The story of Elkierd Deliu, the Albanian tour guide who promotes his home village

"I could work in Europe but decided to return to my homeland," Elkierd explains. "I am an only child and wanted to be closer to my family while living and working in Albania. I felt a strong desire to contribute to my community."

Elkierd was born in Mollagjesh, a village near the picturesque Funari Lakes in Elbasan. His parents are teachers who instilled in him a deep appreciation for his homeland, its traditions, culture, and the beauty of nature, encouraging him to take pride in his roots.

"The natural beauty of this area is breathtaking," Elkierd says. "From the caves to the lakes, everything here is truly spectacular. My village is only 4 km from Tirana, but no direct road connection exists. To reach us from Tirana, one must drive over 50 km."

Despite the geographical challenge, Elkierd has found a way to introduce the first tourists to his village.

The Pandemic

As countries closed their borders, tour guides found themselves without work. In his village home, Elkierd began contemplating his options. Without consulting his parents, he took the initiative to list his residence on Airbnb and started making it more accommodating for potential tourists.

"When I received my first booking for the house, I couldn't believe it. My village was distant from Elbasan, and the road wasn't in great condition. I hadn't informed my parents, so I hesitated to confirm it," Elkierd recalls his initial experiences.

"A few months later, I received a second reservation from three Czech tourists. This time, I confirmed their booking and informed my parents. Initially, they were concerned, as they didn't feel prepared to host tourists. However, when the first tourists arrived, despite their initial skepticism about this remote region, they were enchanted by our warm hospitality and, especially, our traditional cuisine," Elkierd fondly remembers.

Positive reviews from those first tourists encouraged others to visit. Elkierd's parents became more accustomed to hosting guests. In time, other families in the village expressed interest in doing the same despite their reservations due to the challenging road conditions.

The big project

Right after the pandemic, some excellent news emerged. An EU-funded cross-border project named "Krusevo and Elbasan – Acknowledged Tourism Cross-Border Destination" commenced in December 2021, with a specific focus on the development of the Funari region. Elkierd recalls, "I first learned about this project during my initial meetings with Elbasan's tourism stakeholders, and I couldn't wait to be a part of it."

This project encompasses several key components, including establishing a new tourist information center in Funar, which has already been constructed, creating a Paragliding center, and developing multiple hiking trails. Elkierd volunteered to join the project team due to his extensive area knowledge and expertise in marking hiking trails. He diligently worked on maintaining three paths and takes pride in his contributions, saying, "One of these trails leads to a breathtaking cave and directly to my village."

Elkierd also actively participated in the project's subsequent phase, benefiting from training held in Krusevo, North Macedonia, where tourism businesses from both countries learned how to promote their destinations to various markets effectively. He explains, "The training in Krusevo taught me valuable skills, such as promoting my guesthouse on platforms beyond Airbnb, creating a presence on Google Business and Google Maps, and utilizing social media for effective promotion."

Today, Elkierd is a co-owner of a tour operator company in Tirana, specializing in providing tours and package holidays primarily tailored to the French market. He has ambitious plans to contribute to the overall development of the entire area, ensuring that everyone can reap the benefits of tourism. He shares, "I am currently working on constructing numerous tourist packages to establish a sustainable tourism network in the Funari region. Additionally, I'm assisting another guesthouse in expanding its capacity and promoting it on various online sales platforms."

Tourists visiting this area will no longer merely come to rest but will have the opportunity to engage in various activities, such as hiking on the newly developed trails, strolling around the Funari lakes, exploring caves, and experiencing thrilling paragliding adventures.

Elkierd has realized that even a remote area with challenging road conditions can attract tourism and provide a sustainable income for its residents. He asserts, "Every region in Albania deserves development," as he passionately pursues his dream. Elkierd envisions a future where Funari and his village will be bustling with tourists, bringing prosperity to the region