Press Release

ETG Participates in the National Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development in Albania

Posted on 11 December 2024

National Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development in Albania

On December 6th, 2024, Tirana hosted an event that brought together key players in the tourism industry, government representatives, and sustainability advocates. The discussions revolved around implementing Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Criteria in Albania, integrating sustainability into national strategies, and addressing challenges faced by the private sector.

Elite Travel Group was proud to participate in this important event, represented by our managing director, Elvis Kotherja.

 

Advocating for Standards in Tourism

Elvis Kotherja emphasized the critical need for the Albanian government to address and uphold global tourism standards. He highlighted that by aligning national strategies with these standards, Albania could ensure quality, accountability, and competitiveness on the global stage. Standards not only provide a roadmap for growth but also serve as a foundation for businesses to implement sustainable practices effectively. Elvis acknowledged the ongoing process of pursuing standards from the Albanian government.

Empowering the Youth

In his address, Elvis spoke about the role of youth orientation in tourism development. He underlined the importance of investing in the new generation, not just as the future workforce but as changemakers who can drive innovation and sustainability in the tourism industry.
He also empathized the necessity of treating the youth and new professionals with respect, dignity, and fairness. Creating opportunities for young people to thrive, whether through education, employment, or entrepreneurship, is key to a sustainable tourism sector.

The Role of Sustainability

Sustainability was another cornerstone of Elvis Kotherja’s message. The managing director of ETG, reiterated that tourism in Albania must prioritize preserving the country’s unique landscapes and cultural heritage while creating meaningful experiences for travelers. Sustainable tourism is not just a trend—it is a responsibility that ensures the longevity and quality of Albania’s tourism offering for generations to come.

Collaborative Highlights

The conference also celebrated the progress of Albania’s first cohort of GSTC-Certified Auditors, showcasing efforts to enhance the country’s commitment to sustainable practices. Special recognition was given to UCSL’s Balkans Team Leader, Madlina Puka Özgür, for her active participation and leadership in this dynamic region.

Other distinguished participants included Ruth Huber, Cordula Wohlmuther, Luis Elizondo, Ilva Gjuzi, Sondor Travel, Urs Wagenseil, Siniša, Muedini Edlira, and representatives from GIZ Albania. Their contributions to the discussions added depth and valuable perspectives on the importance of balancing rapid growth with environmental preservation and cultural integrity.

A Shared Responsibility

Throughout the day, the panel discussions, including “Achieving Certification through a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body,” led by GSTC CEO Randy Durband, emphasized Albania’s potential to set an example in sustainable tourism. The Ministry of Tourism and Environment, under the leadership of Minister  Mirela Kumbaro, reaffirmed its commitment through the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GSTC, signaling a united effort to elevate Albania as a responsible tourism destination.

Gratitude and Hope

The conference was organized with the support of key partners, including the Ministry of Tourism & Environment, GSTC, RisiAlbania, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and Partners Albania for Change and Development. Their collaboration and dedication to sustainability efforts left participants optimistic about Albania’s strides in responsible tourism.

At Elite Travel Group, we believe in working together to foster a tourism sector that celebrates natural wonders, preserves cultural heritage, and creates opportunities for all. The conference was a testament to the power of collective effort, and we look forward to contributing further to these shared goals.

Elite Travel Group
Everlasting Experiences

Blog /A journey towards sustainability

Posted on 15 Jan 2020

Travelife: a journey towards sustainability

Sustainability integration in business is slowly starting to increase because companies are beginning to realize that they can be more successful by doing good.

But what does sustainability mean in business?

Seeing this great impact of the sustainability strategies, we decided that it was time to incorporate one in our company as well. That is how we found out about Travelife. Travelife is a sustainability system, founded in 2007, which promotes sustainable practices in the travel and tourism industry. This program includes three stages:

The two main categories that are influenced by sustainability in business are society and the environment. A sustainable business must have a strategy to positively affect these fields. On the contrary, if they do not claim responsibility it can bring up issues such as environmental damage and social injustice.

  1. Travelife Engaged
  2. Travelife Partner
  3. Travelife Certified
Elite_Travel_Group_travelife_partner

Since March 2019, Elite Travel Group is a Travelife Partner and since February 2022 Travelife Certified.

What are ETG's aspirations?

As we are about to be the first Albanian company Travelife certified, we know how important it is to have common sense and to care for social life, for the economy of the area and region in which we live, and, last but not least, care about the environment. Sustainability as a concept comes with different challenges in different countries. Since we are considered a country under development, our biggest focus remains on the social aspect. We are pioneering the sustainable policies in Albania, through our public and social activities, society-building concepts through education and training for the young, teacher communities, and the suppliers. We strongly believe that education is the best means by which we can provide the support to tackle the economic and environmental aspects. We know that we alone cannot change the place we live in, but alone we can inspire others and be copied by them, to make today better than yesterday.

What are our achievements so far and what are we planning?

It is worth emphasizing some of our most remarkable moments in this journey towards sustainability. During October 2019 we had the Green Month at our office, which consisted of weekly activities to improve the environment. In the photos below you can see some of them:

Overshoot-Day
Green October: Overshoot Day
Sustainability-Green-October
Green October: A Sustainability Challenge
Green October: Action Day
Sustainability-Poster-Elite-Office

Limiting elevator usage

Something else that we are doing currently is limiting the usage of the elevator at our headquarters. In this way, we can save electricity and encourage our employees to be more active.

