SECreTour Family in Albania - where heritage meets the future of tourism

15.05.2026Sparks

From April 26–29, the SECreTour consortium gathered in the Upper Vjosa Valley in Albania for our 3rd meeting and a hands-on workshop on Fair, Creative and Sustainable (FaCS) Tourism.

The workshop, designed by CeRPHAAL, unfolded across three interactive sessions: (1) Inclusive Tourism: breaking barriers to long-term community involvement and empowering Heritage Communities, (2) Innovative Tourism Solutions: designing place-based, community-centred approaches that support ecosystem restoration and (3) Policy Strategies: translating ideas into concrete recommendations for FaCS tourism in rural areas. Working in groups, participants generated rich insights captured in a purpose-built digital tool developed by the EACHTRA team.

But the real highlight? Getting out into the field. We walked a section of the Vlach transhumance route - a cultural hiking itinerary developed within the SECreTour project - and explored the historic town of Përmet, ending with local delicacies and a taste of Albanian hospitality.

This is what SECreTour is about: not just research, but genuine connection with heritage communities and landscapes at the heart of our work.

More info about the project: secretourproject.eu

#SECreTour #HorizonEurope #SustainableTourism #FaCSTourism #CulturalHeritage #RuralTourism #Albania #VjosaValley