As part of the project “EU for Economic Development – Tourism Local Economic Development with a Focus on Cultural Heritage”, on April 29 the Mallakastër Tourism Marketing and Branding Strategy was officially presented to the local administration of Mallakastër.

The Strategy has been developed by ART-ER under the supervision of the Emilia-Romagna Region, in collaboration with Italian and Albanian experts. The document is based on the vision, needs and priorities of the Municipality of Mallakastër and its citizens, and will guide and support the tourism development of the area.

As part of the Strategy, the Mallakastër territorial brand has also been developed as a practical tool for the coherent and integrated promotion of the territory. The brand logo is based on inputs from the local community and includes graphic references to the combination of cultural heritage, natural resources and local products that make Mallakastër unique: Bylis Archaeological Park and the Epitaph of Gllavenica, the Vjosa River and the olive trees. The logo tagline is “Living Heritage Landscape”, referring to a territory where heritage is lived daily through landscapes shaped by labor, memory sustained by communities, and social relations rooted in stewardship and resilience.

In addition, a two-day training workshop was organized with representatives of the local administration and key local stakeholders to support the implementation of the Strategy. The training focused on practical approaches to tourism promotion, destination branding, stakeholder coordination and the sustainable management of local cultural and natural assets. The sessions also created an important opportunity for discussion and exchange on how to transform the Strategy into concrete actions that can strengthen the local economy and improve the visibility of Mallakastër as an emerging tourism destination.