The pandemic has almost blocked the flow of tourists, but the preparation for the next years should start now. The new trend in tourism worldwide is green tourism and the Balkans is blessed by amazing natural assets and has the great potential to become an European adventure destination.
In November Active Albania conducted rafting training on the wild Vjosa River, Përmet. This specialised training aimed to provide participants with a general education and training in accordance with international standards of the World Rafting Federation and best rafting practices worldwide.
The training was attended by 27 young tourism professionals engaged close to tour operators and tourism businesses and was realized with Active Albania partners MontAlb from Kosovo, BLT D.o.o from Montenegro and Webgliders DOOEL from North Macedonia
For the very first time in a rafting training in Albania, there were a regional participation, including young girls aiming to become river rafting guides.
During the training Active Albania followed all the Albanian COVID-19 safety protocols and the ones of the World Rafting Federation on rafting activity.
Bojan Rantasa, one of the trainees from North Macedonia said that: “The trainers from Italy are extraordinary and well, they’re like a rock inside the river. The other reason why I came here was to meet people that are working in adventure tourism here, and to see possible cooperation. The Balkans is a place where the present the future and the past are merged together.”
Arsë Kryeziu, one of the trainees from Kosovo revealed: “It is such a great experience to try new things, especially the ones that include adrenaline and positivity, good energy, good people. I think it is very important to implement a WRF standards because it offers a wider explanation also in the environment part, safety part, and we can apply those standards anywhere we go.”
Lucio Luoni, one of the international rafting instructor declared that: “Vjosa river is a wonderful river, a wonderful place, with an amazing scenery and amazing water. This week, the participants start learning the basic of the rafting conduction and the basic of the rescue”.
Amadesus Schifferle, the other international instructor emphasised that: “The trend is going to outdoor activity. Water is a good element to play. It’s very important to improve the safety all over the world in rafting. Every time I go into the river, I learn new things and it’s very important to keep their eyes open, ears open and to be open-minded in rafting.”
The Albanian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Bledi Çuçi, who participated in one of the days of the training stated: “I am very happy that we are finally managing to create very good models to develop tourism in Albania. I have always been of the opinion that tourism in Albania can not be just a mass tourism, by the sea, enjoying the sun and swimming, but Albania has all the conditions, even fantastic conditions to have a nature tourism that can translate into an absolutely economic development of the whole country.”
Blerina Ago, the founder of Active Albania shared that more exciting trainings will follow on trekking March – April 2021. Embrace Balkans Adventure is open to Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) registered in North Macedonia ,Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro doing business in Eco, Adventure and Rural Tourism. For more information how you can be part of it please visit www.activealbania.com.