Hoteliers in the Algarve asked the government to suspend the European border control system (EES) at Faro airport during the peak season, warning of the “risk of damage to the Algarve’s tourist image.”

The request was made by the Association of Hotels and Tourist Enterprises of the Algarve (AHETA) in a letter addressed to the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Economy and Tourism, the largest Algarve hotel association announced today.

In the letter, AHETA expresses “deep concern regarding the implementation of the ‘Entry/Exit System’ (EES), the new European border control system for biometric registration of passengers arriving from outside the Schengen area.”

Following a recent meeting with the management of Gago Coutinho Airport, the association admits that the prospects for the summer of 2026 “are frightening,” anticipating a scenario of congestion “that could surpass the chaos experienced in previous years and cause irreparable damage” to the Algarve's reputation as a tourist destination.

The EES, resulting from an agreement between 29 countries in the Schengen area, began testing in October 2025 and is scheduled for full operation in April 2026, coinciding with the start of the high season in the Algarve.

AHETA argues that “the inefficiencies already demonstrated” by the system have caused monumental queues at European airports, highlighting Lisbon Airport, where the Government suspended its use at the end of 2025 and, for three months, the application of the EES (Electronic System for Safety and Health) will be in place "to prevent the collapse of operations and normalize passenger flow."

The association notes that the UK market accounts for more than 50% of traffic at Gago Coutinho Airport in Faro between April and October and, as a country outside the Schengen Area, will be fully subject to the new biometric and registration controls.

“The effort to diversify markets, which has allowed for increased tourist attraction from the United States and Canada, could also be compromised, as these long-haul passengers will face the same procedures upon arrival,” the statement reads.

To avoid queues and long waits at Faro Airport, AHETA urges the Government to follow the recommendations of the British Association of Travel Agents and, to the fullest extent, apply the contingency measures foreseen by the European Union.

The main demand is for the temporary suspension of the new passenger control system between 1 June and 30 September, to prevent the peak of tourist demand from being marked by hours of waiting and “massive protests” by passengers and operators.

AHETA also calls for “an urgent reinforcement” of human resources and electronic control points, considering it imperative to do everything within the State's and institutions' reach to “minimise the difficulties” for those visiting the country.