At a time when the protests for the departure of the prime minister have entered the 18th day, the historian and researcher Auron Tare has contradicted the claims of Prime Minister Rama that the protests are negatively affecting Albanian tourism.
Through a post on Facebook, Tare brings several arguments that, according to him, refute the claims of the head of government.
According to him, the lack of warnings from the US embassy, as it usually does, shows that there is no danger for foreign visitors.
He further argues that peaceful protests can also have a positive effect, as they demonstrate an active society and citizens engaged in public life.
“This morning, the American cruise ship Seabourn arrived at the Port of Saranda. It is well known in the tourism industry that, when a country is considered unsafe or involved in serious unrest, the first to change itineraries are the cruise ships. The reason is simple: cruise companies face very high insurance costs and avoid any destination that is classified as problematic.
If Albania were a country engulfed in turmoil and uncertainty, this cruise would not dock in Saranda today. On the contrary, other tourist ships are scheduled to arrive after her, according to the usual calendar of the season.
Another significant indicator is the fact that the American Embassy has not issued any warning about the danger of protests in Albania. This clearly shows that the situation is not perceived as a threat to foreign visitors.
It can even be said that peaceful protests make a society more interesting in the eyes of tourists, because they prove that citizens are active and engaged in the public life of the country.” writes Tare.
According to Taras, the real threat to Albanian tourism is not the protests, but the concreting of protected areas, damage to natural landscapes, constructions without architectural identity and the loss of cultural heritage.
“The real threat to Albanian tourism is not the protests. The real threat is the concretization of protected areas, the destruction of natural landscapes, constructions with no relation to local architecture and tradition, as well as the transformation of Albania into a destination without a cultural identity.
Tourists don’t travel thousands of kilometers to see the concrete they can find everywhere. They come for the nature, history, culture and uniqueness of this country. These are precisely the assets that must be protected, if we want sustainable and long-term tourism.
Therefore, the protest to protect the Albanian nature, our heritage and culture is not only a legitimate right but a precious service that is rendered to this country exhausted by its own political class”. the historian closes his post.
