Tourism in Pristina

From top (left to right): the Newborn monument, the Kosovo Government Building and the Skanderbeg monument, modern Pristina, The Gërmia National Park, Mother Teresa Square, and a panoramic view of the city.

Tourism in Prishtina attracted 36,186 foreign visitors in 2012,[1] which represents 74.2%[2] of all visitors that visited Kosovo during that year. Foreign visitors mostly come from countries like Albania, Turkey, Germany, USA, Slovenia and Macedonia,[3] but also from other places. Some of the most visited places in Prishtina are Batllava Lake and Gadime Marble Cave, which are also among the most visited places in Kosovo.[4]

Prishtina is the first touristic destination in Kosovo[5] and the main air gateway to Kosovo.[6] The number of foreign visitors that have visited Prishtina during 2012 grew by more than 10 thousand visitors since 2008, when there were 25,434 visitors.[7] During the first quarter of 2013 the number of hotels in Prishtina was 24 from 102 hotels that were in total in Kosovo and during the third quarter of the year 2013, 18.85% of hotel capacity were used and during the same period of that year, in Prishtina 423 rooms were with one bed, 268 rooms with two beds, 13 rooms with three beds, 49 apartments and 6 residents.[8]

Since 2009, Kosovo Tourism Association organizes an annual Tourism Fair in Prishtina,[9] which is intended to attract foreign visitors to Kosovo. In the International Tourism Fair held in Tokyo, Japan, in 2013, 4 day packages have been presented that a tourist from Asia can enjoy in Kosovo, starting from Prishtina, then continuing in Peja, Gjakova and concluding in Prizren.[10]

Prishtina is a place that is known as a university center of students[11] from regional countries like Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and more[12] and it represents a plateau of the combination of native, Ottoman and Yugoslav culture.[13] Its people are people that are known for hospitality[14][15][16] and religious tolerance,[17][18][19] where people in the city are mostly Muslims, but there are also Catholics, Orthodoxes, Atheists and people of other religions.[20] Around 23% of the people belong the group age of 16-27,[21] who are also very optimistic.[22]

Prishtina has played a very important role during the World War II,[23] being a shelter for Jews, whose cemeteries now can be visited.[24][25]

Coffee bars are a representative icon of Prishtina[13][26] and they can be found almost everywhere and are also centers of different festivals and events. In the region of Prishtina there is Gracanica monastery, which is in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.[27]

Statistics

The table below shows the number of national and international visitors and the number of nights spent in Prishtina from 2008 until 2012. As it can be seen from the table, one of the most successful year for tourism in Prishtina was the year 2012.[28]

Year # of visitors # of nights spent
2008 22,160 44,171
2009 40,168 67,715
2010 35,671 67,703
2011 32,245 63,716
2012 51,736 84,952

Issues affecting tourism

Tourism is showing some positive indications[29] that it is improving in Kosovo and also in Prishtina. People's hospitality, traditional food, delicious coffee, a lot of festivals and events, dynamic nightlife, different styles of architecture and cultural heritage are some of the main factors that affect Prishtina's tourism.

Museums

Goddess on the Throne

Ottoman Prishtina

A very large part of the city of Prishtina has a lot of oriental elements, including causeway roads,[33] many mosques, bazars and The Memorial Monument of Gazimestan. Some of the mosques are King Mosque, built during the years 1460–1461 from Sulltan Mehmet II al Fatih, Jashar Pasha Mosque and Çarshia Mosque.

Jashar Pasha Mosque

In Prishtina there is the Big Bazar which today is a very active zone in the city of Prishtina, although a large part of it has been destroyed in years 1950s, which still has the same style of a lot of other bazars that can be found in Balkan.[34]

Yugoslav Prishtina

Prishtina was impacted from Yugoslavia because it was part of Yugoslav Federation for a few decades, taking elements of The Yugoslav Style, where such buildings can be seen even today.

