From 01 to 05 June 2026, Dr Sofia Gkarane carried out a Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) at the Institute for Sustainable Development, Environment and Tourism (InSET) in Tirana, Albania, within the SMART-RURAL COST Action CA24170 – Building resilient rural communities through synergy of traditional knowledge and technological innovation.
During the STSM, the Greek case study was discussed as a basis for exploring how agritourism can support rural destinations through local resources, visitor experiences, local value chains and seasonal reorientation. The Albanian context offered valuable insights into the role of farms, villages, local food, protected areas, lakes and nature-based tourism in shaping rural tourism experiences.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of institutional support, local actor cooperation, promotion practices and contextual differences in the way agritourism is understood and developed across rural destinations.
This STSM provided an important opportunity for academic exchange, contextual discussion and international research collaboration in the fields of sustainable tourism, agritourism and rural development. The main outcome of the STSM was the strengthening of a comparative research direction between Greece and Albania, with the next step being the further development of the analytical framework and the preparation of a co-authored scientific output.
Many thanks to Prof. Dr. Klodiana Gorica, Associate Professor Ermelinda Kordha Tolica, and the InSET team for their hospitality, support, and insightful exchanges during the visit. Dr Gkarane is grateful for the opportunity to build on this exchange as a basis for continued academic collaboration in sustainable rural tourism.
