Extra tour guides hired for summer

TIRANA, July 6 – The Culture Ministry says it will hire extra tour guides in the cities of Durres, Shkodra, Berat, Fier and Gjirokastra to handle the rising number of tourists during summer,
Speaking at a meeting with cultural heritage and tourism officials this week, Culture Minister Ferdinand Xhaferaj called on guides to work extra hours during these two months when the number of foreign tourists visiting Albanian cultural sites considerably increases.
The budget on extra tourist guides is expected to increase tourists’ interest on learning about the cultural heritage sites Albania offers.
Xhaferaj said that officials will carry out field inspections to monitor the situation until the end of September.
With the tourist season already open since more than one month, a rising number of foreigners are visiting Albania, especially in cruise ship anchoring at Durres port.
Albania is a country with a great, ancient history and cultural heritage.
There are about 2000 cultural monuments that can be visited by tourists, in particular two ancient cities like Berat and Gjirokastra, now under UNESCO protection.
Butrinti archaeological park is very famous as well as under UNESCO-s protection.
Cities like Durr쳬 Shkodra, Tirana, Kruja, Kor衬 Elbasan and Vlora, offer a great contribution in culture and history.
Apollonia, Voskopoja and Antigonea are distinguished as ancient cities enriched with great archaeological potential.