Ina Zhupa denounces lack of water in Sarandë and Ksamil: At the height of the season, water containers and tankers prevail

At the peak of the tourist season, Ina Zhupa, chairwoman of the Parliamentary Committee on Tourism, Culture and the Diaspora, has raised concerns about the lack of drinking water in Sarandë and Ksamil.

According to her, residents, businesses and tourists are being forced to obtain water through bottles, containers and water tankers. Zhupa has described this reality as “tanker tourism,” pointing out that the lack of sustained investment in the water-supply network has left a recurring problem unresolved, despite the water sources surrounding Sarandë.

She argues that the crisis affects not only the water supply, but also the image of the two destinations, the local economy and the standard of tourism services.

Water-tanker tourism in Sarandë and Ksamil, 2026!

During the busiest days of the season, water tankers can be seen everywhere in Sarandë and Ksamil. The lack of drinking-water supplies has made them the only solution for residents, businesses and tourists.

Although Sarandë is located near water sources, the city still does not provide a regular water supply. Zhupa says this has happened because of a lack of willingness to make serious investments in water-supply infrastructure, even though a solution to the problem has been promised in every local and national election.

According to her, the problem is not limited to the lack of water. It represents a crisis for quality tourism and damages the image of Sarandë and Ksamil, the area’s economy and citizens’ lives. Instead of a modern destination, tourists are being offered a reality reliant on bottles, containers and water tankers.