The investment package includes several main pillars: Improvement and rehabilitation of existing roads and creation of new connections between mountainous areas. Development of the water supply and sewage system, with a focus on wastewater management. Interventions in the urban infrastructure of tourist areas to increase the reception capacity.
A new development project worth around 100 million euros is entering the planning phase to change the way northern Albania functions and connects with the rest of the country. Called the “Gateway to the Alps”, this investment aims to create an integrated development corridor that brings together infrastructure, tourism and environmental protection in a single strategy. The project is expected to be financed through a collaboration between the Albanian Government and the European Investment Bank, positioning it as one of the most important interventions of the decade for mountainous areas.
A NEW APPROACH TO THE NORTH
Unlike traditional infrastructure projects, the “Gateway to the Alps” is not limited to road construction. The plan aims for a broad territorial intervention, where each component is linked to the other to create long-term functionality. At its center lies the idea of connecting the Albanian Alps with the Adriatic coast through a more efficient transport network, reducing the seasonal isolation that has historically characterized the northern areas.
The investment package includes several main pillars: Improvement and rehabilitation of existing roads and creation of new connections between mountainous areas. Development of the water supply and sewage system, with a focus on wastewater management. Interventions in the urban infrastructure of tourist areas to increase the reception capacity. Restoration of cultural and historical heritage sites. Protection of sensitive natural areas, with a ban on interventions that damage ecosystems. This combination aims to create a development model where infrastructure and tourism go hand in hand with nature conservation.
FOCUS ON MOUNTAIN TOURISM AND LOCAL ECONOMY
One of the main objectives of the project is to transform the north into a year-round tourist destination, moving from a seasonal model to a more sustainable economy. The Albanian Alps, known for their natural potential, are expected to be more closely connected to the national and Regional tourism network, increasing visitor flows and opening up new opportunities for local businesses. In this context, the involvement of private investment and the diaspora is also expected to be encouraged, as part of a broader economic ecosystem.
A PROJECT WITH A TERRITORIAL APPROACH
“Gateway to the Alps” is conceived as an integrated territorial intervention, where development is not seen as fragmented by sector, but as a connected system. This approach aims to address one of the main challenges of the north: the lack of sustainable and coordinated access between infrastructure, public services and economic development. If implemented as planned, the project is expected to have a direct impact on the growth of mountain tourism, the improvement of living conditions in rural areas and the creation of a more diversified economy in the north. In the long term, “Gateway to the Alps” aims to rewrite the development map of the Albanian north, turning it from a fragmented area into an economically and touristically integrated space with the rest of the country and the Region.