Crowds have filled Tirana’s main Skanderbeg Square, the Clock Tower and pedestrian boulevards, with many also heading to the House of Leaves museum, the underground Bunk’Art galleries and the restored Tirana Castle.

Some travelers are using bicycles to link sightseeing with stops at nearby beaches and UNESCO-listed towns such as Berat and Gjirokastër.

“It feels like the past and the future living together,” said Miguel Torres, a visitor from Spain on his third trip to Albania. “The city has changed so much in just a few years – more cafes, more culture, and it’s still affordable.”

Tourists from France, Spain, Egypt and other countries cited the mix of Ottoman, communist-era and modern architecture as part of Tirana’s appeal. The Albanian government has promoted the city as both a cultural hub and a gateway to the Adriatic and Ionian coasts.

The number of foreign arrivals continues to surge. In July, 1.83 million foreign citizens entered Albania, an increase of 38,000 from the same month last year, according to the national Media and Information Agency.

Border crossings, Tirana International Airport and the ports of Durrës and Vlorë have seen heavy traffic this August, as both tourists and members of Albania’s diaspora return home.

Authorities have warned travelers to take precautions against the heatwave, while tour operators say bookings remain strong through late summer.

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Prime Minister Edi Rama shared today in social media moments with the dedicated medical teams in Tirana, Durrës, Shkodër, Gjirokastër, Elbasan and Berat.

The prime minister said that these teams have been deployed in this week of extreme heat in coordination with the military medical unit.

Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu expressed today grateful thanks to the medical teams of the Mobile Medical Assistance Units deployed in Tirana, Durrës, Shkodër, Gjirokastër, Elbasan, Berat, for the exemplary service in looking after the citizens during this week of extreme heatwave.

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection has enforced the plan of measures against the heat wave, in coordination with the Institute of Public Health, the Operator of Health Care Services, the National Center of Medical Emergencies and the Medical Unit of the Army.

The plan of measures to cope with the heat wave includes: Putting nine ambulances on standby in high-traffic areas in city centers to assist in emergency cases of people affected by heat.

Also in the primary care service, pediatric emergencies are in operation 24/7 in four centers in Tirana. While 30 summer medical centers have been opened in coastal and mountain areas. /p.s./

During the inspection at one of the open points in “Skënderbej” Square in central Tirana, Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu announced the addition of 9 mobile medical assistance units on the ground with ambulances in Tirana, Durrës, Elbasan, Berat, Gjirokastër and Shkodër.

“We have decided to have a unit in the center of the cities, starting from Elbasan, Berati, Gjirokastra and Shkodra, as well as in Tirana; we will have 4 ambulance units, together with the relevant staff, right here in “Skënderbej” square, in the New Boulevard area, in the “21 Dhjetori” area and also in the Lake Park. The ambulance units will stay in these squares that we have determined from 11 am to 6 pm to guarantee maximum care for citizens, holiday-makers, but also tourists who come and visit our cities”, said Manastirliu.

As she appealed to the citizens to show increased caution from the heat wave, Minister Manastirliu also spoke about the plan of measures and the readiness of medical structures during the tourist season.

“This is part of our plan of measures for the tourist season, while we have opened 30 summer medical centers near the beaches, the coast and also in our mountain areas. We have 18 ambulance stations along the entire coastline, so that we can provide a service as quickly as possible for citizens who have urgent or emergency problems. We are also adding 9 units, ambulance stations, which must coordinate together with the Army Medical Unit, in order to ensure the fastest possible medical service”, underlined Manastirliu./r.e/p.s./

The weather is forecast to be clear throughout the territory. The wind will blow in a north-west-south-west direction and is accompanied by low waves in the seas.

Temperatures will be:

Shkodër               24/37°C

Kukës    23/37

Lezhë    22/36

Dibër     20/35

Durrës  24/36

Tiranë   26/38

Elbasan 24/40

Berat     18/39

Vlorë     23/37

Korçë    20/34

Gjirokastër         17/40

Sarandë               22/36     /p.s./