As the first anniversary of the code's entry into force is marked, which prohibits nudity outside of beaches and applies fines to abusive behaviour by visitors, the Lusa news agency also heard from the Albufeira Commercial Association (ACALB), which lamented that this regulation had been implemented in an "inadequate" and "excessively punitive" way, without prioritising educational measures.

Police monitoring

The mayor told Lusa that the Municipal Police "are on the streets monitoring" the application of the implemented code of conduct and that "an awareness campaign" was carried out in hotels and commercial establishments to pass on the information to tourists visiting Albufeira, but acknowledged that "it is necessary to continue the work" of raising awareness among visitors. Asked whether fines had already been applied under the new code, which provides for penalties for nudity and for wearing bikinis or swimsuits in public areas, the mayor said there had already been cases of people being fined, but he did not know the exact number.

According to Rui Cristina, Albufeira has a "meagre" Municipal Police force, with "nine officers on the street," but it is expected that by the end of this year, there will be five or six more officers who will "strengthen the ranks to monitor and raise awareness" among tourists.

"I think that this year [...] there is better behaviour on the part of tourists, less abuse, and what we want is to make those who visit us aware that this type of behaviour is unacceptable," he said.

Legal analysis

The municipality is also legally analysing the Code of Conduct "to make some short-term changes," which may come into effect during the summer and allow "smoothing out some rough edges," the mayor anticipated.

ACALB recalled its disagreement with "the way this document was designed and approved" and the warnings it issued about a regulation that is "excessively punitive and imposes individual behaviours," which "could be understood as invasive of individual freedoms, jeopardising the image of the destination and community life."

"We are totally in favour of the quality of life of those who live here, but there has to be common sense and balance. The day Albufeira loses tourism, the municipality loses its residents too," the association warned.

Criticised code

The association criticised the approval of the code "without compliance with article 99 of the Administrative Procedure Code (CPA), which requires a cost-benefit impact study to demonstrate the real need and proportionality of the rules," and the "highly subjective rules on sports practice, clothing (partial or total nudity outside the beaches) or on noisy demonstrations," which "clash with fundamental rights and hinder fair application."

“We need these measures and others that have recently come into effect to be reassessed, such as limiting noise to levels that are impossible to apply. For example, the garbage truck passing by on the street makes more noise than the bars are allowed to make,” he proposed, also appealing for a review of the “opening hours that mitigate economic activities linked to tourism.”

Urgent reflection

The association argues that an “urgent” reflection is needed on the measures to be taken so that “tourism and the resident population can live in harmony,” and warned that “the solution to the problems cannot be taken by decree.”

“It’s like banning cars from circulating to end traffic accidents, that’s not the way. We have to take measures that change and correct some excessive behaviour, which is often only punctual; we cannot generalise the exception,” he argued.

The code of conduct for Albufeira, which accounts for about half of the hotel supply in the Faro district, came into effect on 24 June 2025.