Prime Minister Edi Rama went on with his tour of the north-eastern region of Diber amid the traditional Diber hospitality and the authentic guesthouses launched thanks to the prudence and hard work by local residents also through the assistance under the government-funded support schemes. The government head attended a meeting with local tour operators to discuss ways to further develop the nascent tourism in this remote region that was visited by more than 26,000 international tourists for the first time this year thanks to the major infrastructure projects that ease access to these areas, home to breathtaking natural landscape.
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It is a special pleasure to be here today. I am sorry that I am not happy about this sunny day, because I would rather prefer rainy weather conditions instead, because lack of precipitation result in low production of hydroelectric power and therefore we face the dilemma over the electricity price, because we would be forced to import energy and the energy prices have skyrocketed in the international markets, but on the other hand we are doing utmost efforts to maintain the electricity rates unchanged for the families and the small entrepreneurs, who thanks to the government support, as well as thanks to this protection in the face of the soaring electricity prices, can go on about their daily activities normally.
It is really amazing what is happening now and more amazing is the outcome of the continuation of what is taking place. These whole new accommodation facilities and guesthouses that are being built and launched are also building a different family, local and national economy. These agritourism businesses and accommodation facilities are the early swallows signalling spring for Diber in the years to come, because conditions are now being created for this region to become a tourist destination.
As many as 26,000 tourists visited Diber this year, something that was simply unimaginable just a few years ago. Nobody would drive to Diber along that terrible old road. The Arberi Road is a reality now. It is has yet to complete, because of the geological features and problems that are being encountering in opening the tunnel at the Murriz pas area. Complicated geological conditions are challenging problems during any tunnel construction projects and this is the reason why the construction works are progressing as slow as a turtle, namely just a meter a day, because it takes utmost care and specific fortification and wall reinforcement. Meanwhile, the procedures for construction of the road segment between Plani i Bardhe and Qafa e Buallit have completed and construction work will kick off soon under the next year’s state budget, which will also fund construction of the connection of the Arberi Road with the town of Maqellare and the centre of Peshkopi and I believe this is very important.
Equally important is the new road leading to Lure and the road connecting Bulqize with Librazhd, with the expropriation process being the only issue we face currently, a process that will seemingly take some time and funding too. And when it comes to funding, one should acknowledge we are not at the best of days, as we are largely investing in our effort to protect consumers, mostly the household and small businesses, from the rising electricity prices, a decision that has helped us to maintain the inflation at a lower rate compared to other countries in the region. I know this is actually not a very significant relief for all of everyone when placing their hands in the pocket to buy something and it is the monstrous war-driven inflation asking for its share. However, it is true that inflation rate in Albania is lower than in other countries in the region. If we were not to defend the entire service system and if we were not to fund the real electricity price and cost, a good part of the increased electricity rate would be directly transferred to the consumers and in this case the blow from the war-triggered inflation would have been really painful.
Concluding, I would like to tell everyone, especially the younger ones that thinking about leaving the country is certainly legitimate, it is legitimate for everyone to cross the sea and move to the wealthiest countries in Europe or elsewhere around the world. All these countries certainly have their past and their history and Albania is the last to undergo processes that they have experienced much earlier, because our history was as such until recently. However, the present is totally different from our past. The opportunities are now created here locally, especially for the ones who own an old private family home, no matter how old and dilapidated, or a land area in rural areas. It is a real opportunity to transform this property and earn twofold, threefold and fivefold more than one can earn working abroad. The equation of working for someone else is very simple and this is not about what I or you say, but it is about concrete examples.
We are launching the satellites and Albania is the eighth country in Europe for the online public service delivery. There are areas where we have advanced more and there are areas where we are progressing somehow slower and there are aspects where we face many difficulties. We are not magicians, we are not infallible, we are not perfect, but everyone knows that things can be done step by step.
Thank you very much!
