Albanian agrotourism welcomed a new addition in the middle of this year: “The Old Lahuta” Agrotourism in Gjorëm, within the Kurbin district, led by the distinguished businessman Esat Reçi. Just 3 km from the center of the town of Laç and no more than 45 km from the capital, Tirana, 20 km from Mother Teresa Airport, or 50 km from Durrës, “The Old Lahuta” Agrotourism Gjorëm Kurbin has opened its doors and set tables at all times for clients, whether Albanian or foreign tourists.
Bio-products from the farm of the owner of “The Old Lahuta,” as well as those from the farmers in the villages of Kurbin, including grains, livestock, vegetables, fruits, and herbs, are prepared instantly here in a traditional way, baked with firewood in the oven, on the sač, or on the grill. The drinks offered, such as wine, raki, etc., are also produced in the Agrotourism’s cellar from the owner’s vineyards.
Businessman Esat Reçi explains that the “idea to build such agrotourism came to me early, back in the years when I emigrated to Greece. I invested all the financial capital accumulated by the family over the years in my homeland, starting from vineyards, olive groves, and up to the coffee bars in the town of Laç. We live in an area with favorable climatic and soil conditions; here, all types of grains, fruits, and vegetables are cultivated, so I ventured into this investment without fear. We almost planted the entire land with vineyards and olive trees. Over the years, we started renting or buying land to plant. The abundant grape production, the variety of high-quality varieties, “forced” me willingly to build a modern winery with sufficient capacity not only for my needs but also for trade. I quickly created my label ‘ALBULENA’ for wine and raki and started advertising and participating in local and national fairs, where I was also honored with awards.”
Esat’s vision for expanding his activity is evident. Family income would not be enough to build such agrotourism, so rightly, Esat says, “I had to apply for IPARD II for a large project,” for which, he adds, he has been a beneficiary.
“Lahuta e Vjetër” opened its doors to local and foreign clients in June of this year, says Esat, becoming the first agrotourism in the Kurbin area, serving the development of the region and encouraging family businesses for more traditional, sought-after products by visitors and tourists. And today, although only a few months have passed, “The Old Lahuta” Agrotourism has become a successful enterprise, stimulating the economic activity of the village and the entire district to increase family income and revitalize life in rural areas.
When asked about the courage he has shown in building such an enterprise, Esat, with his unique calmness and smile, says, “I have never been afraid; I have not felt that I am risking, for many reasons, starting from my business experience over these three decades. Also, everything that the consumer needs is produced here, it is so close to the capital and the national road,” and it is in a traditional area like Kurbin and in a village with a unique history and ethno-cultural heritage. “Today, I have created a unique kitchen, my farm, contracts with many farmers, and have built a solid clientele. I feel good when I see that different clients return to my agribusiness for the umpteenth time, and in a way, they advertise it, taking with them even customers who come for the first time. But not only local clients frequent ‘The Old Lahuta,’ many tourists, almost from all of Europe, come and spend time here, not just hours but also days. This has forced me to increase the capacities with guest rooms.”
Esat is not only a courageous man but also a visionary. Besides service, food, cleanliness, and culture, he offers beautiful environments for visits to his clients. He has built the museum of the winery where clients have the opportunity to learn about the variety of grapes, their antiquity, and inside the restaurant, they can see the hearth of the tower, the historical values he expresses, see the instrument of the lahuta, with which his grandfather sang epic songs, and see the corner of Kurbin traditional costumes, as well as many beautiful paintings.
“I have plans for the future,” says Esat. “In service to the clients, I want to add some high-end cars to send them to visit the numerous natural monuments that the village of Gjorëm offers, such as the old towers, the Great Fountain, the ancient 2000-year-old olive tree, the rock with the face of a man, etc.
This is “The Old Lahuta” Agrotourism, the largest investment of its kind in Kurbin that invites local and foreign clients.”
