JP TRAIBLAZING MAGAZINE
GOLF 03
FOR AL(L)BANIA BY By STEPHEN Jose RIDGWAY* Pinto
H
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undreds of miles of
developers and hotel chains turn to
sandy beaches, a
golf to attract the higher-end tourist
fantastic Mediterranean
market. A golf course can lengthen
climate and many
a destination’s tourist season by
natural and cultural wonders. The
attracting golfers wishing to play
tourism potential in Albania is
when it is too cold for them to do
huge. But outside of the immediate
so in their own country. The average
region, the country has an image
golf tourist spends significantly
problem and an under-developed
more than a non-golfing tourist
infrastructure which is putting off
and will often be a repeat visitor.
potential visitors from the more
Golf courses are catalysts for other
developed parts of Europe. This in
infrastructure, such as hotels and
turn, deters foreign investment into
real estate and these attract other
the country. So how can the country
related services, boosting local and
turn this around and could golf be
regional employment. Over the last
the answer?
20 years, traditionally non-golfing
It’s not difficult to see why
countries such as Vietnam, Dubai
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TO U R I S M
JP TRAIBLAZING MAGAZINE
