Changes in the Tourism of Vlora Region: A Statistical Data Analysis for the Period 2015–2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21455061Keywords:
tourism, Vlora Region, TALC, regional development, sustainable tourism.Abstract
This paper analyzes the dynamics of tourism development in the Vlora Region over the period 2015–2025, within the theoretical framework of Butler's Tourism Area Life Cycle (TALC) model (1980, 2006). The study draws on a systematic review of Albanian and international academic literature on tourism in Albania, and in Vlora specifically, together with official statistical data from the Institute of Statistics (INSTAT), the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, and local institutions. Using a mixed-method desk-research approach, the paper identifies the main trends in accommodation capacity, Vlora's relative attractiveness as a destination, length of stay, and supporting infrastructure. The results show that Vlora Region has moved from an “exploration–involvement” phase toward a “development–consolidation” phase in TALC terminology, temporarily interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and accompanied by environmental and institutional risks (e.g., pressure on the Narta Lagoon, a RAMSAR-designated wetland). The paper concludes with a critical discussion and policy recommendations grounded in sustainable tourism principles.
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