“Everyone works and nobody is rich”- The story of the British writer for Albania

Tourism prior to the years of '{0}'90s is not considered a priority branch for the economy. However, there was a special infrastructure that was set up for tourist activity.

At that time, foreigners could not come to Albania individually but only through the organisation of groups from agencies that had agreements with the state-owned Albturist company.

In the 1980 ' s, tourists from Great Britain also came to Albania, despite the two countries having no friendly diplomatic relations. To that end, a British tourist company had entered an agreement with Albturists and each year brought to Albania at least 10 tour groups.

In 1982 the group of British tourists in Albania joined Philip Ward, a travel writer who had lived in the 1960 ' s in Libya to follow his experiences in Egypt, Malta, and Indonesia.

It has published a series of travel books for Lebanon, Iran, Cyprus, Ireland and so on. And in fact, a year after holidays in Albania, in 1983, it would publish a 166 - page book in London that essentially constitutes one of Albania's first foreign tourist guideships since World War II.

In its publication, Ward shows a keen observer of the reality of those years in Albania, but enriching it with numerous information of historical and cultural character in order to be a complete guide.

In the introduction to the guida and its confession, Ward highlights the fact that published information is balanced and that there is no other purpose hidden in this publication, except informing readers and interested ones of a country like Albania named by them as Europe's “Tibet” because of its refusal to open up to foreign tourists.

The past “in Albania may be considered more of an adventure than a vacation... This guide was drafted by a Briton who has no intention of either criticizing or supporting. It is written with an independent mind, by one who wants to look beyond the Adriatic curtain” is written in the foreword to the 1983 publication.

Personal impressions: Albania and fears of hidden “gents” among tourists

The author, among other things, defines Albania as “a state where nobody is unemployed and nobody is rich”. He claims that road accidents are virtually unknown because there are so few vehicles and the fact that no one can own a car in private and that there are many beautiful beaches that cannot be overcrowd because of the lack of hotels.

I visited Albania in the May-June 1982 period as an anonymous member of an ordinary tour, and I was given no privilege of any kind and all paid myself without any favors. The company “Regent Holiday UK” offers the same ease and if you have any particular interest you should look forward to the agency in order for Albturists to organise a visit to school or factories, artist studios or agricultural co-operatives.

Our group visited a textile factory, a kindergarten, a state farm in the centre and south of the country, and a public library, film screening, meeting with a judge and a meeting with a poet and editor-in-chief of DRIMA, the weekly cultural newspaper” writes Ward.

Among other things, Ward provides information on the experiences in which he positively values organisation, the environment that Albania has, the manner of hospitality, history, and yet it does not set aside certain reserves but that relate to the policy of time.

Albanian “Authorities are convinced that each group of tourists hides within him a secret CIA agent, KGB MI5 or British and Foreign Bible Society. The company “Regent” had warned us of Albania's fears.

American citizens are not allowed to enter, nor are employees employed as journalists.

No male with long hair or full beard would be allowed in the country. If authorities are not satisfied, hair could be cut by the barber on arrival.

There was nowhere to change money and it was forbidden to import money. Alburist's employee Flora welcomed us and asked us to obey the two bans: Not photographing military buildings, ports or bunkers and anyone in military uniform. In fact, I was instructed not to take pictures of anyone without prior permission from” he writes.

That way, starts what Ward considers an adventure, which he describes long in and detailed ways in each tour of Albania.

At the end of its publication, it also provides some useful information for those who want to visit Albania, starting with the way they can come to Albania, accommodation, favorite hotels, prices, exchange courses, and some behavior that needs to be cared for.

When should you come to Albania?

“Those who want to explore new locations for knowledge, beauty and pleasure may prefer spring (April-May) or autumn (October-November) to visit Albania. Atheists can enjoy a no Christmas period here, while those in search of a beach with pre-war prices can stay in Durres in June, July and August, with the passage of Saranda and Butrint as well. The mountains are to be visited from April to October” is recommended in the guida.

