Project for Integrated Urban and Tourism Development (PIUTD)

The development objective of the Integrated Urban and Tourism Development Project for Albania is to improve urban infrastructure, enhance tourism assets, and strengthen institutional capacity to support tourism-related local economic development in selected areas in the south of Albania. The project comprises of four components. The first component, urban upgrading and infrastructure improvement will finance the upgrading of infrastructure in selected municipalities by: (a) preparing of feasibility studies and designs (including urban design studies); (b) carrying out construction works to restore selected heritage buildings; (c) upgrading public spaces, the street network, and associated infrastructure; and (d) conducting construction supervision. The second component, touristic sites upgrading will finance investments aimed at improving selected touristic sites along the south of the Albania touristic corridor by inter alia: (a) restoring of selected heritage and cultural assets and creating rest stops or viewpoints; (b) repairing and improving site infrastructure such as pedestrian’s pathways; (c) preparing the required feasibility studies, site management plans, engineering designs; and (d) conducting construction supervision. The third component, tourism market and product development will: (a) strengthening the capacity of municipalities to deliver municipal services through inter alia: (i) provision of asset management systems, geographic information systems, and solid waste collection equipment; and (ii) establishment of site management capacity to enhance the operation of rehabilitated assets. The fourth component, implementation support will provide support to carry out project implementation, including maintenance of the project monitoring and evaluation system, as well as training and financing of incremental operating costs.