Art Gallery of Kosovo

Parks

Prishtina has a number of parks like The City Park, Taukbahqe Park, Arberia Park, and the most known, Germia National Park.[49] Germia is a rich place of flora and fauna, with more than 75 percent of its territory covered with forests and its highest point is 1,050 meters above the sea level.[50] It has some sport fields, walking and biking paths, some restaurants and a lake-sized swimming pool.[51]

Other sites

Gadime Marble Cave

Events and Festivals

Prishtina is a place where a lot and different events and festivals take place, that attract a lot of both national, and international visitors.

Traditional food

The best known of all and most distinctive one, flija, is prepared year-round but is a summer favourite. Flija made with saç is a specialty from the traditional Albanian cuisine, that is mostly prepared in mountainous areas. It is most certainly one of the typical Kosovar dishes that everyone local will recommend. Baklava is one of the traditional pastries of the Kosovar cuisine, although of Turkish origin. Bakllasarem is also a traditional food of Kosovo it is a salty pie with yoghurt and garlic covering.[76]

Nightlife

Prishtina has a small area, but with a lot of coffee bars,[77] that are near each other. Nightlife amazes the foreign visitors[78] and it is mainly concentrated in the Mother Teresa boulevard, Fehmi Agani road and Pejton neighborhood. Past Korza where the youth walked in the Mother Teresa boulevard has already been replaced with night clubs, discos and different coffee bars,[79] where Hamam Bar, that offers life jazz music, has entered among the top five bar restaurants with the best enteriour design in the world.[80]

Cultural Heritage

Prishtina has been inhabited for nearly 10,000d years,[81] and for this reason, it has a rich cultural heritage.

Gallery

Tourism in Prishtina gallery
Prishtina center 
Newborn monument 
Skanderbeg Bulevard 
Museum of Kosovo 
Çarshia Mosque 
Clock Tower 
Gërmia Park 
City Park 
Mother Teresa Bulevard 
Prishtina Bazar 
National Library of Kosovo 
Boro Ramiz 

