Work is in full swing on implementation of major infrastructural projects designed to transform priority areas with high tourism potential in Albania’s southern coastline.

Another major project on radical urban, economic and social transformation for Vlora and a wider region in Albania’s southern coast is increasingly taking shape with the newest construction site of the Lungomare 3, Vlora Waterfront Promenade after successful completion of two earlier phases, namely the Lungomare 1 and Lungomare 2 projects.

The new section of seafront promenade will stretch from the Uji i Ftohte area in Vlora to the coastal villages of Radhime and Orikum and it will further improve urban infrastructure, enhance tourism assets and activities coastal city of Vlora, already a popular tourist destination in Albania.

Prime Minister Edi Rama today visited the area to closely inspect project’s progress along its various sections.

“This marks the start of the first section of Lungomare Waterfront Promenade 3. It has been divided into two sections. This is the place where it will be connected with the Lungomare 2, the second stage of the whole seafront promenade project in Vlora. If we are to describe the whole project, the entire 4.5km long coastline extent is seriously battered by erosion and, at certain parts of it, such a phenomenon also affects the road segment,” the work manager said, adding that everything had been best designed in details to be addressed in the process of project implementation.

The construction project envisages quality transformation of beaches, public spaces and service units, whilst trees and will be planted and huge pedestrian areas will be built along the existing road track, which will also feature a bicycle lane. Meanwhile, the traffic will be relocated to allow fresh breath for Vlora as a popular tourist destination.

“Apart from beaches and the promenade rehabilitation, the design studio has also designed a special super project on urban greenery. The studio has redesigned entire coastline and if we are to look at the entire design, we will see that main upgrading elements will start off with the coastline and beaches. The project’s second important element includes creation of a five-meter wide pedestrian lane, featuring also a bicycle lane, allowing visitors to walk and experience the whole coastline,” the project manager said.

Prime Minister Edi Rama noted that further development of the areas with high tourism development potential has been slated to be a high priority process for the upcoming tourist seasons.

“Transformation of the existing road into a pedestrian lane will be unprecedented and really spectacular and it will definitely make the area similar to the most densely populated coastal areas in Spain or Greece. The villages of Orikum, Borsh and Ksamil are three areas with tremendous tourism potential. The project here, just like we did in Vlora, will completely change the landscape,” PM Rama said.

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Work continues on transformation of infrastructure in areas with high tourism development potential 

Albania’s tourism industry saw a record-breaking tourist season this year and recorded one of the greatest successes in years, further driving the industry’s ambition for the future to be a much more promising one. 

Upgrading and modernizing infrastructure in Albania’s coastal areas, and the popular tourist destinations in the country’s south in particular, is one of top government priorities as part of its vision to develop areas with high tourism potential.

The coastal village of Dhërmi was the next stop in the Prime Minister’s trip to southern Albania to inspect a series of infrastructure projects there.

Efforts are already underway and work will continue along entire coastline in this area, where needed measures are in place as part of early preparations for the next year’s tourist season, starting with cleaning of the beaches and public spaces along the coast so that the area remains an undisputable destination for the holidaymakers and ensure yet another successful season for the country’s tourism industry.

“Practically, regardless of how much rehabilitation work has been already done, the whole stretch of the coast needs more requalification projects to be implemented. We can design a requalification project to separate private spaces from the public ones. We can design two or three combined models and present owners of the private spaces with the approved models,” the Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro said during the inspection tour.

On his part, PM Rama stated that everything should complete in terms of infrastructure ahead of the upcoming tourist season.