Heritage tourism development: How sustainable is Albania?

This thesis considers the three Albanian World Heritage sites of Butrint, Berat and Gjirokastra in the light of heritage tourism and sustainable development. These heritage sites have their own unique characteristics with much potential for further tourism development and the development of community awareness of their heritage. To safeguard sustainability of this heritage for future generations, the implementation of sustainable and effective management plans to protect the significance of these sites and to mitigate tourism impacts is necessary. In this study the concepts of sustainability and heritage tourism are first explained in the way they are used for the analysis. Subsequently, the World Heritage Sites (WHS) of Butrint, Berat and Gjirokastra are analyzed on the basis of a few sustainability principles to measure the degree of integration of these principles within current heritage management and tourism planning of these sites. The sustainability principles can be outlined...Show moreThis thesis considers the three Albanian World Heritage sites of Butrint, Berat and Gjirokastra in the light of heritage tourism and sustainable development. These heritage sites have their own unique characteristics with much potential for further tourism development and the development of community awareness of their heritage. To safeguard sustainability of this heritage for future generations, the implementation of sustainable and effective management plans to protect the significance of these sites and to mitigate tourism impacts is necessary. In this study the concepts of sustainability and heritage tourism are first explained in the way they are used for the analysis. Subsequently, the World Heritage Sites (WHS) of Butrint, Berat and Gjirokastra are analyzed on the basis of a few sustainability principles to measure the degree of integration of these principles within current heritage management and tourism planning of these sites. The sustainability principles can be outlined as continuity, intergenerational equity, intragenerational equity, diversity, a precautionary principle and interdependence. The outcome of these principles for each heritage site is discussed on the basis of a qualitative content analysis of literature and management plans. Finally, a short comparison is made between the WHS to seek for aspects that can contribute to an improved management of other sites and to seek for aspects that require more attention or improvement.Show less

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Heritage tourism development: How sustainable is Albania?