INTEGRATING LOCAL AGRI-FOOD PRODUCTS INTO TOURISM VALUE CHAINS: IMPLICATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Authors

  • Sead Baraku University of Shkodra "Luigj Gurakuqi" image/svg+xml
  • Alkida Hasaj Faculty of Economy, Department of Tourism, University of Shkoder, Albania

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46763/

Keywords:

Agri-food integration, Tourism value chains, Sustainable rural development, Local food systems, Supply chain coordination, Destination authenticity

Abstract

The study explores how local agri-food products are incorporated into tourism value chains and what this means for sustainable rural development. Combining a systematic literature review with bibliometric analysis, this study examines 100 peer-reviewed studies to identify key patterns, challenges, and opportunities. The research highlights five vital areas influencing integration: socio-economic impacts, supply chain governance, environmental sustainability, cultural experiences, and policy coordination. Results show that successful integration can diversify rural incomes, enhance destination authenticity, and boost environmental resilience, especially in remote and resource-sensitive areas. Nonetheless, barriers such as fragmented supply chains, seasonal fluctuations, and limited institutional coordination continue to limit these benefits. The study provides practical insights for policymakers, tourism operators, and local producers, emphasizing the importance of collaborative governance, local branding, and value chain coordination. These insights aim to support strategies that leverage agri-food tourism as a catalyst for sustainable rural development.

Author Biographies

  • Sead Baraku, University of Shkodra "Luigj Gurakuqi"

    Sead Baraku, Phd©, is a doctoral student in “Sustainable Tourism”. He has graduated with excellent results in the science master's program in “Sustainable Tourism and Management” at the Faculty of Economics in Shkoder. He has been a lecturer since 2014 at the Faculty of Economy, Department of Tourism. He teaches different subjects in the field of tourism and Marketing. He has done a practical internship in a project named CABRA (Conservation of Agrobiodiversity in Rural Areas of Albania; Peaks of Balkans). During the past four years, he has been working as an economist in small businesses. He also works as a telemarketing assistant in the teleselling company XL World and as a dental laboratory technician, another passion of his. Multiple and various qualifications made ​him able to perform the tasks that are listed above. Among them it can be highlighted the training courses in Sustainable Tourism carried out in WWF Mediterranean and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA, Marine Protection Areas Capacity Building Program. Another training course was on topics like the Introduction to Business and Job Search Methods conducted in Italy CELIM NGOs, Cariplo Foundation, and the Regional Office of Employment in Shkodra. Sead Baraku,Msc has also been trained in the Fundamentals of Destination Management and Marketing at the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute. Lastly, he received Tourism training courses in the Sandhills Community College, CFE, CHE, and FMP. His qualification is fulfilled with a comprehensive knowledge of three foreign languages, English, Italian, and Turkish.

  • Alkida Hasaj, Faculty of Economy, Department of Tourism, University of Shkoder, Albania

    Alkida Hasaj is a lecturer at the Faculty of Economy, Department of Tourism, at the University of Shkoder, where she has contributed her expertise since 2005. Beyond academia, she has played a significant role in various nonprofit and public organizations. She completed her doctoral research on "Orientation Towards the Brand from Non-Profit Organizations and its Impact on Performance" and has conducted scientific studies on tourism at prestigious institutions, including the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (Spain), Faenza (Italy), and George Washington University (USA).

    Since 2022, Dr. Hasaj has served as a trainer at the "School of Principals in Albania" and has been an active board member of the "Albanian United States Alumni" association. In 2010, she participated in a 50-hour training course on the IF Discussion Process, securing a grant to integrate this method into her Economics of Tourism course. She also contributed to the 2012 Albanian translation of the "Guidebook for Student-Centered Classroom Discussions."

    Dr. Hasaj is a certified coach for The Collaborative Discussion Project (USA, 2022). In September 2024, she was appointed Head of the Department of Tourism at the Faculty of Economy, "Luigj Gurakuqi" University.

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Published

16.07.2026

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1 (2026): International Journal of Economics, Management and Tourism

Section

Articles