Minister Gonxhja Says Summer Season Begins with Record Visitor Flow and New Public Beaches

Blendi Gonxhja, Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sports, announced following the government meeting that the 2026 summer season has begun on a very strong note, with record levels of foreign visitors to Albania.
The minister also addressed the various types of public beaches maintained by local self-government units. According to him, in addition to free beaches where citizens can rest without paying, municipalities administer public beaches equipped with umbrellas, loungers, hygiene and sanitation services, and upgraded infrastructure in exchange for fees determined by the peculiarities of each beach. He underlined that this system has also had an impact on the private market, encouraging the maintenance of competitive prices and increasing residents’ access to high-quality services at reasonable prices.
Concerning beach safety, Minister Gonxhja stated that all essential steps are being done to provide the required number of lifeguards. He urged citizens to use supervised beaches, particularly when accompanied by children, and emphasized that towns are required to indicate areas without lifeguards, while citizens should take caution on natural and uncontrolled beaches where safety services are not available.