WRECKS4ALL 2.0 Conference Successfully Highlights Underwater Heritage and Tourism Opportunities of Albania




Univerzitet Crne Gore
Univerzitet Crne Gore
Univerzitet Crne Gore

The WRECKS4ALL 2.0 Conference, titled “UWH4SDG - The Perspective of the Adriatic and Ionian Underwater Heritage to Promote a Diversified Tourist Offer”, took place on December 6, 2024, at the Hotel KRAAL in Vlora, Albania. Organized by the Municipality of Vlora, this event brought together a diverse group of policymakers, scholars, cultural heritage experts, and industry stakeholders to discuss innovative approaches for leveraging underwater cultural heritage as a driver for sustainable tourism.


The conference opened with welcome speeches from distinguished representatives, including the Mayor of Vlora, Mr. Ermal Dredha, and Prof. Dr. Aurela Saliaj, Rector of the University of Vlora “Ismail Qemali.” Keynote speakers and panelists provided valuable insights into the role of underwater heritage in fostering economic sustainability and cultural enrichment within the Adriatic and Ionian regions.

The day’s program featured a wide range of presentations and discussions addressing critical topics such as the legal frameworks for underwater heritage preservation, innovative technologies for documentation and promotion, and the potential of underwater sites to diversify regional tourism offerings. Notable contributions included: Dr Artur Mecollari spoke about the current status of UCH in Albania, Prof Ilir Capuni reflected on the discoveries of shipwrecks and importance of the finds for the tourism development, Prof. Fioralba Vela’s presentation on using innovation as a strategic tool for tourism development in Southern Albania. Mr. Ilir Kristo’s insights into creative diving opportunities and safety measures, highlighting the need for hyperbaric facilities in the region. Darko Kovacevic’s exploration of cross-border cooperation through the WRECKS4ALL project to enhance Adriatic tourism via novel technologies.

WRECKS4ALL 2.0 was co-funded by the Interreg IPA South Adriatic Programme, emphasizing the importance of cross-border cooperation in the sustainable development of cultural and natural assets. By combining innovation with tradition, the event successfully highlighted the untapped potential of underwater cultural heritage to enrich the Adriatic region’s tourism sector.

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