“70 percent private, 30 percent public”... the formula for dividing beaches in Albania is not implemented on the ground. This is the conclusion reached by the Supreme State Audit Office in its report “Management of public spaces on beaches”, reports A2 CNN. The Supreme State Audit Office highlights that the government policy of giving more “free sand” to vacationers exists only on paper.
From field observations it results that the space reserved for the public is often not suitable and accessible for citizens. Their location is often near the sewage discharge, in dirty territory, or distance from historical beach areas. In some cases public space is occupied by residents of the area with sun loungers and stationary umbrellas closed with chains and locks.
Supreme State Audit Office
The "black and white" picture of tourism in Albania, with all the thousands and millions of tourists who are said to enter the country every month, extends in other directions as well.
At some beaches, infrastructure is inadequate, including a lack of lifeguards, signage, changing cabins, clean showers and well-maintained toilets. This negatively impacts the visitor experience and can create community distress where public spaces are not of the proper quality or in some cases there is not enough space for public use. Cleaning issues are also a notable challenge.
Supreme State Audit Office
The keys are not only at the central level. Even coastal municipalities are failing to get what they deserve from private businesses that use the beaches.
The municipalities of Shkodër, Lezhë, Durrës, Himarë, Saranda during the period 2022-2024, have not conducted any study or cost-benefit analysis regarding the management of public spaces on beaches, including the review of the value of the fee for their occupancy. The fee has remained the same for the period and can be considered a formal process of maintaining it at the same levels from one year to the next.
Supreme State Audit Office
Albania remains the only country in Europe that lacks a coastal law that would include the treatment of beaches, similar to coastal countries in the region. The Supreme State Audit Office is calling for its adoption as soon as possible. (A2 Televizion)
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