Albania's Lezhë Region Boosts Tourism and Introduces Paid Beach Zones

The Albanian government has overhauled coastal management for the 2026 season, allowing municipalities to set maximum prices for beach chairs and creating a new "public paid beach" category that will be run directly by local authorities. The reform aims to curb inflated fees, improve safety and hygiene standards, and give municipalities stronger control over private operators. Local residents have expressed concerns about reduced free‑access areas and the ability of councils to enforce the new rules.

At the same time, tourist arrivals in the Lezhë district rose by 15% compared with the same period last year, with foreign visitors accounting for about 20% of the total. Germans constitute the largest foreign group, followed by Poles, Italians and Czechs. Prime Minister Edi Rama and Lezhë mayor Pjerin Ndreu highlighted the growth as evidence that investing in five‑star resorts is essential for the region’s economic development and strategic importance.

Both developments underscore a broader push to modernise Albania’s tourism sector, balancing regulatory reforms on public beaches with efforts to attract higher‑end visitors to the Shëngjin coast.