Environmental research

Tourism development can positively influence the labor market situation in Albania even in the deep countryside. Whereas some sorts of individual tourism from central European countries, caravanning, motorcycling, car tourism and others show remarkable development on their own, the important section of bicycle tourism shows some unjustified lagging behind. The causes for this deficit development lie partly in the lack of suitable infrastructure for cycle riding in Albania, but probably more in the ostensible inaccessibility of certain key areas by bicycle due to the cramped traffic situation and the dangerous driving in those areas. Although insiders know that these dangerous areas can be bypassed if one disposes of the appropriate advice for circumnavigation, much reputation damage had been done by unknowing cycle tourists and even by experienced explorers from cyclist s organizations who were unable to cope with the apparent situation. This project will focus on the corridor between Montenegro s capital Podgorica, by-passing Lake Shkodra, stretching to Albania s capital Tirana with particular emphasis on access to the greater Tirana area covering Kruja, the airport access and the town center. Activities will consist in: Detection and to exploration of sideways usable for cyclists parallel to the dangerous trunk roads and cramped access roads in selected, particularly accident-prone areas; Description in detail their state and to define their course by appropriate and timely technical means (GPS); Supply of information about the results to the interested tourists circles of Central Europe; Provide advice for local authorities on tracks that are best suited for rehabilitation using eventual funds of public or donor origin;

Albania