Solo female travel takes off in Albania
From a cultural visit to Apollonia to a fishing experience, with a desire for exploration and independence, a group of girls became part of a "solo female travelers" tourist package, which is trying to become a new trend in Albania, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.
This is a completely different hike, the whole purpose of which is to further empower Albanian women. The United Nations in Albania aims to bring gender tourism, and this through the women's journey on the trails of Llogara.
Gentiana Susaj- visitor: I like to travel, but it's not common to travel alone, I like it more in a group. However, when I lived abroad, it was quite well known abroad. Here there was a bit of a challenge with security, but it has changed.
Albiona Muçoimaj - tour guide: Women and girls traveling alone is something very beautiful to me and should be promoted because the market needs more such packages that focus on women, and why not later make these part of normality.
Inspired by foreign tourists who have been visiting our country alone for years and feel welcome, more and more Albanian girls are taking the courage to travel alone. This change is highlighted by Esteri, who has been living in Albania from the Netherlands for eight years.
Ester Klaassen- tourist: I often travel alone. Every day in the mountains is a miracle. I try to go somewhere two or three times a month to enjoy the nature of Albania. It's interesting that when people see me, they ask me: Why are you alone? There is a kind of freedom when you travel alone.
- What was once viewed with astonishment is today becoming a new way of relaxing?
Micheer – tourist: What impressed me the most, traveling from north to south and from east to west of Albania, is the diversity of things you can experience. But the common denominator everywhere is the people. Albanians are loving, welcoming and very friendly. Wherever you go, they welcome you with a smile.
- Is it safe to travel alone?
It's always a little risky to travel alone, especially as a woman, anywhere in the world. But in Albania, I usually feel pretty safe. Even when people don't speak English, they still try to help with all their heart.
And after passing through the Llogara forest, we reached the highest point of the Deep Pass, which goes up to 1250 m in altitude, and where we shared a fantastic experience with Albanian and foreign women and girls who we didn't know each other before, but we managed to enjoy this impressive view of the Ionian Sea.
Julinda: It's a very nice experience because you meet new people and spend time with yourself... when I tell my parents that I'm going somewhere with people I don't know, at first they think it's strange: How are you going to go?! They haven't experienced these things... while in terms of society, more and more girls are wanting to travel alone!
