Exciting spring view of Castle of Kruja. Attractive morning landscape of Albania, Europe. Traveling concept background.

Agro-Tourism

Photo by Shutterstock / Andrew Mayovskyy

Agro-Tourism

Country
Sector
Most major industry classification systems use sources of revenue as their basis for classifying companies into specific sectors, subsectors and industries. In order to group like companies based on their sustainability-related risks and opportunities, SASB created the Sustainable Industry Classification System® (SICS®) and the classification of sectors, subsectors and industries in the SDG Investor Platform is based on SICS.
Services
Sub Sector
Most major industry classification systems use sources of revenue as their basis for classifying companies into specific sectors, subsectors and industries. In order to group like companies based on their sustainability-related risks and opportunities, SASB created the Sustainable Industry Classification System® (SICS®) and the classification of sectors, subsectors and industries in the SDG Investor Platform is based on SICS.
Hospitality and Recreation
Indicative Return
Describes the rate of growth an investment is expected to generate within the IOA. The indicative return is identified for the IOA by establishing its Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Return of Investment (ROI) or Gross Profit Margin (GPM).
< 5% (in IRR)
Investment Timeframe
Describes the time period in which the IOA will pay-back the invested resources. The estimate is based on asset expected lifetime as the IOA will start generating accumulated positive cash-flows.
Short Term (0–5 years)
Market Size
Describes the value of potential addressable market of the IOA. The market size is identified for the IOA by establishing the value in USD, identifying the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) or providing a numeric unit critical to the IOA.
< USD 50 million
Average Ticket Size (USD)
Describes the USD amount for a typical investment required in the IOA.
< USD 500,000
Direct Impact
Describes the primary SDG(s) the IOA addresses.
Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8) Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12) Zero Hunger (SDG 2)
Indirect Impact
Describes the secondary SDG(s) the IOA addresses.
Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10) Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11) Climate Action (SDG 13)

Business Model Description

Set up an agro-tourism businesses that combine sustainability, local culinary experiences and authentic rural engagements by networking with local and international organizations to support sustainable agritourism development, stimulate local economies, and preserve Albania's unique rural traditions. Potential revenue streams include farm visits, accommodations, agricultural products and agro-tourism activities.

Expected Impact

Invigorate rural economies, preserve traditional agricultural practices, and promote sustainable tourism, thereby fostering economic growth, cultural preservation, and environmental stewardship in the region.

How is this information gathered?

Investment opportunities with potential to contribute to sustainable development are based on country-level SDG Investor Maps.

Disclaimer

UNDP, the Private Finance for the SDGs, and their affiliates (collectively “UNDP”) do not seek or solicit investment for programmes, projects, or opportunities described on this site (collectively “Programmes”) or any other Programmes, and nothing on this page should constitute a solicitation for investment. The actors listed on this site are not partners of UNDP, and their inclusion should not be construed as an endorsement or recommendation by UNDP for any relationship or investment.

The descriptions on this page are provided for informational purposes only. Only companies and enterprises that appear under the case study tab have been validated and vetted through UNDP programmes such as the Growth Stage Impact Ventures (GSIV), Business Call to Action (BCtA), or through other UN agencies. Even then, under no circumstances should their appearance on this website be construed as an endorsement for any relationship or investment. UNDP assumes no liability for investment losses directly or indirectly resulting from recommendations made, implied, or inferred by its research. Likewise, UNDP assumes no claim to investment gains directly or indirectly resulting from trading profits, investment management, or advisory fees obtained by following investment recommendations made, implied, or inferred by its research.

Investment involves risk, and all investments should be made with the supervision of a professional investment manager or advisor. The materials on the website are not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any investment, security, or commodity, nor shall any security be offered or sold to any person, in any jurisdiction in which such offer would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

Read More

Country & Regions

Explore the country and target locations of the investment opportunity.
Country
Region
  • Albania: Kukës
  • Albania: Shkodër
  • Albania: Korçë
Learn more

Sector Classification

Situate the investment opportunity within sustainability focused sector, subsector and industry classifications.
Sector

Services

Development Need
In 2021, Albania's services sector experienced remarkable growth, comprising 86% of the country's businesses, employing 64% of the workforce, and contributing 65.1% to the total turnover. However, this contribution falls short of the OECD average, where services typically account for around 70% of GDP. To fully harness the economic and social potential of the sector, it is crucial to prioritize innovative measures aimed at enhancing productivity (11, 12, 13, 14).

Policy priority
As per the National Strategy for Development and European Integration 2022-2030, Albania is committed to enhancing its service sector through comprehensive infrastructure improvements in transport, electricity, water supply, and waste management. Additionally it targets an 8.4% reduction in final energy consumption, with a projected 195.2 ktoe by 2030 in the services sector (3, 15).

