{"id":4712,"date":"2019-04-15T15:30:27","date_gmt":"2019-04-15T13:30:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.albaniandf.org\/?p=4712"},"modified":"2019-04-16T09:03:48","modified_gmt":"2019-04-16T07:03:48","slug":"gjirokastra-e-trashegimise-kulturore-perballe-sfidave-te-zhvillimit-te-turizmit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.albaniandf.org\/en\/2019\/04\/15\/gjirokastra-e-trashegimise-kulturore-perballe-sfidave-te-zhvillimit-te-turizmit\/","title":{"rendered":"Gjirokastra cultural heritage in front of tourism development challenges"},"content":{"rendered":"

Maji \u00ebsht\u00eb muaji kur tradicionalisht zbarkojn\u00eb autobuz\u00ebt e par\u00eb me turist\u00eb n\u00eb qytetin e gurt\u00eb. Vitin e kaluar numri i turist\u00ebve i kaloi 150 mij\u00eb. K\u00ebt\u00eb vit duksh\u00ebm sezoni ka filluar nj\u00eb muaj m\u00eb her\u00ebt. Numri i turist\u00ebve e vizitor\u00ebve pritet t\u00eb rritet gjithmon\u00eb e m\u00eb shum\u00eb. Bashk\u00eb me t\u00eb edhe k\u00ebrkesa p\u00ebr akomodim dhe sh\u00ebrbime. Kjo ka b\u00ebr\u00eb q\u00eb t\u00eb nxiten investimet, ve\u00e7an\u00ebrisht n\u00eb qendr\u00ebn historike. Ajo mbetet edhe zona preferuar e turist\u00ebve p\u00ebr t\u00eb bujtur. Prej aty kan\u00eb akses t\u00eb shpejt\u00eb n\u00eb monumentet e kultur\u00ebs si sht\u00ebpia e Sk\u00ebndulat\u00ebve apo kulla e Babametove dhe sigurisht p\u00ebr n\u00eb kalan\u00eb hijer\u00ebnd\u00eb.  <\/em><\/p>\n

The Old Bazaar of Gjirokastra wakes up slowly by the sound of masters hammers working for the reconstruction of old houses. The latter will be the new guesthouses which will welcome tourists from all over the world.<\/p>\n

Dielli i k\u00ebtij mesprilli nuk ka kaluar ende mbi Kull\u00ebn e Sahatit t\u00eb kalas\u00eb hijer\u00ebnd\u00eb, por aroma e petullave t\u00eb m\u00ebngjesit q\u00eb t\u00eb p\u00ebrk\u00ebdhel flegrat dhe tymi i oxhak\u00ebve t\u00eb tregojn\u00eb se brenda sht\u00ebpive t\u00eb qendr\u00ebs historike dita ka filluar me koh\u00eb.<\/p>\n

The sun of these mid-April days has not passed over the Sahat tower of the stately castle, but the smell of morning pancakes and the smoke of chimneys show that the day has begun earlier in the houses of this historic center.<\/p>\n

May is the month where come the first busses with tourists. Last year the number of tourists exceeded 150,000. This year the season started a month earlier. Promotion in social networks, foreign media specialized in tourism and travel has yield positive results. The number of tourists and visitors is expected to grow more and more. At the same pace will grow even the demand for accommodation and services. As a result, investments are encouraged, especially in the historic center. Most tourists prefer to stay there claiming that this is their favorite area. If you stay there you have fast access to cultural monuments such as Skendulate House, Babameto Tower and the stately castle.<\/p>\n

If you visit the historic center of Gjirokastra today, you will find a construction site. The Albanian Development Fund is working on urban requalification and restoration of cobblestones in the Bazaar. This intervention is carried out in the framework of \u201cIntegrated Urban and Tourism Development\u201d program, financed by the Albanian Government and World Bank. The intervention include the construction of the underground infrastructure network, following the restoration of 6000 square meters cobblestone and requalification of 900 square meters public space. When you enter in the bazaar from Cerciz square, a signboard shows the total investment of 1 million Euro.<\/p>\n

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The cobblestone dismantling process has first started with its detailed documentation and stones in good conditions have been stored carefully. In the site you hear the sound of the machineries and you see workers who work for the construction of the water supply system, lighting system, telephony network and fiber optics, sewage network, manholes, etc. \u201cThe entire underground engineering network will be built from the beginning,\u201d says Pavli Mico, engineer of the Albanian Development Fund managing the contract for this project. This part of the city has never had a genuine engineering network, but now the businesses of this area, tourists and visitors need contemporary services.<\/p>\n

Franco an Italian tourist and his English friend have learned about Gjirokastra from social networks. \"I'm trying to take a photo of this wonderful building, but these wires spoil the photo,\"Franco says, while laughing and taking photos from all the corners of the building that has become the symbol of Qafa e Pazarit Quarter.<\/p>\n

The urban requalification and the restoration of cobblestone aim to create a new model of development projects in the country. It is integrated with the project of restoration interventions on facades and roofs of buildings in this area. This project was completed last year and was funded by the Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF).<\/p>\n

Prior to and during project implementation, the Albanian Development Fund was consulted with KfW, which plans to finance the construction of water supply in Gjirokastra.\n\u201cWe have been consulted with all institutions that plan interventions in this part of the city. We aim to build a network that matches any other project that is being planned in the future,\u201d says Mico.<\/p>\n

It is simple: We should avoid what has happened in road infrastructure investments. When the construction of a road has been completed new investments such as water supply, telephony are planned in that road. \u201cWorkers are working in many directions so the road would not need future interventions\u201d emphasizes Mico.<\/p>\n

By February, civil works were interrupted because of the snow. \u201cBut since the end of February works advanced at a fast pace. Workers now are working for the underground engineering network and after concluding this step will proceed with cobblestone,\u201d says Mico. He adds that the pressure from businesses and locals to advance with work is huge and understandable. \"In addition to a historic area, Old Bazaar is also a business and service center and is the main source of income for many residents. On the other hand, locals love Old Bazaar as it was. We are working to finish works not only in time but above all with quality.\"<\/p>\n

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