The Balkan Chronicle

The number of people visiting Albania in the first eight months of this year has doubled since 2008. The country welcome 3 million tourists between January and August of 2011, as the Balkans continue to attract foreign interest.

The tourism growth has been a constant drive for the Albanian economy, with a 16 per cent increase in tourists this year than 2010. Approximately 300,000 more people visited the country, a jump largely attributed by the Ministry of Tourism to an improved infrastructure and quality of service.

Lunching in the old town at Kotor, we overhear a crusty salt of the sea regaling his companions about "sailing into Kos harbour in 1967".

I fail to catch what happened on Kos back then, but we distinctly hear the man's wife inquire of the waiter, "Why the dickens, with all those mountains, would Montenegro experience water shortages?"

The water supply has indeed been cut, a common occurrence along this coast in summer, but the waiter is flummoxed. An uncomfortable silence ensues before the woman resorts to speculation. "I expect it's the pipes," she sniffs.

Turkish citizens of Albanian origin, who have successfully integrated into Turkish life and have made contributions to Turkish society, proudly recognize and appreciate their Albanian heritage.

Halil Metin, whose family has resided in İstanbul's Bayrampaşa district for over 50 years, is the co-director of the Turkish-Albanian Brotherhood Culture and Solidarity Association. Established 59 years ago, the organization is located in Bayrampaşa and has three branches located in the Küçükçekmece district of İstanbul and in the provinces of Ankara and Bursa. The association aims to preserve Albanian culture and traditions by hosting cultural nights and folklore festivals.