References

  1. "Hotel Statistics in Q3 2013 (Alb. Statistikat e hotelierisë TM3 2013)" (PDF). Kosovo Agency of Statistics. 2013. p. 9.
  2. "Kosovo Agency of Statistics, 'Hotel Statistics in Q3 2013'" (PDF). Kosovo Agency of Statistics. 2013. p. 9.
  3. "Kosovo Agency of Statistics, 'Statistikat e hotelierisë TM3 2013'" (PDF). Kosovo Agency of Statistics. 2013. p. 13.
  4. "12 thousand foreign tourists visited Kosovo (alb. 12 mijë turistë të huaj e vizituan Kosovën)". 2013.
  5. Kosovo - Travel Guide and Travel Info
  6. Kosovo
  7. "Kosovo Agency of Statistics, 'Statistikat e hotelierisë TM3 2012'" (PDF). Kosovo Agency of Statistics. 2013. p. 13.
  8. "Kosovo Agency of Statistics, 'Statistikat e hotelierisë TM3 2012'" (PDF). KAS. 2013. p. 5.
  9. Nesër hapet panairi i parë i turizmit në Kosovë (i plotësuar)
  10. Kosovo attends, for the first time, the International Tourism Fair in Tokyo, Japan
  11. "World city guide". Turkish Airlines. 2009. p. 104.
  12. "'University of Prishtina' 1970-2005". University of Prishtina. 2005. p. 33.
  13. 1 2 Kosovo Travel Guide
  14. "Pristina in your pocket" (PDF). 2013. p. 9.
  15. Kosovo: what to see in Europe's newest country
  16. 7 Surprising Reasons to Visit Kosovo
  17. Wales Prince Charles interested about the religious tolerance in Kosovo (Alb. Princ Charles i Walesit interesohet për tolerancën fetare në Kosovë)
  18. Religious tolerance has always existed and exists in Kosovo (Alb. Toleranca fetare gjithnjë ka ekzistuar dhe ekziston në Kosovë)
  19. Dialog about the religious tolerance in Kosovo (Alb. Dialog mbi tolerancën fetare në Kosovë)
  20. "Demographic data about municipalities(Alb. Të dhënat demografike sipas komunave)" (PDF). 2013. p. 52.
  21. "Demographic data about municipalities(Alb. Të dhënat demografike sipas komunave)" (PDF). 2013. p. 18.
  22. Kosovars and Albanians, the happiest people in the region (Alb. Kosovarët dhe shqiptarët, popujt më të lumtur në rajon),
  23. The Virtual Jewish World - Kosovo
  24. Kosovo's Jewish Cemetery Restored By University Students (PHOTOS)
  25. Material Culture and the history of the city of Prishtina (Alb. Kultura materiale dhe historia e qytetit të Prishtinës),
  26. "World city guide". Turkish Airlines. 2009. p. 104.
  27. Medieval Monuments in Kosovo
  28. "Kosovo Agency of Statistics, 'Hotel Statistics' in Q3 2013'" (PDF). KAS. 2013. p. 10.
  29. The image of tourism of Kosovo improves (Alb. Përmirësohet imazhi i Kosovës për turizëm),
  30. The Goddess on the Throne
  31. 'Kosovo Museum.' InYourPocket. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2013 <http://www.inyourpocket.com/kosovo/pristina/sightseeing/museums/Kosovo-Museum_29249v>.
  32. Ethnological Museum
  33. Rita Ora lights Prishtina with "Shine Ya Light" (Alb. Rita Ora shndrit Prishtinën me “Shine Ya Light”),
  34. 1 2 3 Ottoman Prishtina
  35. "A future of the past of Prishtina (Alb. Një e ardhme për të kaluarën e Prishtinës)" (PDF). 2006. p. 12.
  36. "Prishtina Guide (Alb. Prishtina, udhërrëfyes)". The Office of Public Engagement of the Municipality of Prishtina. 2005. p. 29.
  37. "A future of the past of Prishtina (Alb. Një e ardhme për të kaluarën e Prishtinës)" (PDF). 2006. p. 14.
  38. http://www.esiweb.org/pdf/esi_future_of_pristina%20booklet_albanian.pdf
  39. "Prishtina Guide (Alb. Prishtina, udhërrëfyes)". The Office of Public Engagement of the Municipality of Prishtina. 2005. p. 32.
  40. Representation of educational plans and academic stuff, p. 10 (Alb. Pasqyra e planeve mësimore dhe e personelit akademik),
  41. A brief history of the University (Alb. Historiku i Universitetit)
  42. "Prishtina Guide (Alb. Prishtina, udhërrëfyes)". The Office of Public Engagement of the Municipality of Prishtina. 2005. p. 74.
  43. Ministry of Culture in Republic of Kosovo
  44. History of National Art Gallery of Kosovo
  45. Monument of Brotherhood and Unity
  46. "Pristina in your pocket" (PDF). 2013. p. 32.
  47. Sigal Prishtina Basketball team
  48. "Një e ardhme për të kaluarën e Prishtinës" (PDF). 2006. p. 17.
  49. "Prishtina Guide" (PDF). The Office of Public Engagement of the Municipality of Prishtina. pp. 135–139.
