Demography � Region of Tirana consists of five municipalities, with a total population

of 1 039 463.

� 30 % of population live in the rural area of the region and 70% in the urban area.

� From the administrative point of view, the region includes 5 municipalities:

Municipality Population

Tirana 757.361

Kamza 125.632

Kavaja 79.556

Rogozhina 40.684

Vora 36.230

Geographical position

Geographical position and climate

� The Region of Tirana is situated between Adriatic Sea coast (coastal line - 33 km) in the West and the Shëngjergji highlands zone in the East. It is surrounded by Durrësi Region in North West, Dibra Region in North East, Fieri Region in South West and Elbasan Region in South East.

� 40% of the Region territory is part of the Albanian Western Coastal Lowland, while the rest, consists of mountainous and hilly areas.

� The climate is mediterranean, varying from maritime mediterranean in the coastal area,to continental mediterranean in the East.

� Average yearly temperatures vary from 15° to 17° C.

� The average yearly rainfalls vary from 800mm to 1300 mm.

� The altitude ranges from 150m asl to 1.600m asl.

Environment

� Tirana Region enjoys immense touristic and environmental resources. The beautiful landscape turns from mountain into maritime within few miles.

� The Adriatic Sea washes the western coast of Tirana Region covered by a dense pine forest. Mountainous area of Shëngjergji and the National Park of Dajti mountain (1612 m asl) lays in the Eastern part of the region.

� There are several artifical lakes as well as some main rivers, such as Erzeni, Tirana and Shkumbini river, which stream through the Region of Tirana toward the sea.

� Tirana’s air quality is good, with the exception of the Capital - Tirana city, where unfortunately, pollution is 1.5 - 2 times the European average.

Agriculture

� The total area occupied by farms in the Tirana Region is 105.715 ha

� Agricultural land occupies 50% of the region ‘s territory - 49.681 ha.

� Forests occupy 46% of the land -48.733 ha.

Agriculture

• The agricultural cultures most favoured by the climate, soil and land lots size are: cereals, vegetables, etc.

• As favoured crops, we should mention the well known vineyards, olive and fruit-growing plantations.

• There is a long tradition of livestock breeding and poultry farming as well.

Agriculture

In the mountainous zone of the Region the farming activity is orientedtowards:

� Vegetables production on open fields and greenhouses� Wineyards� Fruit-growing� Olive plantation� Forage vegetable production

TOURISM

Premises for the development of tourism are excellent. Tirana Region’s tourism profile :

The tourism of sun and sea

Tirana Region enjoys 265-285 sunny days per year. Tourism is presentlydeveloped along the coastal area of Kavaja District. In particular the areas of

Golem (focused on mass tourism) as well as Karpen and Spille (focused on hi-end de luxe tourism).

The coastal sandy Golem area with its 350 ha expanse, has an actual accomodation capacity of 150,000 people per day.

The Spille beach, with a coastal line length of 6700 m, 80 m wide, is an almost unexploited area due to inadequate road infrastructure

The Karpen beach presents the same typology and characteristics.

The mountain tourism

The Dajti mountain (1612m asl), as well as the Dajti National Park

(23000ha), not far away from the city of Tirana, present manypossibilities for excercising, winter sports and exploring an amazing landscape. The traditional albanian cuisine restaurants, well known hospitability of local

people, the funicular railway line and the multicoloured fauna and flora constitute a real attraction and a favourite destination for tourists.

The cultural tourism� The region of Tirana is proud of its cultural patrimony. Some of the most prominent

monuments representing the region’s cultural values are: � The national Museum of Tirana, The Ethnography Museums of Tirana and Kavaja, the Castel of

Petrela ( XI century AD military base for the Byzantine Emperor, Alex Komneni and residence of the noble Topia family), the Castel of Preza (XV century AD constructed by the Turkish invaders to keep under control the Kruja –Shkodra road), the Castel of Bashtova ( XIV century AD constructed by Venetians to defend maritime and fluvial wharfs), the Clock Tower of Kavaja town dating 1830, the Tirana mosque dating 1614 - one of the few buildings that established the nucleus of the Tirana City, the early Roman Catholic church of Ceta (XII Century AD with surprisingly preserved frescos and a beautiful wooden iconostasis) , the Kavaja Rock where the final battle between Ceasar and Pompeus took place, etc.

Nature monuments

There are numerous natural monuments such as

� The karstic Cavern of Pellumbas in Bërzhita , one of the biggest in Albania, noted for the beautiful calcareous formations, stalactites and stalagmites and for its situation in a place rich in vegetation and fresh air.

� The Tortonian maritime terrace of Dajti mountain, with rich Karst calcareous

formations.

� The General’s beach, a mix of sandy and rocky formations

� The white sandy beach of Carina with its crystal clean sea.

� The Stones in a Row in Cikallesh, Kavaja - beautiful stone formations, etc

Industrial profile� 68% of the business activities and 75% of the Banking enterprises( at national

level) are based in Region of Tirana.

� Most of these enterprises are situated along the both sides of the Tirana – Vora-Durres Highway, North West and West of Tirana city. This location hosts 169 large scale enterprises which perform their activity in this area.

� Most of the construction businesses of the Region, 1143 businesses, are situated in the city of Tirana.

� The agro-processing enterprises (milk, meat, fruit ,wheat processing plants) are situated in the Tirana suburbs.

� The Tirana regional territory accounts for 3419 of the wholesale trading companies and 6953 of the retail trading companies, which carry out their activity within the Region.