Granada, Spain, 24–26 October 2019
The 12th Conference of the European Cultural Tourism Network (ECTN) was held in Granada, Spain, from 24 to 26 October 2019, within the framework of the CHRISTA Interreg Europe project, under the main theme: “Culture and Heritage for Responsible, Innovative and Sustainable Tourism Actions,” co-organized with the Granada Provincial Council.
The aim of this conference was to discuss the latest trends in the fields of culture, heritage, and tourism, to identify key challenges, risks, and opportunities for the development of sustainable and responsible tourism linked to cultural and heritage assets, and to suggest practical steps for the development and promotion of cultural tourism products.
Participants in the conference included representatives from various governmental institutions and NGOs from European countries such as England, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Latvia, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, among others.
The Institute of Education, Heritage and Tourism (IETT) participated in this conference with the presentation entitled: “Intangible (Spiritual) Heritage in Albania – The Importance of its Preservation and Presentation as a Key Point for Tourism Development,” delivered by IETT’s Coordinator, Ms. Anisa Hykaj.
The presentation focused on showcasing some values of Albania’s intangible heritage, part of UNESCO’s World Heritage, such as the Iso-Polyphony, the Archaeological Park of Butrint, the historic cities of Gjirokastër and Berat, and recently, Lake Pogradec. Interesting data were also presented about the archaeological zone of Maliq, the history of Rozafa Castle, the Epic of the Highland Warriors, among others. Special importance was given to the Tropoja Dance, registered to become part of UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Furthermore, a brief historical overview of the “Xhubleta,” the over 4000-year-old Albanian traditional dress, was carefully presented, discussing the necessary measures for its preservation and transmission to future generations.
Albania’s participation through IETT marked a step forward in establishing collaborative links with various European countries.
In discussions with Mr. Manos Vougioukas, Secretary General of ECTN, IETT’s Coordinator reached an agreement for the official membership of IETT in the European Cultural Tourism Network (ECTN), which is expected to be formally signed in the spring of 2020. It was also agreed in principle to organize this conference in 2022 in one of Albania’s cultural cities.
