Monika Hasani (Hoshafi)1, Deniz Xhoga Çupi2
“Ismail Qemali” University, Vlorë, Faculty of Human Sciences and Law2
“Ismail Qemali” University, Vlorë, Faculty of Human Sciences and Law2 monikahasani637@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
In the previous decade, there were no information boards in the areas of cultural and natural heritage. Their absence brought confusion and often wrong orientation of the tourist or traveller. Placing guides and information boards in areas and objects of cultural and natural heritage are part of the projects of state institutions, as well as of non-profit organizations that operate in that field or in that area.
In the present days, the situation seems to have improved, but one issue that can easily be distinguished is the lack of responsibility towards the mother tongue and its incorrect use. Descriptions of cultural and natural heritage objects are often accompanied by vague information. The low level of description observed in the language used affects the transmission of poor information about the object, not properly highlighting its special values.
In all cases, the tables are drawn up by educated employees. In this article, we will analyse the facts that lead to this phenomenon and try to identify whether these employees lack knowledge of properly writing the Albanian language, or if there is a lack of editing service, if this activity is carried out hastily, therefore irresponsibly. In all cases, the institution is poorly presented both in the eyes of the Albanian and foreign public, causing a negative image in the eyes of tourists. Correcting the mistakes is not easy, as it requires a double investment. Spelling mistakes and as a result often wrong informative orientation, remain there, misread over the years by thousands of visitors, thus bringing a negative impact on our cultural tourism.
At cultural and natural heritage sites, orientation and information boards on the values of these areas have been installed, mainly in the last 10 years. Many of them are written with spelling mistakes, are poorly designed or provide incomplete information. Meanwhile, there is still a need to place information boards on Albanian cultural and natural heritage sites. Their absence still causes confusion and often wrong orientation of the tourist or traveller.
Keywords: spelling mistakes, signs, negative image, tourism, institutions
INTRODUCTION
The placement of guide and information boards in areas and objects of cultural and natural heritage are part of the projects of state institutions, as well as non-profit associations operating in this field or area. However, even if they are placed by non-profit organizations, they are approved by the institution that manages and administers the area. Thus, the National Agency of Protected Areas manages sites with natural heritage values, the Institute of Cultural Heritage manages cultural sites, and in some cases, they are also managed by the respective municipality.
Heritage sites contain a wide range of characteristics and a spectrum of values that make them unique, which brings the need to preserve them, to conserve them untouched by urban development, possibly climate change. They are important both for local communities and for the wider European community. The placement of the information panels and the correct and complete description of their values is the responsibility of the administrative institutions of the sites.
Volume 9, No.2 (2024): April
ISSN 2661-2666 (Online) International Scientific Journal Monte (ISJM)
ISSN 2661-264X (Print)
DOI : 10.33807/monte.20243135
DOI URL: https://doi.org/10.33807/monte.20243135
Full Text: PDF
This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)