The Leading Scottish consultant Dunira Strategy has won the 2015 Gold Green Apple Award for the feasibility study and the comprehensive business plan regarding the transformation of the site of a former military base in the magnificent and environmentally sensitive Osumi Canyon in southern Albania, into an innovative adventure tourism centre. Dunira’s and ARF’s plan for this centre embraces local cultural and natural heritage, whilst creating highly marketable world class products, and was selected as the winner among 500 innovative proposals from around the world.
Thanks to the support provided by RisiAlbania to the ARF, the development of the Albanian Adventure Resort is already secured. The plan enables a fully functioning recreation resort that is both an international adventure tourism destination and a regional vocational training centre for Albanians eager to learn about adventure tourism and leadership. This resort will offer rafting, hiking, kayaking, horseback riding, mountain biking, rock climbing and many other outdoor activities. The project will help Albania emerge as a world leader in adventure tourism and vocational training. According to Dunira’s programme director Tobias Hewitt, “Albania has the potential to become the adventure tourism capital of the Balkans. This incredible new resort along Osumi river will put Albania on the map”.
The Albanian Adventure Resort will be the first of its kind in offering eco-tourism products in Albania, helping to preserve, educate and better appreciate the nature, while providing at the same time alternative employment and income generating opportunities for the people of local communities in Berat, Skrapar, Permet and Gjirokastra. The resort is expected to directly employ 38 persons and potentially up to 57 persons beyond this, once being completed by 2017.
This link leads to an article in Albanian published on “Dita” online: