To be ashamed of your country

It says: Imer Mushkolaj

A prime minister sharing every morning pictures of Albania from the air -- a government inviting the world to visit the country. Albania has decided to sell itself as a destination. Edi Rama may be criticised for many things, but no one can deny the fact that he promotes Albania every day in any possible form, at any possible opportunity. He has realized that tourism does not grow with expensive spots but with feelings, personal involvement, enthusiastically viewing every local citizen and foreigner.

Now, let's go back to Kosovo. How many times have you seen President Vjosa Osman promoting any Kosovo tourist attractions? Rarely. Has Prime Minister Albin Kurti ever made any posts on Rugova's beauty, Sharr Lakes, Prizren's historic heritage, or Karadaku's magnificent landscapes? The answer is simple - no. Even the ministers responsible for tourism do not make serious efforts to show the world that Kosovo exists even as a place to rest, not just as a topic for negotiations.

This disregard for leaders in promoting tourism is not just negligence. It's thinking. In the minds of many Kosovo politicians, tourism is still viewed as something peripheral, as a “luks” that happens elsewhere. Meanwhile, the more developed countries, including Albania, view tourism as a powerful engine of the economy. And they're right.

Kosovo has many countries that can become cards for tourists: The tree with Rugova's Grizzard is breathless, Prizren with history, architecture and festivals, Brezovica... Kosovo has castles, has mountains, lakes, rich gastronomies, there are hospitality that are not bought with money. None of this, however, is sold in an organized and stable manner.

Instead, each year the state allocates some money for a fair in any European city, print some boring brochures, and then calls it “Tourism strategy”. Meanwhile, visitors coming to Kosovo stop here mostly by chance those who remain impressed by the country do not owe the state thanks, but people who look forward to it with love, nature speaking for themselves and any individual initiative promoting Kosovo on social networks.

Currently festival “Sunny Hill” for several days makes Kosovo the focus of international attention. With world stars performing in Pristina, with hundreds of tourists coming from abroad with packed hotels and cafes, this is the best example of what it means to place the country on the world's cultural and tourist map. But this success is not the product of any state strategy but of the commitment of a single family. Instead of supporting him with vision, the State often behaves indifferently, if not cold.

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The difference with Albania is profound. Edi Rama has made promotion of tourism a national cause. He has decided that Albania will be on the world's radar. And he made it.

Kosovo, on the other hand, acts like there's nothing to tell. The president travels everywhere, but doesn't bring tourists. The prime minister speaks of war while not inviting anyone to discover the beauty of the country. Ministers walk the world, but they don't bring anyone to their place.

Can this situation change? Yeah. But it takes will. The leaders must realize that tourism is not just the work of tourist operators. It's a state image. It's an economy. It's diplomacy. It's pride. It's the best way to show yourself beyond the news about political blockades, verbal clashes and interparty conflicts.

Kosovo needs a new narrator, not only to feel better about itself, but to win the country it deserves on the Balkan tourist map. And that starts with heads of state. They should not fear to “see the place as beautiful. Because it is. As long as they do not keep silent as if they have never seen him. If you don't promote your own country, don't wait for others to do it.