Meet Vahide: A Passionate Woman Aiming to Turn Albanian Hospitality into a Tourism Vision

For Vahide Hoxha, a dynamic and warm-hearted woman from Puka living in a small village called Gjorem, in the area of Kurbin, hospitality has always come naturally. Since the age of 16, she has worked tirelessly, not just to support her family, but to uplift her entire community. Now a kindergarten director in Laç, Vahide also speaks English, Greek, and a little Italian. Her energy is magnetic, and so is her vision for the region.

For years, when foreign visitors passed through Gjorem, they would often find themselves welcomed into Vahide’s home, where she offered fresh water, a warm meal, and tips on the best places to explore. Her sons would show guests around, simply out of pride and kindness. To them, it is just a normal part of Albanian culture to welcome someone visiting your hometown.

But Vahide always dreamed of more than informal kindness. She imagined a new kind of hospitality, one that protects, uplifts, and sustains the local economy.

Her dream could come true through the EU4Culture grants programme, financed by the European Union and implemented by UNOPS, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation. When Vahide joined one of the many trainings offered by the Albanian Local Capacity Development Foundation (ALCDF), an EU4Culture implementing partner, one session in particular stood out: the tourist guide training.

“This training inspired me,” she says. “I realized that what I used to do for free could now help support my family, and even contribute to the local economy.”

Through sessions on start-up business, hospitality, and digital marketing, Vahide deepened her understanding of sustainable tourism. She learned how to adapt her services to the needs and preferences of travelers and gained the confidence to turn her ideas into a real opportunity for the Kurbin area.

With new knowledge and determination, Vahide is now working on plans to build a dedicated space where tourists travelling by camper can stop. Her vision is both practical and deeply personal, creating a place that brings people together while giving back to her community.

By investing in local skills, empowering grassroots initiatives, and supporting people like Vahide, EU4Culture programme is helping create new economic opportunities in the local tourism sector.

“I used to welcome visitors into my home,” Vahide says. “Now, I’m creating a space adapted to their needs where they can always feel at home.”