Tourism in Albania: Competing in the Mediterranean Region

VJOLLCA BAKIU* - TOM BAUM**
Marketing-Tourism Department
University of Strathclyde

ABSTRACT
Tourism as an economic activity in Albania, despite some of the best natural and cultural resources in the region, has never had the opportunity to develop in the modern era of mass travel. Albania's tourism potential was recognised early but post war conditions did not permit development of infrastructure or market awareness in the same way as occurred elsewhere in the region, notably in Greece and Yugoslavia. Existing under self-imposed exile from the mainstream of European economic and political development until the early 1990s, the Albanian model under socialism selected and constrained both the number and activities of foreign visitors to the country as a matter of ideological policy. This paper examines the development of Albanian tourism policy since 1990 and explores the direction that the country can take in order to compete effectively with other southern European destinations.

Keywords: Tourism development; Albania; Reconstruction; Mediterranean region.


Tourism Policy Challenges in a Devolved State: The Case of Scotland

WILLIAM R. KERR* - ROY C. WOOD**
*Court, Turnberry
**University of Strathclyde

ABSTRACT
Scotland is the latest in a long list of regions and states to achieve some measure of autonomy from central government. In Scotland a devolved Parliament and Government came into being on 1 July 1999 responsible for most matters of domestic policy, including tourism. Tourism in Scotland currently faces significant challenges. There is little industry growth, and both the Scottish tourism product and mechanisms for the public administration of tourism have recently been identified as possessing severe limitations. As consequence of this is that the new Scottish Executive (Government) has ordered a review of tourism and intends to construct a new industry strategic plan by the end of 1999. This paper explores the circumstances that have led to concern about the future of tourism in Scotland and in so doing provides insight into the policy processes and administrative arrangements germane to public administration of tourism in a newly devolved state.

Keywords: Tourism, Hospitality, Public Policy, Government, Scotland.

An Investigation of the Relationship Between Tourism Impacts and Host Communities' Characteristics

YOOSHIK YOON* - ROY C. WOOD** - JOSEPH S. CHEN***
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

ABSTRACT
This study attempts to identify what the community characteristics affect residents' perceptions of tourism development. To address the above objective, two research questions were developed: (1) how do host community residents perceive and categorize the impacts of tourism development? and (2) are there any relationships between the host community's characteristics, and perception and categorization of tourism impacts? Three hundred sixteen questionnaires obtained from a mail survey of Virginian residents living in an urban area were analyzed. Five impact factors are first identified through a factor analysis: economic benefits, social costs, cultural enrichment, environmental deterioration, and physical enhancement. Then, from a series of regression analyses, seven out of ten community characteristics are found to affect the perceived tourism impacts. Implications and suggestions are presented in the conclusion.

Keywords: Perceived tourism impacts, impact determinants.

The Role of Quality Tourism and Craft SMEs in Rural Development: Evidence From the Republic of Ireland

MARY E. CAWLEY* - SHEILA M. GAFFEY** - DESMOND A. GILLMOR***
*National University of Ireland
**National University of Ireland
***Trinity College Dublin

ABSTRACT
Niche industries such as handcrafts production and rural tourism services, particularly those which may be defined as 'quality', are being assigned increased importance in national and EU rural development policies. Yet relatively little attention has been devoted to quality enterprises in the research literature to date. This paper reviews recent evidence relating to the formation and growth of 99 small and medium-size quality tourism and handcrafts enterprises in two regions in Western Ireland. The characteristics of the entrepreneurs, features of the businesses and the role of support agencies are discussed in the context of the production and marketing of quality products and services. Businesses are clustered on the basis of key actions and outcomes and similarities and contrasts between regions and industrial sectors are discussed.

Keywords: Quality SMEs; Tourism enterprises; Handcrafts; Rural development; Republic of Ireland.