What if this was a tourist resort?

2026-06-12 14:55:00, Opinione Mentor Kikia

The debate over investments in coastal areas, even those that enjoy protected status, is now as much environmental as it is political.

Among the protesters, the dominant attitude is: "Hands off our coast," while the government asks the question: "Will we develop tourism, or will we remain with Mihal's tourism that beats up the bar's customers?"

I support the latter, namely development.

But what is it, or what is called development?

Development should be based on three pillars:

-Protection of nature, according to categories and coexistence of the economy with the environment.

-Respect for property.

-Use of the coastline only for tourism.

What has the government done and is it doing so far?

Look at this neighborhood like Berat or Gjirokastra. It's "Monastery Bay", this territory was taken from the protected area of ??Butrint, for tourist development, based on the infamous "Strategic Investments" law. So, this neighborhood is a "Strategic Investment".

But, what strategic thing is there here? What has been built here? Villas and apartments for sale, no resort, as far as I know only one hotel (as far as I can justify the permit).

All the "Strategic" permits have been for hotels accompanied by villas and apartments. But how can you give away land right on the water line to entrepreneurs who will build houses for sale?

The coast is the property of every Albanian citizen, and should be used only for economic purposes.

Today, the network and television programs are filled with advertisements announcing the sale of villas and apartments, "just so" and "just so" meters away from the water line. Everywhere on the coast, from Velipoja, Shengjini, Tale, to Lalëz, there are no trees left standing... and even in Ksamil, villas and apartments are being built for sale.

What service do these provide to tourism?

Almost zero!

They serve a life of luxury to those who can afford it.

When I hear, not the big resort, not the Turkish or Greek model, I remember that in Turkey there are really giant resorts. They are the size of a city neighborhood, dozens of hectares, with several hotels, villas, swimming pools, cinemas, endless parks, playgrounds, theaters and everything else. But they are only in the service of tourism, there are no rich people who live there for a week a year.

Here, look at the second photo. It's a resort right in Turkey, it has a capacity of 3,000 vacationers. It's located among the trees and there are no residents there, there are only vacationers.

You need to book in March-April to vacation in August.

This type of development we are doing is not development, but destruction of the natural assets of the coast, even where it is not a protected area, but is an area that should serve the national economy./ CNA