“Vlora Airport will Be Built at any Cost,” Gjiknuri Says

TIRANA, November 7

Emphasizing the need to build the long-awaited Vlora Airport for tourism and economic growth, Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Damian Gjiknuri declared that the airport will be constructed at any cost, even with state budget funding if necessary.
Currently, the Albanian authorities are negotiating the construction of the airport with the Turkish consortium.
“If negotiations are not concluded by the right time, soon will try any possible way, including state funding, in order build this airport,” Gjiknuri said while reporting at the Parliamentary Committee for Producing Activities.
He added that the lack of an airport cannot be an obstacle to the future of the tourism sector. According to the head of MIE, Albania cannot have one or two months of tourist arrivals. Therefore, the country needs the airport in the south as a way to access southern Albania and the especially the areas with major tourism potential.
Further on, he added that Saranda may have its own Airport.
“We are considering the same idea even for Saranda Airport. We are ready to build it in a public-private partnership,” he stressed.
Moreover, for those asking why two airports in the south Gjiknuri said that Saranda airport is an alternative to the saturated airport in Corfu Island. Secondly, over 600,000 visitors entered Albania through Saranda Port this year and third, Saranda has the highest accommodation capacity compared to other Albanian cities.
News Source: Scan TV