The mass inoculation campaign against COVID-19 today expanded further to include tour operators, hotel employees and tourism service workers across the country to prepare for a relaxed summer tourism season free from the pandemic effects.

As many as 2000 tour operators currently registered with the Ministry of Tourism and Environment are expected to receive the coronavirus shot and number of tourism service workers is set to further increase in the coming days, the Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu said as she accompanied Prime Minister Edi Rama while touring the public vaccination site in the coastal city of Durres.

“Around 2000 tourism service workers, not only in Durres, but also in Vlora, Lezhe and elsewhere, will receive the jab starting today,” Health Minister Manastirliu said, providing updated information on the vaccination drive in Durres. “More than 20,000 citizens, older adults and risk groups have been vaccinated at the vaccination site in Durres. The total number of vaccinated people countrywide has reached over 310,000,” she added.

A representative from the Albanian Tour Operators and Tourist Agencies Association noted that the process is highly welcomed by the hotel employees and tourism service workers. “It is really welcomed by the tourism structures. We were seriously concerned as the tourism workers are in direct contacts with costumers and not only that, as international and local tour operators have constantly called for safety,” he said.

Prime Minister Edi Rama urged every tour operator the hotel employee registered with the Ministry of Tourism and Environment to receive the vaccine.

“It is important that everyone is notified today. The government is ready to vaccinate entire personnel of the hotels and hospitality facilities, starting with hotel structures in the coastal areas, who are supposed to deal with the largest number of tourists and visitors they serve to and it is them that by receiving the vaccine offer more safety to visitors, who will find COVID-free hotels from now on. We will continue to further expand the immunisation process by including a larger number of workers. Everyone should apply with the Ministry of Tourism and enlist for the vaccine,” the Premier said, announcing that the immunisation drive will soon include two more vulnerable categories. “Two other worker categories to receive the vaccine soon include the garment and footwear industry employees and the workers of the passenger transport companies, who face significant risk in terms of infection. We have already started work to draft list of passenger transport companies in collaboration with the General Directorate of Road Transport Services.”