Following the inspection visit at the start of the 2024 summer tourism season, the Minister of Tourism and Environment attended many meetings in Shkodra, the municipality that would receive assistance this year from the National Coastal Agency in cleaning the coast as part of the “Clean Beaches” program.
Minister Kumbaro was accompanied by Shkodra Mayor Beci Beci and Minister of State for Relations with Parliament Elisa Spiropali as they studied Velipoja’s shoreline.
Minister Kumbaro remarked that there has been a significant improvement in the visual design of Velipoja, including the opening up of more public spaces. Tourist flows are expected to increase by nearly 40% this summer, necessitating inter-institutional coordination for optimal management.
“We have coordinated the two teams for the Clean Beaches operation, which will run from 15 June to 15 September. I am very pleased that this year we are supporting the Municipality of Shkodra by doubling all the forces, human teams, and equipment to clean the entire coastline 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If I compare it with two years ago, it is a completely different picture, especially in terms of opening new public spaces, starting from this shoreline,” said Minister Kumbaro.
The Mayor of Shkodra, Benet Beci, said that the cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Environment through the National Coastal Agency for the cleaning of the coastline will help Velipoja reach maximum standards of cleanliness this season.
The opening of public places has resulted in a clean-up of the rubbish along the shoreline. We currently have 40% public beaches and have developed a model of public beach management that will be implemented to five more. The Mayor of Shkodra stated that cooperation with the Ministry on cleaning issues is vital, and he believes that this year we will achieve the highest standards.
Minister Spiropali pointed out the rapid growth of tourism in Shkodra and the growth of investment services in this sector.
“With the increase of the tourist flow in Shkodra, which will increase the services also, attention is given to investments and the challenge is to cope with this flow by ensuring the right environment”.
The “Clean Beaches” project is in its third year and will help 7 municipalities clean their beaches this summer season: Himara, Saranda, Vlora, Rrogozhina, Kavaja, Durrës, and Shkodra.