A team of experts from the Alberghi Diffusi Association is assessing Albanian villages that belong to the 100 Villages Strategy to evaluate the possibilities of implementing the Albergo Diffuso (scattered hotels) model in the country. Alberghi Diffusi are a hospitality concept designed to develop tourism in hamlets and old town centres without changing their characteristics, differently from new build hotels or resorts. It only requires the cooperation of village residents to open up their homes to tourism in a coordinated way.

The team led by Prof. Giancarlo Dall’Ara (President of the Association) visited several Albanian villages in Gjirokastra and Korça in October and will visit some more in Kukës and Dibra in November. After this first visit, Prof. Dall’Ara stressed that there is potential to develop the  model: “We have seen some typical and authentic Albanian villages, which have much in common with the villages in South of Italy where this model was implemented successfully”.

Businesses in the area were interested to explore this model and showed their willingness to cooperate: “We have already started to provide to our guests a unique experience of living in the traditional village of Dhoksat and we are happy about the exchange we had with the team of Alberghi Diffusi”, said Roland Koci, owner of a guest house in Dhoksat village.

An Albergo Diffuso responds perfectly to the needs of the “third-generation tourist”, who is not only interested in visiting a new place, but also in living it. These tourists want to establish new relations, not only with the other guests of the hotel, but mainly with the residents of the locality. An Albergo Diffuso represents a unique development approach which doesn’t carry negative environmental impacts, in line with RisiAlbania’s vision for rural tourism development for quality job creation.