Albergo Diffuso and Tourism in Albania

Dr. Brunilda Liçaj, representative of Albergo Diffuso (Dispersed Hotel) in Albania talks about the efforts of Albania to apply this innovative concept of hospitality, launched in Italy in the early 1980s. According to her, Risi Albania is the first entity which had the vision of adopting this model even in the Albanian territory. “Risi Albania is cooperating with Albergo Diffuso. In the framework of this cooperation, so far, four villages have been identified,” Liçaj told TRAILBLAZING MAGAZINE. She said, that “during October –November 2019, the expert groups, led by Prof. Giancarlo Dall’Ara, assessed the villages of Voskopoja (Korça), Dhoksat (Gjirokastra), Shishtavec (Kukës) and Radomira (Dibra).” Liçaj, also a lecturer at the Tourism Department in the University “Aleksander Moisiu” in Durres, said that at the end of the first stage of appraisal, Dhoksat village (Gjirokastra) was selected as the region to be subjected to a deeper evaluation assessing even the willingness of the local actors to cooperate.

Full interview below: is being contemplated to be implemented in Albania and Kosovo, Please can you make a brief too. outline of Albergo Diffuso concept AD addresses to a new target group: and how will this project can be a new typology of tourists who are put into practice in Albania? more apt to create contacts with “Albergo Diffuso” concept was the local inhabitants rather than with first used in 1982 in Italy in the the other tourists. context of a pilot project aiming The AD concept is based on the to renovate and use the run-down existence and coordination of some and abandoned buildings by the rooms which are located in various earthquake. This buildings but project intended “A bit like a reachable within to create an accommodation offer in the areas house and a bit like a hotel.” a span of some minutes, under normal atmospheric where the visitors conditions, from wanted to live the experience the main building which plays the of community in the terrain. The role of an info point center and the “Albergo Diffuso” (AD) concept reception. Thus, a local network of was created and developed by Prof. touristic offer is created where each Giancarlo Dall’Ara who actually unit appears a bit like a house and runs even the AD Association in the a bit like a hotel. world. The ideal AD model is located in Currently Italy records more than a rural or urban space, inhabited 200 welcoming places but only 100 by a number of people in order to of them enjoy the characteristics provide a lifestyle throughout the of AD while 30 others are already year. In addition, this place must created in Japan, China, Germany, have inhabited buildings, 200 Switzerland and lately this model meters approximately from one another and the existence of the wish or passion of someone from the community or from abroad (but connected to the territory) to invest and place these rooms in various buildings, thus creating the abovementioned network. The locality must be recognized for its characteristic style of buildings, for its cultural and historical elements as well as for its welldistinguished local gastronomic products. This way, the AD offers to the tourist a pleasant lifestyle, various strolls and itineraries for excursions, activities for free time, nice moments in local feasts, visits at museums, castles, archaeological sites, basic cultural services and above all, moments of relaxation, rest and peace, away from the noisy ambience of the modern times (for more, check at http://www. albergodiffuso.com/ The difference with the customary hotels lies in the fact that the AD concept offers authentic rooms versus standard rooms, local buildings versus restricted spaces in the normal hotels; attention towards the details versus the conventional comfort of the hotel rooms, contacts with the locals versus the contacts with the other clients, informal environment versus the privacy.

What are the steps you are following in coordination with Risi Albania to incentivize the implementation of this project on other regions of Albania? Have Italian experts visited Albania so far?

Risi Albania is the first entity which had the vision of implementing this model in the Albanian territory. Years ago, studies were carried out for the implementation of this model in Dardha, Korça city which suited to this project at that time but with the passing of time, Dardha was developed under another vision, that of guest houses and small tourist villages. Risi Albania is cooperating with Albergo Diffuso. In the framework of this cooperation, so far, four villages have been identified. They underwent an appraisal process for the possibility of implementing the

Albergo Diffuso model. During non-material cultural heritage October –November 2019, the • The economic element – it expert groups, led assures incomes for by Prof. Giancarlo Dall’Ara, assessed the villages “One’s famil y guest is the area throughout the months of the year. The tourist of Voskopoja transformed arrives in these (Korça), Dhoksat (Gjirokastra), Shishtavec (Kukës) into a visitor of the entire localities not only at the touristic season but throughout the and Radomira village.” year. (Dibra). Part of Risi • The Albania vision is environmental even examining other villages in the element – it does not harm the Albanian territory. environment; on the contrary, Is Albergo Diffuso a response intervening only in the existing to sustainable tourism in the buildings by keeping their style and country? characteristics. Albergo Diffuso fully responds to the elements of the sustainable Is 100 Villages strategy tourism: considered for Albergo Diffuso? • The social element – it The scattered hospitality is more employs the locals not only in direct than a total of rooms and houses services with the clients but even in placed in connection with one the circulating economy (agriculture, another. In such a village, one’s livestock, handicrafts, guides and family guest is transformed into a others) It avoids the abandonment visitor of the entire village. From of villages and ebbs the emigration; this point of view, to revive the life • The cultural element – it and the vision of the 100 villages keeps the tradition, the material and it protects and maintains it by development, Albergo Diffuso has been deemed as one of the strategies of these villages. In the context of this cooperation, representatives of Risi Albania and Albergo Diffuso have discussed with the coordinator of “100 Villages” Project, Mrs. Elva Margariti to assure the support of the government as well in implementing this model even in other regions, similarly important as the others.

Where is this project going to be pioneered?

At the end of the first stage of appraisal, Dhoksat village (Gjirokastra) was selected as the region to be subjected to a deeper evaluation assessing even the willingness of the local actors to cooperate. A group of experts of Risi Albania (architects, economists and Albergo Diffuso representatives) have continued their meetings on the site with the aim to assess the financial cost of this intervention but even the steps to re-bring the Albanian tradition in a modern version in some of the houses identified for being part of this model. The cooperation with the community, the enterprising spirit but even the existence of the youngsters in the area have become subject to the appraisal for the implementation of the first “pilot Albergo Diffuso village in the Albanian territory.)