ALBANIA: Albanian tourism hampered by extensive pollution on its stunning beaches and waterways

Record ID: 216808

  • Title: ALBANIA: Albanian tourism hampered by extensive pollution on its stunning beaches and waterways
  • Date: 8th December 2006
  • Summary: GJIROKASTRA, ALBANIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF POLLUTION ON THE RIVER DRINO
  • Embargoed: 23rd December 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Albania
  • Country: Albania
  • Topics: Travel / Tourism
  • Reuters ID: LVA9TKXAX9SRRFMK762TNZOKMXQF
  • Story Text: Albania has some of the most beautiful coastline in the region, but the country which has only recently emerged into the modern world is limited in its pursuit of the tourist dollar, by its large scale pollution.
    Neighbours such as Montenegro, Macedonia and even Turkey have seen a flourishing of their tourist industries, but in Albania, the piles of plastic bottles on many of its stunning beaches is an instant turn-off for visitors.
    The area of the Kepi I Rodonit (Cape of Rodoni) is one of the pearls of Albania, but its precious beaches are going waste because of the increasing pollution. And it's not just the rubbish on the surface, the water and even the earth itself is often toxic, with wildlife such as this turtle unable to survive.
    40 kilometres from the Albanian capital Tirana, Pashk Noku runs a bar and restaurant called "The Eagle". While tourists do stop to refresh themselves, they don't stay for long.
    "It is very difficult to work here because some 200 metres away, the Reshen council systematically throws rubbish. We have complained, but it's no use," Noku said.
    Not far away, cows feed on the scraps from piles of burning rubbish.
    The Ohrid lake, one of the clearest lakes of the region is suffering from systematic pollution due to the lack of protection from the government. Sewage is regularly discharged into bodies of water such as this, and steams of plastic are deposited on its banks. Residents say that while there had been tourism in the past, this is now being lost. Some are even sentimental about the previous years of communism when such pollution was an unknown phenomenon. Since the end of communism there has been a huge increase in the use of plastics.
    The Albanian government admits there is a big problem.
    "But it's a problem that has been inherited since many many years in this country," said vice-president of the Environment Protection Ministry, Taulant Bino.
    "Wastes are abundant in the country, and they are managed not in a proper way, either in the urban centres, but also in the landfill sites. And it's really problematic, not only for the landscape point of view, but it's really problematic for the future development of the country, which has given a priority to tourist capacities and tourist development possibilities," he added.
    Bino says that under Albanian law, local authorities are responsible for waste management, and they are not paying sufficient attention to the problem. He says the government is working on an environmental strategy, which considers waste management a priority. This will result in a national waste management plan which he hopes will help in the resolving of the problem.
    "But it's really important to stress here that we need also a change in mentality, because we are lacking in policies in recycling for instance, and we are lacking in education programmes in schools and waste management. And there is a need that should be addressed, and this need has been addressed in our strategy," Bino said.
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