THE ROLE OF GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION PRODUCTS IN BUILDING THE IDENTITY OF A GASTRONOMIC TOURISTIC DESTINATION IN ALBANIA

In an increasing competitive market, the identity of territorial products has become a key factor for sustainable development.Geographical Indications (GIs) are increasingly seen as strategic tools for rural development and the promotion of tourist destinations.Geographical Indications strengthen the connection between the product and its place of origin, giving the product an added symbolic and economic value.Despite the relevance of the tourism sector, there is s limited quantitative research that explores tourists geographical Indication Schemes affecting gastronomic tourism demand in Albania.The purpose of this study is to analyze in depth the impact that local foods and products certified with Geographical Indications (GIs) have on the development of gastronomic tourism, with a particular focus on Albania.As one of the countries with a rich culinary heritage, high biodiversity, and a strongly rural structure, Albania possesses exceptional potential for developing sustainable tourism models that are closely connected to territory, culture, and food experience.Geographical Indications (GIs) serve as a guarantee of quality, origin and tradition, as a way to help them differentiate from industrial products.In Albania, there is a legal framework for protecting GIs (Law No. 9977-2008 on Industrial Property) the awareness level among producers remains low.So far, Albania has registered a limited number of products as GIs, but assessments indicate that dozens of other products -including fruits, vegetables, livestock products, olive oil, wine, and honey -have potential and meet the criteria for certification (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2022).The research is quantitative and was conducted in Albania, a country that are rich in distinctive products that preserve cultural identity and connection with territory, offering strong foundations for enhancing culinary tourism and fostering economic development.The authors aim to identify the importance of local foods in the tourist experience, their exposure to and consumption of GI-certified products and their perceptions of the role of these products in understanding local culture.These findings offer a precise understanding of the impact of Geographical Indication Schemes in developing gastronomic tourism destinations and provide a strategic basis for designing policies aimed in maximizing the profits of local products.