By Kreshnik Kucaj
Memorie.al / For years, Albania has made efforts to build modern accommodation structures for tourist purposes. The practice of concessions has been an attempted practice, to be followed since the period of the Bird Monarchy. Such a concession would be discussed in the Albanian Parliament at the end of 1933. In one of the sessions held in November 1933, a draft agreement signed between the Minister of Finance and a merchant with residence in Durrës, for the establishment of a first-class hotel, with a capacity of 100 sleeping rooms, with all the necessary conditions, inside which there would be a large casino, ballrooms, a bar, a theater and a cinema.
Practically, for the Albania of those years, this resort would be the largest in the country, and perhaps one of the most modern in the Balkans. (The “Dajti” hotel, which would be built a few years later and would be the largest hotel project in the country, would have 100 rooms, but would still be smaller than this project).
The concession project was concluded between Mr. Kristaq Zagoridhi (merchant) and the Minister of Finance, Abdurrahman Dibra. The project was ambitious and envisioned the construction of a resort similar to those in Monte Carlo or San Remo.
“The hotel in question will have a magnificent casino, with entertainment halls for balls, bars, theater, cinema and for different types, such as in Sanremo, Monte Carlo, where the games of roulette, trent, carante, bacara, chemindefer, bulette and , other games of chance, of this hand.
The hotel will be decorated all around with flower gardens and orchards, which will have special places for tennis and other outdoor games and for the seaside, a modern bathroom, with organizations for boating and other sports, which can to attract foreigners and make the beach of Durrës a place of entertainment”, it was written in the draft concession signed in October 1933, and that a month later, it was being discussed in the Parliament hall, in principle.
The concessionaire undertook to pave the entire road with asphalt, from the city of Durrës to the area of the Rock of Kavaja. Likewise, the concessionaire undertook to install a power plant, to supply energy to the beach area, against the fee set for this service by the Municipality of Durrës.
Resort and casino deadlock
The agreement stipulated that the Albanian government undertook to grant the concessionaire the exclusive right to practice gambling for a period of 33 years and not to grant any other concessions or permits for this purpose.
“It is implied that the exclusive right belongs only to the exercise of various gambling games”, it was written in the project-concession, which was discussed in the Parliament.
The government also undertook to make available to the concessionaire, free of charge, for the entire term of the concession, the land necessary to make the planned constructions and installations, which were also exempt from taxes and customs duties.
Foreign staff
The agreement was detailed and provided for, among other things, the staff that would be hired. The waiters and croupiers of the casino would be taken as foreigners.
“The government undertakes with permission the concessionaire, to bring 30 foreign people, men and women, from abroad, in order to use them in various services of the hotel and casino”, it was written in the draft concession.
On top of the casino’s annual gross income, the concessionaire was obliged to pay 10% of the income. The internal service in the casino and the gaming fee, would be set by means of a special regulation, which would also have the approval of the government.
For the exploitation of this enterprise, the concessionaire had the right to form a company and once it was approved, this concession would be registered in the name of the company. In this case, its basic capital was also allowed to be foreign.
At the end of the concession term, the buildings and all other installations would be handed over to the government free of charge and in functional condition. The financial guarantee that had to be placed by the concessionaire was 60 thousand gold francs.
In relation to the concession project, it is evident that such an investment is in focus; “attracting a lot of visitors outside making the beach in question a very modern place of entertainment”.
Attitudes against. held in plenary session
The discussion of the project-concession was done only in principle, as it would then be passed for consideration in the relevant commissions. However, in this discussion in principle, there would be no lack of objections from well-known deputies of those years.
Eshref Frashëri would oppose the project, with the argument that it causes moral and material damage.
“In my opinion, this draft law causes damage, both materially and morally, and therefore I am not a member, so that it is accepted”, he would say.
While MP Fejzi Alizoti was in principle in favor of the construction of the hotel, but opposed the bringing of the staff from abroad, as well as the opening of the casino.
“For the construction of a hotel on the beach of Durrs, I believe that no one opposes it; but for spreading a gambling officially, I’m not a member. I am also not a member, so that the concessionaire can be given cartabianca, so that he can bring the waitresses from abroad, in a word, so that he can do as he wants. If it is rightly accepted with the changes in the commission, I accept it”, he said.
Thoma Orollogaj, would seek explanations from the Minister of Finance, if it was possible for the draft concession to be amended in the commissions and if the concessionaire would be open to accepting them.
“In every other country, hotels and casinos are built like this. When we have such a beautiful beach, why don’t we also build a hotel like this, which can also attract visitors from abroad. I don’t think raising such a thing is unpleasant.
The construction of a hotel like this begs, as everyone can guess, quite a lot of capital and I don’t know if the concessionaire can do it.
I remind you that if reasonable modifications are requested, the concessionaire will accept these items, even though they are accepted en block, the commission has the right to request modifications. Therefore, I ask that it be accepted and go to the commission”, would answer the Minister of Finance, Abdurraman Dibra.
The project-concession would be accepted in principle in the plenary session and would be referred to the parliamentary committees.
In the parliamentary talks, no more details are given about this project-concession, and not even the well-known researcher of economy and finance, Inspector of the Royal Court, Haxhi Shkoza, has included this project in the chapter of concessions.
However, the major investments in the hotel and tourism sector in Albania would be made at the end of the 30s and the beginning of the 40s, when the “Dajti” Hotel, the “Hunting” Hotel in Lezhë and the which would later be named “Vollga” Hotel in Durrës.
Meanwhile, in the 40s in Durrës, the most famous hotel would be the newly built “Grande Albergo dei Dogi” (Later it would be named “Vollga”). Also, there were Hotel “Augusteo”, Hotel “Europa”, Hotel “Internazionale”, Hotel “Iola”, Hotel “Isola Bella”, Hotel “Pallas” and Hotel “Splendido”. Memorie.al