Gender inequalities and marginalization issues
21.6% of women are employed in the services sector, however a significant portion of women refrain from entering the workforce due to domestic responsibilities (18%) or academic commitments (22.3%), highlighting the enduring impact of societal gender expectations (10).

Investment opportunities introduction
The Albanian government prioritizes attracting foreign direct investments, particularly in the services sector, notably tourism. Albania's service exports, mainly tourism-driven, have surged fivefold, outpacing EU-11 and WB-5 economies (17, 18).

Key bottlenecks introduction
Albania's services sector faces several significant challenges, including issues related to poor education quality resulting in skill gaps, infrastructure deficiencies in electricity and transportation, limited access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and regulatory barriers identified by the OECD Services Trade Restrictiveness Index, encompassing restrictions on foreign entry and obstacles to healthy competition (14).

Sub Sector

Hospitality and Recreation

Development need
Despite facing challenges such as earthquakes and the impact of COVID-19, Albania's tourism sector received a substantial USD 210 million investment in 2021 (7.5% of total investments). Rich history and culture offer untapped potential, but infrastructural issues persist. There's potential for tourism's GDP contribution to reach 9.3% by 2028, yet blue and cultural tourism are underexplored (1,3,4,6,7).

Policy priority
Under the 2021-2025 Government Program, tourism is defined as a growth driver in all its forms, encompassing marine and mountain development, including agrotourism. Albania aims to transform the sector into a significant contributor, comprising 24% of total output at USD 5,5 billion by 2030 and by 2028 tourism investments are expected to rise to 8.2%. Furthermore, strengthening rural tourism and in particular the agrotourism value chain is a priority (2,3,4).

Gender inequalities and marginalization issues
In Albania's tourism sector, women often occupy informal and low-skilled roles, curtailing their progression. While female entrepreneurship is emerging in tourism, the absence of comprehensive data hinders policy development. Women grapple with limited access to market data, legal backing, as well as negative cultural norms hindering their participation (8, 9).

Investment opportunities introduction
Albania aims to attract 10 million tourists by 2030. In 2021, tourism contributed to 17.4% of the GDP and employed 7.7% of the workforce, with projections indicating this figure will rise to 8.8% by 2028. Tax incentives, including a 10-year property tax exemption for premier hotel brands and a 6% VAT for five-star hotels/resorts and agro-tourism facilities, are positioned to attract investors (3, 4, 16).

Key bottlenecks introduction
Albania's tourism sector faces significant challenges, including inadequate accommodations, the absence of international hotel brands, limited tourist infrastructure, a short tourist season, informality, ownership issues, insufficient investment, lack of sustainable tourism practices, and restricted local community involvement and training (4, 5).

Industry

Hotels and Lodging

Pipeline Opportunity

Discover the investment opportunity and its corresponding business model.
Investment Opportunity Area

Agro-Tourism

Business Model

Set up an agro-tourism businesses that combine sustainability, local culinary experiences and authentic rural engagements by networking with local and international organizations to support sustainable agritourism development, stimulate local economies, and preserve Albania's unique rural traditions. Potential revenue streams include farm visits, accommodations, agricultural products and agro-tourism activities.

Business Case

Learn about the investment opportunity’s business metrics and market risks.

Market Size and Environment

Market Size (USD)
Describes the value in USD of a potential addressable market of the IOA.

< USD 50 million

Critical IOA Unit
Describes a complementary market sizing measure exemplifying the opportunities with the IOA.

As of 2022, Albania has 39 accommodation units specifically for agrotourism.

Albania's agricultural sector forms 19.3% of its GDP, with 85% being family farms. The "Made in Albania" brand boasts an export value of USD 5 million, targeting USD 1 billion by 2030 (23).

As of 2022, the Ministry of Tourism and Environment has licensed and certified 39 accommodation units specifically for agrotourism. There are more than 300 guesthouses and 100 agritourism operators nation-wide (1, 40).

According to a key development partner providing project financing to tourism projects in Albania, the market size of the agro-tourism sub-sector in Albania is reported to be less than USD 50 million (22).

Indicative Return

IRR
Describes an expected annual rate of growth of the IOA investment.

< 5%

ROI
Describes an expected return from the IOA investment over its lifetime.

< 5%

GPM
Describes an expected percentage of revenue (that is actual profit before adjusting for operating cost) from the IOA investment.

5% - 10%

Agrotourism investments can produce returns up to 5% measured in terms of profit, IRR and ROI according to a key development partner providing project financing to tourism projects (22).