  50. "Prishtina Guide (Alb. Prishtina, udhërrëfyes)". The Office of Public Engagement of the Municipality of Prishtina. 2005. p. 135.
  51. Things to see in Pristina
  52. "NEWBORN, the symbol of Kosovo Independence". New Kosova Report. July 4, 2008. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  53. Védeilhé, Antoine and Thomas Lecomte (March 5, 2013). "Live from Kosovo, the country which turned five". Cafebabel.com: The European Magazine. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  54. "Outdoor ads as monuments, sculptures, stunts, installations, statues — Government Of The Republic Of Kosovo: NEWBORN MONUMENT". Coloribus Creative Advertising Archive. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  55. NEWBORN, the symbol of Kosovo Independence
  56. "Eurobest 2008". Eurobest. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  57. "Golden Drum Report" (PDF). Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  58. "Ogilvy Karrota: Awards". Ogilvy Karrota. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  59. "Clio Awards Shortlist Catalog". Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  60. Gomez-Palacio, Bryony; Vit, Armin. Graphic design referenced : a visual guide to the language, applications, and history of graphic design. Gloucester, Mass.: Rockport. ISBN 1592537421.
  61. Stone, Terry Lee (2010). Managing the design process--concept development : an essential manual for the working designer (1. publ. ed.). Beverly, Mass.: Rockport Publishers. ISBN 978-1592536177.
  62. "Prishtina Guide (Alb. Prishtina, udhërrëfyes)". The Office of Public Engagement of the Municipality of Prishtina. 2005. p. 65.
  63. Kosovo Catholics plan cathedral to honour Mother Teresa
  64. New Cathedral Symbolises Catholic Rebirth in Kosovo
  65. "World city guide". Turkish Airlines. 2009. p. 105.
  66. Skanderbeg statue
  67. KosICT 2013 #2 and 5 years with STIKK
  68. Regional IT Conference takes place in Kosovo (Alb. Në Kosovë zhvillohet konferenca rajonale për IT-në)
  69. Software Freedom Kosova 2013 is being organized (Alb. Organizohet Software Freedom Kosova 2013),
  70. 54 hours of Startup Weekend back in Pristina
  71. Jazz Festival
  72. "Home". PriFilmFest. Prishtina International Film Festival. Retrieved 2012-09-25.
  73. Prishtina DAM Festival, PrishtinaDAM Fest
  74. Events in Pristina
  75. "Kosovar Cuisine." Kosovo. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2013. <http://www.kosovoguide.com/?cid=2,227>.
  76. Pristina
  77. Prishtina tërheq turistët e huaj
  78. "Prishtina Guide (Alb. Prishtina, udhërrëfyes)". The Office of Public Engagement of the Municipality of Prishtina. 2005. p. 107.
  79. “Hamam Jazz Bar” në Prishtinë në mesin e 5 më të mirëve në botë (Foto)
  80. Warrander, Gail (2007). Kosovo: The Bradt Travel Guide. Bradt Travel Guides Ltd, 23 high street, chalfont st peter, bucks SL9 9QE, England: The Globe Pequot Press Inc. pp. 85–88. ISBN 1-84162-199-4. Retrieved 2013-05-18.
  81. "Prishtina Guide(Alb. Prishtina, udhërrëfyes)". The Office of Public Engagement of the Municipality of Prishtina. 2005. p. 23.
  82. Goldsworthy, Adrian Keith; Haynes, Ian; Adams, Colin E. P. (1997). The Roman army as a community. Journal of Roman Archaeology. p. 100. ISBN 1887829342.
  83. Perseus edu,"Iustiniāna,1.Prima, a town in Illyria, near Tauresium, was the birthplace of Justinian, and was built by that emperor. It became the residence of the archbishop of Illyria, and, in the Middle Ages, of the Servian kings.2.Secunda, also a town in Illyria, previously called Ulpiana, was enlarged and embellished by Justinian. "
  84. 1 2 Maja Parović-Pešikan. "Starinar". 1881.
  85. Monuments of Culture in Serbia: Улпијана (SANU) (Serbian) (English)
  86. Ulpiana (Ancient Settlement), The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports - Kosovo/UNMIK , 31 July 2006
  87. Monuments of Culture in Serbia: МАНАСТИР ГРАЧАНИЦА (SANU) (Serbian) (English)
  88. UNESCO (2006). "List of World Heritage in Danger". Retrieved 24 February 2013.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, January 25, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.