The new tourist axes in lakeside resort city of Pogradec have turned the page on the city life paving the way for development of tourism economy all year round. Such is the 5.5-km road linking Pogradec, Drilon and the village of Tushemisht, that has been transformed into a scenic route particularly suited for visitors to feature all urban elements, including sidewalks, dedicated cycle lanes and lighting, along with two paths branching off the main road to head towards the lake shore.
The Director of the Albanian Development Fund Dritan Agolli explained that the project entails the road’s further extension to the border crossing point with the North Macedonia to ban car traffic and transform the path along the lake into a pedestrian space. “We are working together with the Albanian-American Development Foundation, which plans to intervene in the area of Tushemisht and explore the opportunities to construct a bypass road linked with the customs point so that entire lake area is transformed into a pedestrian area suited for tourists and not for the traffic.”
The Minister of State for Protection of Entrepreneurship Eduard Shalsi said that the new road opens up fresh perspective for development of the entire area between Drilon and Tushemisht. “The project is in its final stage and it is really a fantastic one as it features incredible elements, but, moreover, it would allow us to intervene in Lungolago too,” Shalsi said, highlighting the intense work and the project’s progress under the new municipal administration over the past year. “The project completed within seven months, while we were to wait for years on to agree with the previous municipal administration on various projects. Projects are now progressing really fast.”
“Unfortunately, Pogradec lagged behind to remain like a cold war zone. There is a lot of transformation and investment ongoing up to Librazhd, in Korça as well, whereas the situation here remained like an isolated cold war zone due to the clumsy local government lacking in commitment and coordination skills,” PM Rama stated.
The government head noted that the project on revitalization of two historical areas is already complete, and it entails the restoration of historic areas, including the houses of Lasgush Poradeci and Mitrush Kuteli, which are destinations of Albanians’ spiritual heritage.
“The incredibly great intensity of the visitors’ demand for Korça has led to increasing hospitality capacities in the south-eastern city, yet it cannot meet the entire demand and many visitors are now eyeing Pogradec as another alternative for holidays. The trend to find complementary part in Pogradec has long started. Now with the recent changes and integration of Pogradec in this pole, first the number of bedding capacities in Pogradec will grow as in Korca and in result Pogradec will have more hospitality capacities to meet the growing demand, and it will be combined, as anyone travelling to Korça will definitely include Pogradec as a destination along this itinerary. Many who visit Pogradec would opt to visit Korça too, providing for an entire and complete tourist trip along an area stretching from the Lake to the upper parts of Voskopoje.”
“The goal is to prolong the tourists stay in the region. We are still far from meeting the demand of a growing number of tourists. At the peak of the season, we lack the number of beds to meet the growing demand,” Defence Minister Niko Peleshi said, voicing confidence that the business perspective to invest in the area is increasing.