Mrizi i Zanave, an agritourism center located in Fishtë, near Lezha, has seen an investment of about EUR 300,000 (USD 318,000) and achieved a turnover of EUR 650,000 (USD 689,000) with the profit margin at about 9% (27).

Investment Timeframe

Timeframe
Describes the time period in which the IOA will pay-back the invested resources. The estimate is based on asset expected lifetime as the IOA will start generating accumulated positive cash-flows.

Short Term (0–5 years)

The average pay-back period for investments in agro-tourism is calculated as short-term investment time-frame according to a key development partner providing project financing to tourism projects (22).

Ticket Size

Average Ticket Size (USD)
Describes the USD amount for a typical investment required in the IOA.

< USD 500,000

Market Risks & Scale Obstacles

Market - Highly Regulated

Incomplete land registration and foreign land ownership restrictions in Albania impede investment including in agri-tourism activities, further burdened by limited information on required standards for eligibility to agritourism grant funds provided by the government (13).

Capital - Requires Subsidy

Agriculture, contributing significantly to the GDP, receives less than 3% of bank credit. Only one-third of rural residents have bank accounts, and most small farmers, with limited financial know-how, depend on informal finance, limiting formal financing for such investments (13).

Business - Supply Chain Constraints

Agritourism enterprises that incorporate or rely on the production of agricultural commodities, specialty crops, or livestock often face production risks, further burdened by the limited skills pool of often family-run agritourism establishments (2).

Impact Case

Read about impact metrics and social and environmental risks of the investment opportunity.

Sustainable Development Need

Agriculture is Albania's primary source of employment, contributing around 20% to its GDP and employing 34% of the workforce. However, informality hinders standardization and fosters unfair competition. Agritourism can establish short value chains, aiding market formalization while helping diversify farmers' income (6, 29, 46).

Absence of diverse and comprehensive offers beyond coastal tourism in Albania limits the potential for increased tourist overnight stays and spending, and a balanced distribution in the territory. Tourism businesses further face issues related to limited transportation infrastructure, and unstable electricity and water supply. Addressing these infrastructure gaps is crucial for agrotourism developments (13, 25, 30).

Improving rural economies requires diversifying activities, which means finding innovative uses for existing resources beyond traditional agriculture. Giving priority to agritourism as a source of income is particularly important, especially for small and medium-sized farms (31).

Gender & Marginalisation

Addressing gender disparities and promoting labor formality in Albania's agricultural sector is imperative. Women constitute 61.0% of the informal workforce, highlighting the need for initiatives to enhance gender equality and formalize labor in the sector, especially in small accommodation facilities (10).

Tourism demand in Albania is highly seasonal and concentrated in coastal areas, limiting balanced economic growth, particularly in rural northern regions, which experience the highest income gap compared to the national average (47).

Expected Development Outcome

Agrotourism investments can tackle informality leading to standardization and a more equitable competitive landscape, benefiting both the sector and the broader economy.

Investments in agritourism establishments can address infrastructure challenges, such as inadequate roads, unstable utility supplies, and insufficient public spaces, enhancing the tourism experience, provide a stable environment for tourism-related enterprises.

Prioritizing agritourism as an income source, especially for small and medium-sized farms, would diversify rural economies and enhance sustainable development.

Gender & Marginalisation

Promotion of agri-tourism will lead to reduced development gap between Tirana and other regions through fostering sustainable and inclusive growth in rural areas, where local residents near establishments will benefit from enhanced employment opportunities providing both direct and indirect services.

Agritourism investments can help tackle gender disparities and promoting labor formality within Albania’s agricultural sector where women make up 61.0% of the informal workforce (10).

Primary SDGs addressed

Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8)
8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth

8.9.1 Tourism direct GDP as a proportion of total GDP and in growth rate

Current Value

In 2021, tourism drove 17.4% of GDP. The direct contribution of Travel & Tourism to GDP is expected to grow by 4.03% per year (3, 18).

Target Value

The National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism Development anticipates that by 2028, the tourism sector, with its growing contribution, could constitute up to 9.3% of the GDP (4).

Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12)
12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

12.2.2 Domestic material consumption

Current Value

In 2019, the domestic material consumption in Albania amounted to 31.6 million tonnes, which included approximately 1.436 million tonnes of fossil fuels (32).

Target Value

Long-term objective is a decrease in the rate of domestic material consumption per capita (49).

Zero Hunger (SDG 2)
2 - Zero Hunger

2.1.1 Prevalence of undernourishment

2.1.2 Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population, based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES)

Current Value

Prevalence of undernourishment recorded at 4.1% in 2021 (32).

Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity recorded as 30.2% in 2021, 34% for women and 27.5% for men (32).

Target Value

Globally, the long-term objective for this indicator is a value of 2.5 (48).

The government has introduced the “One Health” strategy based on the principle of "Health in every policy" and "sustainable development" aiming to create structures and incentives to coordinate measures and policies in a number of sectors, including ensuring food security (2).

Secondary SDGs addressed

10 - Reduced Inequalities
11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
13 - Climate Action

Directly impacted stakeholders

People

Local communities will benefit from employment and income opportunities, and a platform to preserve and promote their unique traditions and culinary practices, tourists will enjoy a more diverse range of tourism offerings.

Gender inequality and/or marginalization

Women in rural areas will benefit from formalized employment opportunities, rural communities will increase access to improved infrastructure and service delivery.

Planet

Agritourism emphasizes sustainability and the preservation of rural traditions, promoting eco-friendly practices, encouraging responsible use of natural resources, helping to maintain the balance of local ecosystems.

Corporates

Local businesses, particularly those in the hospitality and agricultural sectors, will benefit from an alternative revenue stream and opportunities for growth, contributing to the overall economic vitality of the region.

Public sector

The Albanian government, can achieve goals under its 2021-2025 program, recognizing agrotourism, as a crucial growth driver, including target to increase tourism sectors contribution to 24% of total output, equating to USD 5.5 billion by 2030. (2, 3, 4)

Indirectly impacted stakeholders

People

The broader Albanian community could experience socio-economic growth and cultural preservation through the development of agrotourism leading to job creation and a diversified economy, fostering sustainable livelihoods for many.

Gender inequality and/or marginalization

Addressing property rights and formalizing labor can indirectly impact women and marginalized groups, empowering them with more opportunities, equitable treatment, and access to financial resources.

Planet

The focus on sustainable agritourism could indirectly lead to conservation efforts, encouraging responsible tourism and agricultural practices, preserving biodiversity and natural resources.

Corporates

Businesses outside of the agritourism sector could see indirect benefits from an increase in tourism and economic activity, creating new business opportunities and foster a more robust and diversified business environment.

Outcome Risks

The overcrowding of rural areas during peak tourist seasons poses a significant threat to the environment due to the excessive use and depletion of local natural resources, undermining long-term sustainability (28).

Tourists' negative environmental behaviours, disregarding conservation efforts and treating tourist services as public goods, can pose ecological threats, potentially harming the environment, and necessitating environmentally-friendly behaviours (28).

Impact Risks

Predominance of family-owned agrotourism operators can create human resource risks and unclear definitions of roles, potentially affecting the quality of offered services (27).

Agritourism operators in Albania encounter legal challenges due to insufficient knowledge of laws, taxation, and food safety, while data-related issues, such as a lack of reliable data, hinder informed decision-making for production and investment, affecting competitiveness factors like value chain organization and stakeholder identification (13, 27).

The dispersed location of agritourism farms in Albania, often on individual landowners' properties, limits proximity to tourist attractions, hindering the formation of cohesive agritourism clusters around natural landmarks and affecting the sector's organization and growth (26).

Agritourism destinations in Albania, particularly in the northern regions, confront infrastructure challenges, including insufficient road networks, the absence of amenities like gas stations and public transportation, and imprecise mapping, which collectively impede access, affordability, and logistical planning for tourists visiting remote farms (25, 26).

Impact Classification

C—Contribute to Solutions

What

Agrotourism investments will contribute to economic growth for rural communities, sustainable land use, cultural preservation, increased tourism revenue, diversified income sources, and potential environmental benefits.

Risk

Legal and regulatory challenges, resource mismanagement, market fluctuations, environmental degradation, and availability of qualified personnel can hinder impact.

Contribution

Agrotourism can, contributes to tourism growth and economic development, in line with the government's target to increase tourism sector's contribution to 24% of total output, equating to USD 5.5 billion by 2030 (4).

Impact Thesis

Invigorate rural economies, preserve traditional agricultural practices, and promote sustainable tourism, thereby fostering economic growth, cultural preservation, and environmental stewardship in the region.

Enabling Environment

Explore policy, regulatory and financial factors relevant for the investment opportunity.

Policy Environment

National Pathways for Sustainable Food Systems, 2021: includes the development of agritourism and short value chains as mechanisms for rural development among the Republic's key priorities for the next ten years (35).

Rural Development Programme 2021-2027 Under Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA), 2022: includes the development of tourism activities as part of key activities to diversify economic activities in rural areas, including rural and agro-tourism as sub-sectors with promising potential (40).

