How to ensure that young people living in tourist areas like Gjirokater, Saranda, Vlora, Korca and Shkodra benefit from tourism professional training courses usually offered only in the capital of the country, without adding extra costs like transportation and accommodation?

Gladiola Dona from Hospitality and Tourism Academy (HAT) already has the answers. She partnered with RisiAlbania to develop a professional online platform aiming at getting better access to training especially for young people outside Tirana, reducing the costs by 75% and increasing their employability through improving in-demand skills in tourism.

“The Academy has welcomed trainees from different cities who have undertaken professional courses but coming from distant cities like Saranda, Tepelena, or Theth, have a higher financial cost and a time-consuming experience. In order to reduce these costs and the geographical gaps, we are developing an innovative online training platform for tourism courses, initially in hotelier courses such as Bar, Restaurant, Reception and Food Manager where the demand from other cities is higher” – says Gladiola.

“By developing private non-formal training market through supporting innovative programs and learning methodologies we are improving the skills and enhancing the employment for young people” – explains Ermira Shyti, Skills, Career Guidance  and Intermediation Team Leader at RisiAlbania.