In the name of the campaign to free public spaces, Prime Minister Edi Rama has once again addressed the situation on Vlora’s Lungomare, where, according to him, business activities — mainly bars and restaurants — have taken over sidewalks, blocking them for pedestrians.

Rama called this a situation that must end, emphasizing that freeing public spaces is a necessary step to improve service standards and align with the image of “Tourist Albania.”

He clarified that he is not against offering service on part of the sidewalk — as is common in major world cities — but stressed that it must not turn into the occupation of public space.

“No problem with chairs and service on a portion of the sidewalk, like in Paris, London or New York, but let’s not forget that sidewalks belong to the people — not to barricades, as is the case on Lungomare!

It’s time to clear the sidewalks of barricades and raise both the quality of service and the visual appearance to a new level, worthy of Tourist Albania,” said Rama.

The Prime Minister described the Lungomare as a model of modern coastal city design and insisted it should serve as a blueprint for the exterior layout of service zones.

He issued a direct call to business owners and managers:

“Owners and managers of the service line must remove all the barricades themselves and collaborate with the Vlora Municipality and the National Territorial Development Agency for the new design, which we will gladly support.”

Rama underlined that the intervention aims not only to enhance the visual appeal but also to improve the functionality of the tourist zone, in accordance with national standards for hospitality and service.

Full statement from Prime Minister Edi Rama:

“No problem with chairs and service on a portion of the sidewalk, like in Paris, London or New York, but let’s not forget that sidewalks belong to the people — not to barricades, as is the case on Lungomare! It’s time to clear the sidewalks of barricades and raise both the quality of service and the visual appearance to a new level, worthy of Tourist Albania.

The Lungomare is a model of a waterfront line in a seaside tourist city. Now it should and will be a model for the exterior design of a service line.

Therefore, owners and managers of the service line must remove all the barricades themselves and collaborate with the Municipality of Vlora and the National Territorial Development Agency for the new design, which we will gladly support,” Rama wrote.