In recent years, however, some former residents have begun returning to invest in their hometown. One of them is Erjon Kapedani, who was born and raised in Tirana and has chosen to invest in his family’s ancestral land by building a tourist resort. He initially constructed a house for his father, who wished to return to Strelcë, before expanding the project into a hospitality facility that now welcomes visitors from across Europe.

“Strelcë is the village where my father was born. He used to bring us here, and we loved it. When mountain tourism started growing, we decided to do something. From May to September, about 90% of our guests are foreigners, while Albanians mainly come on weekends. Visitors spend time at the swimming pools, the river, hiking in the mountains, climbing Mount Valamarë, and exploring the nearby lakes. There are several attractions, including Black Lake in Gramsh and Moglica, where people can enjoy nature. I believe that in the first year alone, my guesthouse could welcome more than 1,000 visitors. Strelcë will come back to life,” said tourism operator Erjon Kapedani.

Tourists also say they have been impressed by the area’s natural beauty, traditional cuisine, and the hospitality of the locals, describing Strelcë as a unique destination.

“I’m from Belgium, and this is my first time here. We found this place through Booking. We think it’s one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever visited. The hospitality is remarkable, we even learned how to cook Albanian dishes, and the food was delicious. It was definitely worth coming all the way here,” one tourist said.

The Gora Administrative Unit comprises 16 villages, which are attracting an increasing number of domestic and international visitors, particularly those interested in adventure and nature tourism. Residents believe that investments like these will not only boost tourism but also help gradually restore life to villages that have been affected by years of emigration.