'People have had enough' - Bizarre reasons Irish tourists face big fines in Portugal hotspot
Albufeira's mayor announced the 'Code of Conduct' which includes fines for wearing bikinis and revealing swimwear outside of beach or bathing areas
The Algarve resort of Albufeira, which is hugely popular among Irish tourists, is gearing up to roll out strict new rules aimed at curbing the unruly behaviour of some tourists.
In February of this year, Albufeira's mayor José Carlos Rolo announced plans for the 'Code of Conduct' which includes fines for wearing bikinis and revealing swimwear outside of beach or bathing areas, public nudity or sex acts as well as wild camping in unauthorised areas.
The code was unanimously approved by Albufeira City Council in April and a final vote for approval is expected to take place on June 30. Once approved by the municipal assembly, the new rules will be published in the State’s official gazette.
Mr Rolo told Lusa news agency this should all be completed by mid-July, which is peak summer season.
Among the proposed new rules and penalties are fines of between €150 and €750 for wild camping in unauthorised areas, fines of up to €1,500 for wearing bikinis and revealing swimwear outside of beach or bathing areas and fines of up to €1,800 for nudity or public sex.
It is understood the new restrictions will apply to streets, public places and public transport as well as terraces that are installed in public and private spaces, if visible from a public space.
It is believed that about 69% of people who participated in the public consultation process for the Code of Conduct support the proposal.
Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, Eoghan Corry, editor of Air and Travel magazine, said: "People have had enough. They just are looking at boorish behaviour, particularly late at night, Saturdays, Friday nights, and the council comes under pressure to do something about it. What they've done is they've taken existing regulations and they've beefed them up a little bit and introduced a few new ones. The main things that they're looking for is drunkenness and absolutely obnoxious behaviour late at night.
"But interestingly enough, a lot of the regulations would would apply to people wearing bikinis and swimwear in the street, going into bars on the street, wearing swimwear. That's one of the things that's come riding in on this Sean, that's the one, everybody knows the really extreme behaviour that's being named, something everyone objects to."