The code of conduct for the Municipality of Albufeira should come into force in July, after the Municipal Assembly pronounces its opinion on the proposal submitted for public consultation and already approved by the Council.

According to mayor José Carlos Rolo, the approval by the Municipal Council, on 20 May, was an “important step” towards the entry into force of the new code, which provides for fines for nudity and wearing a bikini or swimsuit in public areas, but stressed that it will only come into force after approval by the Municipal Council and publication in the Official Gazette.

The mayor of Albufeira, in the district of Faro, highlighted the level of support that the measure received during the public consultation phase, with a “large percentage” (around 69%) expressing only their “agreement, without any other objections or observations”, but also in the Municipal Council, which approved the measure unanimously.

Asked by Lusa news agency about the date on which the Municipal Assembly will pronounce itself, José Carlos Rolo said that it has not yet been set, but estimated that the document could be voted on by the local authority’s executive oversight body at a meeting to be held on 30 June.

“It will have to be published later in the Official Gazette, which will take another eight to 10 days”, the mayor also noted, showing himself to be “convinced” that the code of conduct could come into force “this summer”, after the deadlines have been met, in mid-July.

Awareness raising

The mayor admitted that, after the Code comes into force, there will have to be a period of awareness and information about the measures provided for in the Code, before the Municipal Police or the National Republican Guard (GNR) can issue fines.

When asked whether the duration of this awareness period has already been defined, José Carlos Rolo said no, but he appealed to the role of business owners and people who work in nightlife venues to pass on information to tourists and visitors, before the actual application of fines.

Regarding the contributions obtained in the public consultation phase, held between February and March, the mayor of Albufeira said that “there were no major changes” to what was already provided for in the proposal submitted to this procedural phase.

“There were some drafting issues that were changed and clarified, but nothing special”, he said, considering that the new code of conduct of the Albufeira City Council is “another contribution” to solving a problem faced by the municipality.

After the code was approved by Albufeira City Council on 20 May, the municipality highlighted in a statement the importance of the measure to “prevent abusive behaviour by tourists” and “enhance” the tourist destination, one of the main attractions in the Algarve.

The code provides for fines for nudity and for wearing bikinis or swimsuits in public areas and aims to maintain the peace, safety and public hygiene in the municipality.

The fines for wearing a bikini or swimsuit outside authorised areas range from 300 to 1,500 euros, having sex or walking around completely naked on public roads range from 500 to 1,800 euros and camping in unauthorised areas carries a fine of 150 to 750 euros, according to the code.