ASSESSMENT STUDY OF FOREST ECOSYSTEMS FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN KUKES REGION

This assessment study provides the basic information needed to formulate the strategic recommendations that will be presented in the tourism development plan. A team of consultants from different fields of expertise was appointed to complete this study, comprising specialists in the following areas: Tourism development; Environmental protection; Forest management; Culture and arts; Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) development. The study concluded that the Kukes Region has sufficient strong assets to attract tourists, especially its outstanding natural resources of mountains peaks, alpine pastures, deep valleys and gorges, and spectacular lakes and rivers. However, tourism is not yet well developed. It is an emerging industry in the Valbona Valley where several guesthouses have opened and in Kukes City as the capital of the region which has a number of hotels, mostly catering to the business community. The environment of the Kukes Region is currently seriously threatened, damaged by pollution, neglect and vandalism which, if not checked, could become irreversible thus destroying the very assets that tourists are attracted to in the Kukes Region. The assessment study concludes with the analysis of the Kukes Region’s Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats for the development of tourism and for the support and promotion of the environment, setting out the basis for the formulation of the tourism and environment promotion strategy.