Government Program 2021-2025, 2021: aims to position Albania as the first choice as a tourist destination in the region by combining numerous sub-sector elements including agritourism and culinary tourism, laying out support mechanisms to increase the number of agritourism businesses (2).

National Strategy for Development and European Integration 2022-2030, 2023: mentions strengthening rural tourism and in particular the agritourism value chains, among the key issues to be addressed for the support provided by the European Union (3).

Financial Environment

Financial incentives: The government's 100 villages revitalization project is designed to boost rural tourism through development and investment networks in agritourism and ecotourism. The government's program for 2021-2025 also aims to turn countryside houses into guest houses, and supports returnees with grants of EUR 5000 (USD 5371) (41, 2).

Fiscal incentives: Agro-tourism facilities are eligible for a reduced VAT of 6%, if they abide by the set criteria of having accommodation capacities from 6-30 rooms (18).

Other incentives: The Sustainable Rural Development Programme, implemented by GIZ and co-financed by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) providing USD 4.5 million, aims to promote rural tourism through agritourism and destination management improving the capabilities of public and private institutions, particularly towards EU Accession (42, 46).

Regulatory Environment

Tourism Law No.93/2015: article 4 provides for the definition of agritourism as part of rural tourism while introducing new criteria for entities looking to engage in agritourism activities including the necessities of having a farm, appropriate accommodation, provision of food and beverage, and entertainment and education activities (36).

Law on Strategic Investments of Albania, 2016: lays down rules for introducing special favourable, easing or expediting administrative procedures for supporting and providing services to the investors in order to promote and attract strategic domestic and foreign investments in the sectors with a high potential for the development including tourism and agriculture, as defined in Article 8 (37).

Decision No. 22 On the approval of the criteria and procedures for the certification of agritourism activity and the construction of structures in its function, 2018: regulates and promotes agritourism in Albania defining it as a hospitality activity taking place in farms or agricultural units with the aim of attracting visitors, often allowing them to participate in agricultural activities or related experiences in a rural setting. It also establishes a certification process to ensure compliance with the set criteria, offering benefits to certified operators (38).

Decision N. 125 on determining the basic criteria of sectors to be supported and the amount of financing from the Program Fund for Agriculture and Rural Development, for the year 2023, March 2023: approves the 2023 budget for the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, item "Transfer to family budgets" (economic account 606), to be used for increasing competitiveness, registration, construction of markets, energy efficiency, and training and transfer of knowledge, for agricultural and livestock products (39).

Marketplace Participants

Discover examples of public and private stakeholders active in this investment opportunity that were identified through secondary research and consultations.

Private Sector

Mrizi i Zanave, Sofra Kolonjare, Uka Farm, Kazerma e Cerenit, Bujtina Tomadhe, Fustanella Farm, Agroturizem Huqi, Kodra e Kuajve, Kantina Duka, Bujtina Xhebro, Agroturizem Gjepali, Hoteli i Gjuetise, Farma Sotira, Logu i Harushave.

Government

Ministry of Tourism and Environment, Ministry of Culture, State Agency for Strategic Programming and Aid Coordination, Ministry of Economy, Culture, and Innovation, Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, Albanian Investment Development Agency, Albania Investment Council.

Multilaterals

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), European Union, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women, European Investment Bank, World Bank Group, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), German Development Agency (GIZ), Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), USAID, SIDA.

Non-Profit

Albanian Agritourism Association, Foreign Investors Association of Albania (FIAA), The Visit Gjirokastra Association (VGA), Risi Albania, Albanian Tourism Association (ATA), Albanian Tourism Union, Albanian Tour Operators Association.

Target Locations

See what country regions are most suitable for the investment opportunity. All references to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of the Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999)
rural

Albania: Kukës

The north-eastern district of Kukes which is largely mountainous and rural, displays the lowest income levels in the country, positioning tourism development, particularly agrotourism, as a strategic sector for development. The region already houses 39 agrotourism points, the highest in the country (43).
rural

Albania: Shkodër

The county hosts 15 agrotourism establishments, including one of the most renown agrotourism guest house, Mrizi i Zanave. Towns located in the county including, Shkodra, Malesi e Madhe, and Puka are target regions for agritourism development (43, 44).
semi-urban

Albania: Korçë

Following Kukes, Korce district houses the second most agritourism establishments, recorded at 33. Agrotourism is one of the priority sectors for economic development in the Korca, with existing activities in the villages of Dardha, Voskopoja (which are most frequented), Vithkuq and Liqenas (43, 45).

References

See what sources were used to establish the investment opportunity’s data and find resources that could be consulted to explore more.