The town of hospitality has seen for the first time the wave of revitalization under the Urban Renaissance program, developing into a center of gravity that increasingly attracts the interest of domestic and foreign visitors.

Urban Renaissance has unlocked the tourist potential of the town of roses through 4 projects worth EUR 1.53 million.

The most important project is the one for urban requalification of the town center, facades and lighting in the main park.

Marsel Bejko, an entrepreneur who runs a winery, said that Përmeti has developed into a main tourist attraction in the last 5 years with the number of hotel bookings at an all time high.

Even Avenir Deliu, who has opened a hotel in this town after returning from migration, said that “investments and projects recently developed in the town of Përmet boosted tourism and job creation.

“I emigrated to England where I stayed for 15 years. Astounded by its transformation beyond recognition, I decided to return to my home town together with my family. The clients wanted to stay more than 1 day, so we decided to start a new activity like horseback riding enabling the visitors to immerse themselves into the beautiful nature of Përmet. We run a network of guesthouses in some villages where we make stops, stay and offer the visitors to experience the village lifestyle,” he said.

These projects have positively spilled over in the number of tourists. From 700 foreign tourists 1 year before Urban Renaissance, today the number of foreign tourists has gone up to 12 thousand a year.

The increase in the number of visitors has also boosted the income generated by tourism as an economic activity. From less than 1 million euros of revenues, today tourism generates over EUR 4 million.

Data show that EUR 500 thousand have been invested in the town’s private sector.

The town of hospitality has 75% more businesses. Also, the value of rent has increased 150% for commercial premises and the value of rent for residential units has doubled.

Përmeti is further proof of the fact that transforming urban spaces means giving life to another perspective.
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