Pogradec / Roundtable on tourism development

2025-10-19 11:25:00, Qyteti im CNA

A joint roundtable discussion was held in the city of Pogradec between the Tourism Associations, the Municipality of Pogradec and the tourist operators of the area. The purpose of the meeting was to strengthen cooperation between tourist agencies and hotel entities, in order to increase the number of visitors who choose Pogradec as a tourist destination. The importance of establishing a branch of the Albanian Tourist Union in Pogradec was emphasized in this meeting, in order to be closer to local businesses and to closely address the problems faced by the sector.

According to the president of the Albanian Tourist Union, Rrahman Hasa, the aim is to include in future plans tourist packages that will last at least two or three nights in Pogradec, giving the city more impact and economic benefits. He emphasized that improvements in road infrastructure and new accesses to the city make Pogradec increasingly attractive for domestic and foreign tourists.

" One of the directives that we will have as soon as possible is the creation of a branch in Pogradec to be in constant contact with businesses, in order to get to know all the problems and concerns up close. Of course, there has been cooperation, but we want to increase it, also due to the recent developments in Pogradec. Here I am talking about the road infrastructure that has greatly improved, the access to new roads that bring Tirana closer, but also with the access to the tourist, historical and cultural attractions that Pogradec has. We will now offer a package, at least two or three nights of stay in Pogradec because until now, part of our guides has only been a lunch here. We have our plan that we will discuss with the businesses in the area and I think that from next year we will give a very good impact to Pogradec ", said Hasa.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of Pogradec, Ilir Xhakolli, praised the new cooperation with the Tourist Union and announced that an agreement with the city of Ohrid for mutual cooperation in the field of tourism is expected to be signed next year.

He added that four new charters will include Pogradec in their itineraries, bringing tourists who will stay in the city for one or two nights. Xhakoli also stressed that it is important that tourism operators and the Municipality itself make efforts to make the most of the opportunities offered by Ohrid Airport, turning Pogradec into one of the most visited destinations in the region.

" I believe that in 2026, at the end of the year, the president of the union said that he will sign an agreement with Ohrid. As he said, 4 charters will stay and we will come to make an agreement to come to Pogradec, to spend one or two nights. It is good news, but it is not only this, because there is potential that the municipality itself, or the Pogradec operators themselves who deal with tourism, must definitely make an effort to use the Ohrid airport ", said Xhakoli./ CNA