In Korçë, another building will be restored. It will serve as the district’s protected area administration and as a multi-purpose community center.
Mirela Kumbaro, Minister of Tourism and Environment, attended the event and presented the architectural restoration and urban regeneration project for the new workspace of the Regional Protected Areas Administration in Korçë.
“The district of Korçë has natural and cultural beauty. Together with the Municipality of Korçë, we discovered several long-abandoned and unused buildings. The most effective way to make them usable was the Creativity Initiative, which aims to revitalize historic sites through innovative architecture. We decided to revitalize the building known in Korçë as the former Property Registration Office, not only as office space for the Regional Administration of Protected Areas but as a new urban space for the city and district of Korçë. This space will serve as an educational destination for children and youth, a tourist hub showcasing the district’s offerings, and a venue for events,” said Kumbaro.
This project focuses on “Cultural and Creative Industries.” It is part of the activities of the Ministry of Tourism and Environment under the EU Interreg IPA program.
Kumbaro also highlighted the rehabilitation of the Drilon-Tushemisht Nature Park and the creation of a comprehensive map of ecotourism attractions in the Korçë district.
“This is not the first project of this kind in Korçë. A few months ago, we highlighted the successful work in the Tushemisht-Drilon Park, where we not only upgraded the natural park but also initiated the development of a new visitor center dedicated to the Pogradec area and its UNESCO-listed lake. These efforts give us even more reasons to visit Korçë and introduce the district to the younger generations,” Kumbaro added.
The Mayor of Korçë, Sotiraq Filo, said that this center will serve the entire city.
“This center will include elements for awareness and education of children, as well as a museum where visitors can learn about the potential of protected areas. It will be another attraction for Korçë. Once this project is completed, we intend to launch another project to revitalize the former pioneer’s house,” Filo said.
Between January and October 2024, 4.9 million visitors explored protected areas across Albania, a 20% increase compared to the previous year, demonstrating the growing interest in natural attractions and year-round tourism opportunities.