Ecotourism Opportunities and Challenges in Butrint, Albania, a Unique UNESCO and Ramsar Site

Butrint National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999 and a Ramsar site since 2003, presents significant ecotourism potential due to its unique combination of geographical position, landscape, biodiversity, and rich cultural heritage. The park is the most visited by foreign tourists in Albania, with opportunities for year-round visitation through activities like birdwatching, walking trails, biking, and scuba-diving. However, uncontrolled human activities such as illegal urbanization, wetland reclamation, mining, irrational marine aquaculture, hunting, excessive grazing, and fires pose substantial threats to these ecotourism opportunities. The study recommends strategies to mitigate these challenges and maximize the park's potential for sustainable ecotourism development.

Bego, F., & Malltezi, J. (2011). Ecotourism Opportunities and Challenges in Butrint, Albania, a Unique UNESCO and Ramsar Site. Journal of Coastal Research, 61, 150–157. https://doi.org/10.2112/si61-001.9