The Eco-museum of Himara inaugurated on March 24 is one of the most special in Albania.

With the participation of Himara municipality, the Albanian Development Fund,  The Prefect of Vlora Region,, as well as various personalities, some of whom were also online. Representatives of the ADF explained the Eco-Museum model developed and then made a Tour inside the eco-museum building, which is divided into two floors.

Its concept is to have not only the format of a museum but also an environment where children, young people, and other stakeholders can be trained in various fields, especially on tourism and ICT.

The Co.Co.Tour project aims to ensure the smart, inclusive, and sustainable development of coastal communities through the development of a cross-border eco-museum model focused on community tourism. The model of cooperation will strengthen the cross-border governance of the territories involved, by exchanging approaches, strategies, and common management standards, enabling the identification, preservation of heritage, and development of a tourist offer in the community based on - Diversification, the extension of the tourist season (not just quarterly); - Inclusion (young people, foreigners, people with disabilities, etc.); - Quality and accessibility of services.

Eco-museum enables communities to preserve valuable objects, natural resources, and cultural practices, where they exist, by increasing their visibility and the contributions they make to community development activities. The implementation of the Co.Co.Tour project in the Municipality of Himara is presented as a participatory process of the community of this area for the safeguarding, enhancing, and management of local maritime and coastal cultural heritage, enabling sustainable social, environmental, and economic growth.

The main products that the project will realize:

- A cross-border network and model for eco-museums;

- Joint community tourism package;

- ICT tools for smart heritage use;

- Equipping and renovating 3 eco-museum spaces in Himara, Tricase, and Herceg Novi.

The Albanian Development Fund is implementing this project in cooperation with the partners:

1. Municipality of Himara (Albania)

2. The organization "Magna Grecia Mare" (Italy)

3.Municipality of Tricase (Italy)

4. Local Agency for Democracy (Montenegro)

5. Municipality of Herceg Novi (Montenegro)

While the associated partner is the National Agency of Protected Areas (Albania).

Article in Albanian Language: https://vloranews.al/lajme/eshte-peruruar-ne-qytezen-e-himares-eco-muzeu-i-cili-eshte-nder-me-te-vecantet-ne-shqiperi/

This project is co-financed by the European Union within the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II), Interreg IPA Cross-Border Cooperation program Italy - Albania - Montenegro.