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Shkodra with delays in the tourist season/ Municipalities: More support is needed

2025-05-28 13:57:00, Qyteti im CNA

Shkodra with delays in the tourist season/ Municipalities: More support is

The problems of tourism in the Shkodra region, at a time when the tourist season has begun, are huge. At a meeting of the Task Force, the Prefect of the Shkodra Region, Majlinda Angoni, informed the municipalities and other institutions of concerns ranging from road traffic, waste or beach management.

Shkodra with delays in the tourist season/ Municipalities: More support is

"We are facing several challenges that we must face this year. Managing road traffic during the tourist season, especially in the Shkodra municipality, where we also have a situation of road works. A problem encountered and that puts us in front of difficulties is the level of noise beyond limits, especially focused on urban areas, as well as in beach areas, cleanliness is a necessary condition, there should not be a single point of inerts, waste, dirt poured outside the garbage bins. So, we require a strict method and drastic measures in terms of hygiene, cleanliness and contracting companies in dealing with these situations. Let's not become a fairy tale and have cases where tourists, in addition to natural beauties, also take out the waste scattered everywhere", - said Angoni.

Shkodra with delays in the tourist season/ Municipalities: More support is

The coastline and lake do not guarantee safety for vacationers due to the lack of lifeguards and substandard boats. Another concern are the sun loungers in public spaces in Velipojë, where only half of them have been approved so far, risking other serious conflicts like in previous years.

"The lack of lifeguards on the beaches still remains a problem that can endanger the lives of vacationers. Another problem is the practice of maritime tourism with substandard vessels, especially problematic in Komanin," said Angoni.

"So far we are at the stage where the Municipality of Shkodra has brought us a project for the movement of watercraft on the beaches, for resting places as well as for swimming areas and similar things that are determined by a decision of the Council of Ministers. This year, a corridor for watercraft has been added and it is very close, so it is in the busiest area of ??vacationers and will create few problems for us and I hope that the municipality will review this problem," said Asllan Shytaj, responsible for the Border and Migration Police.

"The number of applications for the Shkodra municipality to be equipped with beach stations has been approximately 133, 65 have been approved in advance and the remaining ones have been rejected for not meeting the main criterion, which is the accommodation structure. Also, this year, no parcel that does not have a certified beach observer will be approved." Bujar Shpendi, regional director, National Environment Agency.

Shkodra with delays in the tourist season/ Municipalities: More support is

The deputy mayors were critical at this meeting. The number two of the Puka Municipality, Ferit Ringaj, targeted the government for neglecting this area, where no investment has been made in 2 years.

"Puka, in terms of government-supported projects that are closely related to infrastructure, is almost zero. It's been two years since we have had any investment, neither in road axes, nor in the rest of the infrastructure, such as electricity or water supply services or others. Puka requires attention and those projects that are not to remain in the drawers of ministries, but as much as we can, we should also take the part that belongs to us because we need to serve the citizens and raise hope that Puka will not be abandoned anymore, because enough has been abandoned so far, and to create the premises that something is being done to attract people to stay and not leave," said Ringaj.

"A regulation for the design of the public beach is being drafted that will also raise awareness among citizens regarding the way in which the public beach will be used and the criteria that must be respected by citizens in order to ensure its proper functioning." Alban Preka, Deputy Mayor of Shkodra Municipality.

"We should cover it with human, mechanical and financial capacities, both for cleaning and for maintaining a cleaner and more cultured environment. For electricity, we have tried so far, together with OSHEE, to install the right lines, but we have a few problems, which I believe can be overcome," said Sytki Ndrecaj, deputy mayor of the Malësi e Madhe Municipality.

"I ask the Shkodra municipality to come to our aid for the waste of businesses that are created on the Shala River because the businesses there are taken over by the Shkodra area and the waste is left to us, so help us in this area," said Elvis Preçi, deputy mayor of the Vau-Dejës Municipality.

Shkodra, as a region where tourism is thought to be growing, faces major concerns that have been addressed in recent years, but which have not found concrete solutions. In addition to problems in cities or beaches, there is also a problem of lack of electricity in mountainous areas from time to time, where Thethi and Lëpusha, Vermoshi and Razma in Malësia e Madhe remain the most affected./CNA