TIRANA, March 8 /ATA/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama told a meeting with local residents in the village of Libofsha, southwest Albania, that the government’s 100 Villages Program will unleash the area’s sleeping potential to turn into a major income source for local households’ economy.
The village of Libofsha has been selected as one 100 selected villages countrywide that will have their infrastructure upgraded in a bid to make them agribusiness – oriented by supporting local production.
“The 100 Villages National Program includes not only concrete intervention and infrastructure development projects in these areas, but it is also designed to create agritourism models and we are confident that once these models take shape they will soon spread all over the country, providing the necessary examples how a sleeping potential can be transformed into a source to increase income for household economy,” the government head said.
PM Rama noted that the village of Libofsha is blessed with natural beauties and is home to a rich cultural heritage with 15 religious sites.
“This village is fortunate to inherit 15 old churches and the Ministry of Culture will implement restoration projects also under the 100 Villages Program and should we all together understand or agree on projects to transform private homes and immovable properties into guesthouses and farm accommodation units, then this area will definitely become an integral part of the whole space of tourism development in Albania,” the Premier said.
The Albanian government has selected 100 villages nationwide to upgrade their infrastructure and public services and promote agritourism by offering incentives and grants to support local characteristic agriculture products.
Albania’s nascent agritourism sector can be developed by promoting both culinary tourism and farm stay accommodation units and agritourism can turn into a key driver of Albania’s emerging tourism industry.
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