The topic “Smart Cultural Tourism as a Promoter of Sustainable Development in Albania” was presented at the International Conference on Cultural Tourism in Europe titled “Relaunching European Tourism through Cultural Heritage & Digitalization”, held in Krk/Rijeka, Croatia. The event was organized by the European Cultural Tourism Network (ECTN), in cooperation with the European Travel Commission (ETC), European Regions for Competitive and Sustainable Tourism (NECSTouR), and with the support of Interpret Europe, ReInHerit, Horizon 2020, and the EAA. The presentation, delivered by Mrs. Anisa Hykaj, IETT coordinator, provided an overview of the tourism landscape in Albania—highlighting approaches, challenges, problems, and achievements. A key part of the presentation focused on numerous projects being implemented in Albania within the framework of ‘smart tourism’, including digitalization initiatives, cross-border collaborations, and networking efforts. These projects involve state institutions, NGOs, and various organizations.
Within this context, IETT’s own projects were introduced to the audience, generating considerable interest and engagement. The presentation was followed by a fruitful question-and-answer session. In its participation, IETT emphasized the promotion of Albania and the country’s rich, diverse, and largely untapped potential for both traditional and smart tourism development.
During the conference, the ECTN Awards were also presented, recognizing cultural tourism destinations that have achieved notable results in enhancing visitor experiences while preserving traditions and involving local host communities. The conference also included several study visits to cultural and heritage sites in Krk and Rijeka.
