National General Plan 2015-2030

The General National Plan defines the main orientations of tourism development based on the potential of the territory. The map of tourism potential within this Plan illustrates areas that are classified as Areas of National Importance for the values they have in the planning and sustainable development of the territory. A significant number of these areas are regulated by the sectoral legislation in force, such as: protected natural areas; water resources and their protective bandages; mining areas; industrial areas; areas of historical and cultural heritage; cultural monuments; archaeological areas and parks; historical centers; coastal belt, etc. The PPK supports and strengthens the importance of these areas for the national interest by expanding the territories declared for the protection of a part of them, but also by proposing new areas, which must be taken under protection in accordance with the procedures defined in the legislation sectoral in force. The map of the tourist potential details the list of areas of national importance, which have specific importance for the tourist potential of the country.

The list of identified areas with priority tourism includes: Coastal belt, Alpe Park, Buna Park, Vjosa Park, all administrative units (at the borders of former municipalities and former municipalities) with access to the sea, river flows and buffer zones around them, tourist itineraries and buffer zones around them and islands. The tourist itineraries that are identified are: Via Egnatia, Via Skënderbeg, the alpine-lake route that connects across the border with the tourist route of the Dinaric mountains, the driving route along the Koman-Fierzë artificial lakes, the culinary-agritourism route. The panoramic road axes and their buffer zones include: Axis Përmet – Erseke, Axis Gjirokastër – Saranda, Axis E Qafë-Krrabë, Axis Elbasan – Librazhd. While the tourist areas in the interior of the territory are: Tërbufi, Dajt Mountain, Lura Lakes, Belsh Lakes, Shkodra Lake, Ohrid and Prespa Lakes, Dardha, Voskopoja, Gjinari and Lenia Mountain, near Rehova. Existing and proposed UNESCO sites: Gjirokastra, Berati, Butrinti, Apollonia, Lower Selce Cemetery, Ohrid Natural and Cultural Area and Durrës Amphitheater.