Prime Minister Edi Rama shared moments from this cleaning action in the social media, which according to him, has become a tradition on August 26.

“The ‘Clean Mountains’ initiative has an exemplary organization in 10 National and Natural Parks throughout Albania by the National Agency for Protected Areas. Hundreds of volunteers, institutions, organizations and many others have become part of the cleaning and awareness actions”, said Rama.

The prime minister praised the work carried out with dedication and love for the protected areas, “these jewels of our nature, where ecosystems deserve to be clean and healthy”, as he put it.

“Clean Mountains” cleanup campaign engaged hundreds of volunteers who removed hundreds of kilograms of waste from national parks. /p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama shared in the social media footage from this action today, while assuring that the engineering forces will not leave Theth until the last piece of debris has been removed.

“Today, in Theth, with the support of the engineering forces, there has begun cleaning of inert waste from the execution of decisions for demolition of over 100 unauthorized buildings constructed in extreme violation of the law on protected areas, of the history and fascinating landscape of that area, and of the tourism that has been cultivated over the years by those who have sacrificed to make Theth the present-day destination,” Rama said.

Meanwhile, the prime minister stressed that, “There is still one massive building left to be demolished, in order to complete the full execution of the decision taken by the National Inspectorate of Territory Protection and restore Theth into the normality it had before this criminal madness.”

“The Urban Revival 2.0 has begun as a vital necessity for Albania 2030 in the EU,” said PM Rama. /m.m//r.e//a.f/p.s./

Minister of State for Local Government Arbjan Mazniku emphasized the economic value that tourism brings to municipalities.

“Most of the income from tourism last year went to bars and restaurants where many people are employed; another part in hotels, in agri-food products and a part in transport”, said Mazniku.

According to him, the opening of the tourist season is one of the most important elements where there is required the cooperation between institutions to provide the best services to citizens and this goal assumes another dimension of significance at this moment.

“A large number of people, in some cases 10 times greater than the number of residents that municipalities have, are expecting services. Therefore, this also implies another stage of commitment from the Municipalities because it ultimately affects the country’s image”.

He said that the contribution of tourism generates development in the entire economic chain, employment, trade, increased income for businesses, families and development as a whole.

“Last year, tourists spent 5.5 billion euros in Albania. 30% of this money went to services, bars, restaurants…, so an element that is related to municipalities, since it is the responsibility of local government to monitor these services. 30% of this money was spent on bars and restaurants, where waiters, chefs, maintenance workers… etc. worked. 30% was spent on hotels, also this sector related to the function of municipalities. A little less than 30% was spent on agri-food products, also these related to the citizens of each of the municipalities. 10% for transport, which is again related to the municipalities”, said Mazniku.

He said that the impact of tourism on the country’s economy and on the economy of citizens is indisputable.

“The impact of tourism has changed the country’s economy. If we have a 10% increase this year from tourism, that means half a billion euros more income from the tourism industry and it is money that goes to citizens, business, transport, that function in cities”, emphasized the minister.

“Cleaning remains the biggest challenge of this issue and in inter-municipal spaces”, said Mazniku. /a.f/p.s./

This campaign was organized by the young volunteers of the “Eko Mendje”, who have set an excellent example of service to Shkodra community.

Prime Minister Edi Rama shared footage from this campaign in the social media, where the young people cleaned the territory of the Velipoja beach from garbage.

“Cleaning campaign in Velipoja”, Rama wrote.

Mayor of Shkodra Benet Beci also echoed the youth cleaning campaign expressing in the social media his gratitude for the continuous contribution of the young people of the “Eko Mendje”, to make Shkodra a clean and modern city.

In Velipoja, there has been made a very visible change releasing the public spaces, making an aesthetic arrangement of the area, as well as keeping it clean.

Thanks to these changes, during the recent years there has been a high frequency of visits to Velipoja beach by local and foreign holidaymakers. /k.s/j.p/p.s./

Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro shared in the social media moments from the cleaning of the park and Mount Dajti from the refuse thrown indiscriminately by visitors.

“The cleaning activities in context of the initiative “10 parks, in 10 days” which have continued in the National Park of Tomori and that of Dajti, where the staff of the National Agency of Protected Areas were joined by the local teams of the municipality and visitors doing a very good job”, said Kumbaro.

