Clear Message in the Algarve After the Horrifying Incident in Albufeira: "We Don't Want Alcohol Tourism Anymore"

What happened in the morning in Oura, Albufeira's famous lively nightlife district, brought to our face once again a major problem in the Algarve that had been swept under the rug for a long time. At around 03:00 at night, at least 16 people were injured when a driver who did not obey the police's stop warning drove his vehicle directly into the crowd and police officers; Among them are those in serious condition and two GNR (National Republican Guard) soldiers who tried to intervene.

After this disaster, tourism professionals and operators in the region started a very justified and clear discussion: What kind of tourism does the Algarve really want?

"The era of drinking 24 hours a day and doing whatever you want should be over"

Hélder Martins, President of the Algarve Hotel and Tourism Enterprises Association (AHETA), gave the name of the painting very clearly in his assessment made immediately after the incident. Martins says the Algarve generally maintains its image as a safe and family-friendly holiday destination, but the "bachelor party and unlimited alcohol" craze in some pockets is dragging down the image of the entire region.

Martins also reveals the economic dimension of the business honestly: "There are places that make a turnover of 2,000-3,000 euros just from beer until 10 o'clock in the morning, this is a fact. But we cannot sacrifice the identity of the region to this lack of control just because someone will make money."

The demand of tourism professionals is very clear: Just like Ibiza and Magaluf, the Algarve should quickly move away from this uncontrolled nightlife fed by excessive alcohol consumption. A sustainable and high-quality tourism model should be built instead of a tourism approach that involves drinking and running around on the streets 24 hours a day. In addition, it is desired that the increased police presence during the summer months is not limited to just a few months but spread throughout the year.

What Happened on the Night of the Incident?

In the initial investigations at the scene, it was determined that the driver had 1.29 g/l promyl alcohol. The majority of those injured are young people between the ages of 18-22. While security forces had to use guns to stop the vehicle and warn pedestrians, the vehicle could only stop by hitting people.

It was determined that the arrested 35-year-old suspect was a Portuguese citizen born in Angola, lived in England and came to the Algarve for holiday. The person who has both Angolan and United Kingdom driver's licenses; He was referred to the judicial authorities on charges of intentional injury, dangerous driving and drunk driving.

Although the regional mayor describes the incident as an "isolated case", the reality on the ground shows that such excesses are no longer isolated and a radical change in mentality is required.

Source: Michael Bruxo / Portugal Resident (Credits: Rádio Renascença, SIC Notícias, GNR statements)

Image Source: Albufeira Em Alerta (Facebook)