Circular Tourism Albania reaches its halfway point – and the journey continues!
After 18 months, Circular Tourism Albania has reached the halfway point of our journey. We have already covered significant ground, from the study visits to France and Germany to the first steps towards creating a training programme for tourism professionals and SMEs. But the road ahead is still long — and we are only at the beginning of turning our ideas into practical learning opportunities for the Albanian tourism sector.
The road so far
We began our journey in January 2025 with the kick-off meeting in Leipzig. This first phase was dedicated to exploring the needs of the Albanian tourism sector and vocational education and training (VET), while shaping the project results to create the greatest possible impact.
This work led to two important outcomes: the document “Mapping of Key Circular Economy Challenges” for Albanian VET providers and SMEs, and the Best Practice Collection featuring inspiring examples from Germany, France, and Spain. Both resources are available in the Results section of our website.
Learning from the way: Study visits in France and Germany
The second phase of the project brought the ideas into practice. Two groups of Albanian educators and SME representatives set out on study visits to France and Germany, where they had the opportunity to see how circular economy principles can be applied in different tourism and business contexts.
In Germany, participants travelled to the Nuremberg–Erlangen region and spent two and a half days exploring sustainability strategies in the tourism and education sectors. A diverse programme provided valuable insights, practical examples, and inspiration for the future of the Albanian tourism sector.
In France, the group visited the Lille region to discover hands-on examples of circular economy and sustainable consumption in tourism and hospitality. Visits to Hopen Source Cantina and Tissel Factory highlighted how organisations can integrate zero-waste approaches, reuse practices, and responsible production models into their everyday activities.
What lies ahead?
The next stage of our journey focuses on developing the training programme. We have designed an online learning format with six modules covering topics from reducing environmental footprints to improving communication around sustainability.
The next stop will be an on-site training in Spain, where tourism professionals from Albania will take part in workshops and site visits. This will be complemented by webinars and events in Albania, creating more opportunities to exchange knowledge and strengthen the network.
The journey is far from over — and we would be happy to have you join us along the way. Get in touch with the project partners and follow our updates on Facebook and Instagram to stay connected.