of the country is not only a local preoccupation but in the age of mass tourism, an international responsibility.
In 2020, we are all more aware than ever that the entire planet, and not only our familiar corner, is our home. We should then consider taking care of each and every corner we visit.
IntoAlbania welcomes you to Albania for the 2020 season and asks that you be considerate and think of how you can become part of the sustainable tourism movement.
What is sustainable tourism?
Sustainable tourism is a way of exploring a destination while respecting its environment, culture and people. To take it one step further, traveling mindfully is a way of prioritizing local traditions, natural resources, and local communities. In other words, enjoy yourself but without harming the environment!
There are many steps you can take to ensure your presence does no harm to the environment and local community of Albania. Furthermore, we really believe that these same steps will serve to enrich your own experience!
An important part of sustainable tourism is to understand and respect the local culture. Learning about the history and culture of your travel destination will not only give you a unique travel experience but will make you more aware of your surroundings and context.
Protected areas can improve the socio-economic status of the local communities while contributing to biodiversity conservation. In order to preserve the country’s rich biodiversity and valuable natural resources, the Albanian government has protected 16% of its territory. Currently, 56 protected areas exist in Albania such as the National Parks of Divjakë-Karavasta, Llogara and Dajti Mountain.
Follow regulations when visiting protected areas and know that the fees you pay support local management programs and conservation efforts which protect and maintain these areas.
View of Llogara from Dukat, Vlora. Photo Courtesy of Sarah Goolishian
Try to carry your own shopping bag to avoid contributing to the plastic problem in Albania, where recycling is still very marginal.
Restaurant selection plays a big part in sustainable tourism as, by choosing a local restaurant, you’ll help the local economy and community. The good news is that in Albania, this is really easy to do! Rural tourism and agritourism in Albania are becoming increasingly popular, so try restaurants like Uka Farm or Hyqi Agritourism, when travelling to Tirana! This is the best way to discover the authentic local food, a delicious mix of Albanian, Italian, Greek and Turkish cuisines.
By visiting local markets you’ll find fresh and organic local foods and will get into contact with venders and local farmers. As a result of Albania’s Mediterranean climate, fruits and vegetables are abundant and fresh so don’t miss out on these local flavors by choosing the standard international products. In the South, you can even buy locally grown bananas!
If you buy handmade products instead of imported ones, you’re not only showing your appreciation for the individual artisan’s work, but also helping the local economy by supporting local business owners who produce quality products. Our favorites? Products derived from olive trees such as olive oil, soaps and beautifully handcrafted olive wood sold at the old bazaar in Kruja!
Next time you’re staying in a hotel, think twice about washing your towels every day. You can easily contribute to saving water and energy by reusing your towel several times.
Most modern hotels use an energy saving scheme, turning off the electricity when guests remove their key from a docking station, reducing energy consumption by 30%. If this energy-saving technology doesn’t exist in your hotel in Albania, remember to turn the lights off and unplug your electricity when leaving the room.
Air conditioning systems have a high energy demand and therefore add enormously to CO2 emissions. Keep the window open and, instead of turning the AC on, hang a wet towel in front of your window to cool down the room. While it’s drying, heat is extracted from the air leading to the cooling of the room.
Remember that by making the right choices while traveling, with just a little patience and research, you can lay back, soak up the Mediterranean sun and fully enjoy your vacation in Albania, knowing you are contributing to conserve the planet, support local communities and ensuring that these treasured destinations will be around for the enjoyment of future generations.
Source infographics: https://www.treadright.org/responsible-tourism/tips-travellers
View of Llogara from Dukat, Vlora. Photo Courtesy of Sarah Goolishian
Try to carry your own shopping bag to avoid contributing to the plastic problem in Albania, where recycling is still very marginal.
Restaurant selection plays a big part in sustainable tourism as, by choosing a local restaurant, you’ll help the local economy and community. The good news is that in Albania, this is really easy to do! Rural tourism and agritourism in Albania are becoming increasingly popular, so try restaurants like Uka Farm or Hyqi Agritourism, when travelling to Tirana! This is the best way to discover the authentic local food, a delicious mix of Albanian, Italian, Greek and Turkish cuisines.
By visiting local markets you’ll find fresh and organic local foods and will get into contact with venders and local farmers. As a result of Albania’s Mediterranean climate, fruits and vegetables are abundant and fresh so don’t miss out on these local flavors by choosing the standard international products. In the South, you can even buy locally grown bananas!
If you buy handmade products instead of imported ones, you’re not only showing your appreciation for the individual artisan’s work, but also helping the local economy by supporting local business owners who produce quality products. Our favorites? Products derived from olive trees such as olive oil, soaps and beautifully handcrafted olive wood sold at the old bazaar in Kruja!
Next time you’re staying in a hotel, think twice about washing your towels every day. You can easily contribute to saving water and energy by reusing your towel several times.
Most modern hotels use an energy saving scheme, turning off the electricity when guests remove their key from a docking station, reducing energy consumption by 30%. If this energy-saving technology doesn’t exist in your hotel in Albania, remember to turn the lights off and unplug your electricity when leaving the room.
Air conditioning systems have a high energy demand and therefore add enormously to CO2 emissions. Keep the window open and, instead of turning the AC on, hang a wet towel in front of your window to cool down the room. While it’s drying, heat is extracted from the air leading to the cooling of the room.
Remember that by making the right choices while traveling, with just a little patience and research, you can lay back, soak up the Mediterranean sun and fully enjoy your vacation in Albania, knowing you are contributing to conserve the planet, support local communities and ensuring that these treasured destinations will be around for the enjoyment of future generations.
Source infographics: https://www.treadright.org/responsible-tourism/tips-travellers