As part of the World Cleanup Day, this year there is implemented an initiative of the National Agency of Protected Areas and its regional directorates that aims to clean up national parks from August 22 to 31.

Under the motto “10 parks in 10 days”, the aim is not only to clean up the areas that are protected as national or natural parks, but also to further promote Albania from the Northern Alps up to Llogara. /k.s/p.s./

Agriculture Minister Anila Denaj said that thanks to the cleaning of the river, there is improved the drainage in about 3260 hectares of agricultural land, making it easier for farmers to have a quality production.

At the end of 2023, there were completed the works on the Dunavec River embankment, which prevents flooding of agricultural land in this area.

As the winter season is approaching, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development plans that through the Irrigation and Drainage Boards to intervene in a series of irrigation and drainage infrastructure works or in river embankments in some areas of the country in order to rehabilitate and maintain them as well as to prevent flooding of agricultural lands during rainfall. /r.e/a.f/p.s./

Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro said that the cleaning teams of the National Coastal Agency and the municipality in Kavaja, in addition to the coast, also cleaned the forest and the lanes from Qerreti to the Mali i Robi roundabout.

“Besides the maximum commitment of the relevant institutions for cleaning, the increased flow of tourists also asks for the cooperation of the citizens, especially that of the businesses for taking refuse to trash collection points on schedule, so that we can successfully manage it until the end of the coastal tourist season”, said Kumbaro.

The National Plan for Radical Cleaning of Albania started on November 7, 2021 in Vlora and continues throughout the country. /r.e/a.f/p.s./

The routine edition of Porto Palermo Festival is held even this year in the castle of Porto Palermo in Vlora region. This is an event organized by the well-known artist Olen Çezari and the festival is an occasion to bring to this area important figures of the world of art and not only, as an added promotion of our country.

On the eve of the start of this year’s edition, the entire area is cleaned with the help of volunteers. A campaign which basically makes the citizens aware about the care they should show towards the common environment.

Deputy Prime Minister, at the same time Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku joined the group of volunteers for the cleaning of the area around the castle of Porto Palermo.

Balluku called Porto Palermo one of the most beautiful areas of the country in terms of all environmental, historical and cultural components.

For Olen Çezari, this initiative is a message to citizens about the care they must show towards the environment and its preservation, while the Festival itself brings important names to Porto Palermo, one of the most important tourist spots in the country, which attracts more and more visitors. /p.s./

Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro shared in the social media moments from this action while writing that, “This edition of the Porto Palermo Festival started with a very significant call of art for the environment”.

Kumbaro thanked the violinist Olen Cesari, the students and lecturers of the “Aleksandër Moisiu” University, the organizations, voluntary groups, businesses and beach holiday-makers of Porto Palermo who responded to the message “Preserving Our Sea 2” with great devotion.

“This action reminds us that we must protect the beaches, historical and cultural heritage objects with civic responsibility and then spend beautiful holidays and hold festivals like the Porto Palermo Festival, which will be held on August 1-18, making this place even more magical”, wrote Kumbaro.

The festival, conceived by violinist Olen Çesari, this time will bring 12 artists in 12 magical evenings, which, like every summer, will take place in the fortress of Porto Palermo. The artistic activity is supported by the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation and is a combination of voices, melodies, acting and wonderful performances of the artists. /k.s/p.s./

Kumbaro inspected the coastline of Velipoja accompanied by Mayor of Shkodra Benet Beci and Minister of State for Relations with the Parliament Elisa Spiropali.

Minister Kumbaro stated that in Velipoja, there has been made a very visible change in terms of the work for the release of the occupied public spaces and the aesthetic arrangement of the area, but the forecasts for tourist flows about 40% higher this summer season, require an inter-institutional coordination for its successful management.

“After we have done all the coordination work between the two teams regarding the “Clean Beaches”, the operation that starts from June 15 will continue up to September 15″, said Minister Kumbaro.

For his part, Mayor Beci said that cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Environment through the National Coastal Agency for the cleaning of the coastline will help Velipoja to reach maximum standards of cleanliness this season.

While Minister Spiropali highlighted the rapid tourist growth of Shkodra as well as the growth of investment services in this sector.

The “Clean Beaches” will support 7 municipalities: Himara, Saranda, Vlora, Rrogozhina, Kavaja, Durrës and Shkodra. /k.s/p.s./