Missing airline air and option of “Pakistan Airlines” from Paris

The way a Briton had to visit Albania was through the land border from Yugoslavia to Shkodra. It would be a pleasure to have been able to fly directly to Tirana or sail from Corfu to Saranda. But until authorities allow free access to the country, including the individual visa, camping and camping, a permit to take personal cars and allow Mediterranean crossroads to stop at Durres, only to adjust the booking and organisation of “Regent Holidays”” is followed by instructions in the Guida.

As far as the airline is concerned about arriving in Albania, the author provides some findings and recommendations.

“Diplomatic relations between France and Albania are more friendly than those between Britain and Albania, so if you speak French you can prefer to travel on the Paris-Tirana hotline offered by “Pakistan International Airlines” and a direct Rome-Tirana flight once a week by Alitalia and Rome-Tiran-Bucharest from Tarom. There are also three direct flights a week from Tirana to Belgrade” followed.

Timeout and cost of vacation package in Albania. 18 bucks for a visit to the farm!

The British company operating with Albania in those years offered tours starting from April to January. The shortest tour was 10 days, and in 1982 the package for this length was ranging from 265 to 275 pounds.

Two summer tours are based on Durres and cost 280 pounds per 13 days and 305 pounds per 17 days. Of course, the most valuable are the two overall tours, which last for two weeks in June and September, and cost 350 pounds. A single room costs 2,70 pounds per night during the season and 23.50 pounds per night between July 28th and September 28,” was written in the guide.

The plants were designed by Albturist to, and the guide contains a list of offerings and prices. The tour of the pioneer camp in Durres cost 6 dollars while a visit to state farms cost $18. (whimpering below)

Hotels and restaurants that were valued as better and worse

Groups of British tourists visiting Albania were generally accommodated at the Tirana Hotel, or as it was otherwise known “15 floor”. The author highly appreciates the conditions this hotel put in place in the center of town provides that each room had baths and showers.

As a second alternative to the capital, the author has established the Dati Hotel, built by the Italians.

“In Durres you can be lucky and stay at the Adriatic Hotel, but during the summer peak it is common for groups to stay at Apollonia, Durres or Butrinti, which are one step down. Visitors usually estimate the Chajupin Hotel in Gjirokastra, Tomor in Berat and Butrinti in Saranda as a good level, and Rosafat at Shkodra, Scampa in Elbasan, Apollonia, in Fieri as less preferable but should be stressed that there is no other option” written in the report.

Foreign tourists were advised in this guide to be careful with what they threw into the trash can or what they left behind for the fact that “as you leave the room and exit, a systematic search is done in your room to ensure that you have not left anything”.

The menu and restaurant prices

Guida for foreign tourists also contained menus offering restaurants (Hotel Butrinti in Saranda 1982), weight in grams of food and their prices. (whimpering below)

Orders: Don't tip money, don't take religious books, spend all your money

The author advises those who want to visit Albania not to take along any religious books, such as the Bible or the Koran, for personal use since the country is an atheist, and this may bring not only their seizure but also immediate deportation. He also recommends carefulness with books and magazines that may be considered offensive by Albanian authorities.

On the long list of advice, women and girls are advised not to receive miniskirts or vests <x0 mural” because they may be required to change, while men and boys will not wear long hair and beards because they may be required to go to the barber.

“Do not try to import or export Albanian money. Any small money you have left in return can be spent on drinks, cigarettes, matches, or gifts in Shkodra. Large amounts of money must be exchanged in Tirana or Durres on the last day before departure. Some hotel stores accept only money and some foreign currency. Currently, 1 pound is equal to 12.5 dollars. Leave me a tip in the cash. You can buy a driver a cigarette or a book or socks to a courier” is also consulted in the guide.

Guida, which devoted special importance to the tourist potential that Albania offered, beaches, cultural monuments, rich history, and so on, was published twice again, in 1985 and 1987 in Britain and the United States.