Tag: sustainability

Elite Travel Group Participates in the National Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development in Albania

Posted on by Andi Proda
ETG in National Conference on Sustainable Tourism

Press Release ETG Participates in the National Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development in Albania Posted on 11 December 2024 National Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development in Albania On December 6th, 2024, Tirana hosted an event that brought together key players in the tourism industry, government representatives, and sustainability advocates. The discussions revolved around implementing Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Criteria in Albania, integrating sustainability into national strategies, and addressing challenges faced by the private sector. Elite Travel Group was proud to participate in this important event, represented by our managing director, Elvis Kotherja.   Advocating for Standards in Tourism Elvis Kotherja emphasized the critical need for the Albanian government to address and uphold global tourism standards. He highlighted that by aligning national strategies with these standards, Albania could ensure quality, accountability, and competitiveness on the global stage. Standards not only provide a roadmap for growth but also serve as a foundation for businesses to implement sustainable practices effectively. Elvis acknowledged the ongoing process of pursuing standards from the Albanian government. Empowering the Youth In his address, Elvis spoke about the role of youth orientation in tourism development. He underlined the importance of investing in the new generation, not just as the future workforce but as changemakers who can drive innovation and sustainability in the tourism industry.He also empathized the necessity of treating the youth and new professionals with respect, dignity, and fairness. Creating opportunities for young people to thrive, whether through education, employment, or entrepreneurship, is key to a sustainable tourism sector. The Role of Sustainability Sustainability was another cornerstone of Elvis Kotherja’s message. The managing director of ETG, reiterated that tourism in Albania must prioritize preserving the country’s unique landscapes and cultural heritage while creating meaningful experiences for travelers. Sustainable tourism is not just a trend—it is a responsibility that ensures the longevity and quality of Albania’s tourism offering for generations to come. Collaborative Highlights The conference also celebrated the progress of Albania’s first cohort of GSTC-Certified Auditors, showcasing efforts to enhance the country’s commitment to sustainable practices. Special recognition was given to UCSL’s Balkans Team Leader, Madlina Puka Özgür, for her active participation and leadership in this dynamic region. Other distinguished participants included Ruth Huber, Cordula Wohlmuther, Luis Elizondo, Ilva Gjuzi, Sondor Travel, Urs Wagenseil, Siniša, Muedini Edlira, and representatives from GIZ Albania. Their contributions to the discussions added depth and valuable perspectives on the importance of balancing rapid growth with environmental preservation and cultural integrity. A Shared Responsibility Throughout the day, the panel discussions, including “Achieving Certification through a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body,” led by GSTC CEO Randy Durband, emphasized Albania’s potential to set an example in sustainable tourism. The Ministry of Tourism and Environment, under the leadership of Minister  Mirela Kumbaro, reaffirmed its commitment through the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GSTC, signaling a united effort to elevate Albania as a responsible tourism destination. Gratitude and Hope The conference was organized with the support of key partners, including the Ministry of Tourism & Environment, GSTC, RisiAlbania, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and Partners Albania for Change and Development. Their collaboration and dedication to sustainability efforts left participants optimistic about Albania’s strides in responsible tourism. At Elite Travel Group, we believe in working together to foster a tourism sector that celebrates natural wonders, preserves cultural heritage, and creates opportunities for all. The conference was a testament to the power of collective effort, and we look forward to contributing further to these shared goals. Elite Travel GroupEverlasting Experiences […]

Read More…

A journey toward sustainability

Posted on by etg
sustainability policy

Blog /A journey towards sustainability Posted on 15 Jan 2020 Travelife: a journey towards sustainability Sustainability integration in business is slowly starting to increase because companies are beginning to realize that they can be more successful by doing good. But what does sustainability mean in business? Seeing this great impact of the sustainability strategies, we decided that it was time to incorporate one in our company as well. That is how we found out about Travelife. Travelife is a sustainability system, founded in 2007, which promotes sustainable practices in the travel and tourism industry. This program includes three stages: The two main categories that are influenced by sustainability in business are society and the environment. A sustainable business must have a strategy to positively affect these fields. On the contrary, if they do not claim responsibility it can bring up issues such as environmental damage and social injustice. Travelife Engaged Travelife Partner Travelife Certified Since March 2019, Elite Travel Group is a Travelife Partner and since February 2022 Travelife Certified. What are ETG’s aspirations? As we are about to be the first Albanian company Travelife certified, we know how important it is to have common sense and to care for social life, for the economy of the area and region in which we live, and, last but not least, care about the environment. Sustainability as a concept comes with different challenges in different countries. Since we are considered a country under development, our biggest focus remains on the social aspect. We are pioneering the sustainable policies in Albania, through our public and social activities, society-building concepts through education and training for the young, teacher communities, and the suppliers. We strongly believe that education is the best means by which we can provide the support to tackle the economic and environmental aspects. We know that we alone cannot change the place we live in, but alone we can inspire others and be copied by them, to make today better than yesterday. What are our achievements so far and what are we planning? It is worth emphasizing some of our most remarkable moments in this journey towards sustainability. During October 2019 we had the Green Month at our office, which consisted of weekly activities to improve the environment. In the photos below you can see some of them: Green October: Overshoot Day Green October: A Sustainability Challenge Green October: Action Day Limiting elevator usage Something else that we are doing currently is limiting the usage of the elevator at our headquarters. In this way, we can save electricity and encourage our employees to be more active. […]

Read More…