Albania Seeks Blue Flag Recognition for Beaches

Albania’s gorgeous beaches could soon hold the Foundation for Environmental Education’s Blue Flag, awarded to beaches that meet strict water quality criteria. Seeking such recognition is a move supported by the United Nations Development Program as part of a larger drive to improve Albania’s image, increase the country’s chances of gaining access into the European Union, and it will do the country’s growing tourism industry no harm either.

The blue flag is a long way off, Albania has a lot of work to do, firstly to address the growing problem of waste management in the country. A large part of the blue flag program is to generate community awareness and pride in their locality, Lauren Bohatka, the UNDP’s eco-tourism program manager said:

“You get the community involved to work together on protecting the environment, and from that you can spearhead other activities.” A national certification body is also to be set up because: “There has to be someone championing the project, pushing it forward and taking responsibility, and others will follow,” Bothaka said.

Currently there is no community spirit, it died with communism. The communist regimes imposed community cleaning operations and now similar schemes are frowned upon because they remind people of the schemes imposed by the totalitarian communist regime. In the words of another UNDP representative, project coordinator Dasara Dizdari:

“Now everyone just takes care of his own little apartment or area without looking at the larger picture,” Dizdari said, noting that the issue is part of a broader waste management problem in the country. “Everyone is building his own house and fixing everything individually without thinking of an entire system. Some houses by the coast have their own sewage going directly to the sea.”

It is hoped the Blue Flag aspirations will remedy the situation, Dizdari added: “The best thing is that it stirs up community pride; after the first community does it, others will want to do the same, and it will start a little competition. Once communities get this standing, they don’t want to let it go, and hopefully it will also inspire other entrepreneurial activities.”

Albania is becoming one of the world’s hottest emerging markets. Currently coastal properties and those in the prime areas of Tirana are selling like hot-cakes. Realistic estimations for rental yields are in the 5-7% bracket, but capital appreciation could jump to 15-20%, given the current surge in foreigners investing in property and growing tourism, which could grow even further in light of this new scheme. And the cycle begins, tourism growth attracts more investors, holiday spends increase growth in the economy and the cycle continues.

Given the current low price of property in Albania, the country is certainly worth consideration for overseas property investors.