As part of the cooperation initiative “Developing Community Resources through the Enhancement of Cultural and Natural Heritage,” AICS Tirana supported the participation of an Albanian delegation in the 2026 Mediterranean Exchange of Archaeological Tourism (BMTA) in Paestum, enabling Albania to take part, for the second consecutive year, in one of the leading international events dedicated to archaeological heritage and cultural tourism.
The initiative aims to support Albanian institutions in safeguarding cultural heritage by promoting the conservation and enhancement of archaeological sites and traditional villages as drivers of sustainable socioeconomic development. In particular, the intervention focuses on improving the usability and accessibility of the Antigonea Archaeological Park and enhancing the historic village of Bënjë, in the Përmet area, while strengthening the management and operational capacities of the institutions responsible for cultural heritage protection.
Participation in the BMTA thus provided an important opportunity to showcase Albania’s cultural and archaeological heritage, its tourism potential, and the role of international cooperation in the sustainable development of local areas, fostering dialogue among institutions, experts and sector stakeholders.
The delegation of the Albanian Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport included Deputy Ministers Lira Pipa and Marinela Prifti, together with representatives of Albanian institutions responsible for cultural heritage.
Antigonea and Bylis Take Centre Stage in Paestum
At the exhibition space dedicated to Albania, visitors and international tourism professionals were introduced to some of the country’s most representative archaeological heritage sites.
Particular attention was also devoted to the Archaeological Parks of Antigonea and Bylis, highlighting their potential for cultural tourism, local development and the creation of new tourism destinations.
The Antigonea experience directly reflects the approach promoted by AICS Tirana, which combines the conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage with institutional capacity building, community engagement and the creation of economic opportunities linked to cultural heritage.
From Institutional Vision to Action: Two Panels on Heritage and Cooperation
Albania’s presence at the BMTA was further enriched by participation in two dedicated sessions, one institutional and one technical, which provided complementary perspectives on the role of cooperation in protecting and enhancing cultural heritage.
On 30 October, the institutional panel, “Cultural Heritage and Cooperation: Partnerships for Shared Development in the Framework of the Pact for the Mediterranean,” brought together representatives from Italy, the European Union and partner countries, placing cultural heritage within the broader framework of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation.
The discussion focused on the relationship between heritage protection and enhancement, sustainable tourism and local development, as well as on strengthening skills and institutions, community participation, and the contribution of universities, civil society and economic stakeholders. Particular attention was also devoted to ensuring the continuity and sustainability of interventions.
The panel opened with institutional remarks by Edmondo Cirielli, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Marco Riccardo Rusconi, Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.
During the discussion, Albanian Deputy Ministers Lira Pipa and Marinela Prifti presented Albania’s experience and priorities in the protection, management and promotion of cultural heritage, highlighting its role as a resource for economic development, sustainable tourism and regional cooperation.
Representatives of the Italian Ministry of Culture, the European Commission, the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority in Jordan, and the Grand Egyptian Museum also contributed to the discussion.
Skills, Communities and Innovation for Sustainable Tourism
On 31 October, the discussion continued at the technical level with the panel “Heritage in Action within the Pact for the Mediterranean: Skills, Communities and Innovation for Sustainable Tourism,” conceived as an operational follow-up to the institutional discussion held the previous day.
Drawing on experiences from AICS programmes, the panel explored potential synergies among conservation and restoration, specialised training, research, local capacity building, sustainable tourism and community participation.
The discussion also addressed the development of services and economic activities linked to cultural heritage, highlighting an approach that combines the protection and enhancement of cultural assets with skills development, local stakeholder engagement and the creation of sustainable development opportunities for communities.
In this context, the initiatives promoted by AICS in Albania, including the work in Antigonea and Bënjë, provide concrete examples of an approach that goes beyond the physical conservation of sites, integrating heritage protection, institutional capacity building, partnerships with universities and research centres, community engagement and the creation of heritage-based economic opportunities.
Italian-Albanian Cooperation for Heritage and Local Development
Participation in BMTA 2026 reaffirms the value of cooperation between Italy and Albania in the field of cultural heritage as a means of combining the protection and enhancement of archaeological sites with capacity building, sustainable tourism and local development.
By supporting the participation of the Albanian delegation, promoting the country’s archaeological heritage, and fostering institutional and technical dialogue through the two panels, AICS Tirana contributed to strengthening cooperation among institutions, local communities and international partners, promoting cultural heritage not only as an asset to be protected, but also as a resource for communities and for sustainable and inclusive development.
The initiative forms part of AICS Tirana’s broader commitment to the cultural sector in Albania, which includes technical and scientific assistance for the protection and enhancement of the cultural heritage of Antigonea and Bënjë, as well as initiatives aimed at developing local resources and sustainable tourism in the archaeological area of Bylis and Klos.
