Albufeira, a popular resort town in Portugal's Algarve region, has introduced new regulations to curb public semi-nudity and unruly tourist behavior. Starting next summer, tourists may be banned from wearing swimsuits on the streets, including bikinis, trikinis, and swimming trunks, as part of a crackdown on inappropriate attire in public spaces, according to Tempo.
The new rules come in response to numerous incidents involving tourists engaging in public nudity, excessive alcohol consumption, and public urination. Last year, eight British tourists were filmed dancing completely naked in a bar in the center of Albufeira during the day, prompting authorities to address extreme behavior, as reported by The Independent.
Under the proposed regulations, tourists who strip completely on the street could face fines up to €3,000, while those wearing swimwear in public places outside designated areas may be fined up to €1,500.
The rules extend to terraces and balconies visible from public spaces, meaning that business operators who have permitted bad behavior may also be subject to fines.
"The new regulations aim to preserve the town as a multicultural, family-friendly, and safe destination, which values its heritage and identity," local officials stated, emphasizing the urgency of establishing measures to combat rude behavior among tourists in Albufeira, according to The Independent.
"We want to focus also on diversifying the offer, in order to contribute to reducing seasonality but also to attract new tourist markets from other nationalities," said Mayor José Carlos Rolo.
Other prohibited behaviors include street drinking, with fines starting at €500, sleeping in public places, spitting on the sidewalk, and sexual acts in public.
The incident involving the naked British tourists mobilized Portuguese authorities to crack down on extreme behavior among tourists, leading to the new regulations addressing public nudity, excessive alcohol consumption, and public urination. Portuguese police were able to identify the tourists from the viral videos.
Beaches, seaside parking lots, and hotel swimming pools are listed as areas exempt from the new city rules, meaning that swimwear is acceptable in these locations, as noted by Tempo.
Albufeira has been a favorite with British holidaymakers, particularly young tourists, but the town is trying to distance itself from its party image and move upmarket. At night, Albufeira becomes chaotic, with the Old Town and The Strip overrun by young tourists seeking drinks after a day in the sun, contributing to its reputation as a party destination.
Business operators found to have allowed bad behavior could also face substantial fines. The new regulations are expected to be implemented before the summer season.
"Excessive nudity in public throughout the city may do undesirable damage to the resident population and the image of the municipality as a tourist destination," authorities stated, according to The Independent.
The discussion about the necessity of tightening regulations has been ongoing among local politicians and officials for several years.
In other European destinations, similar measures have been introduced to control unruly tourist behavior. Albufeira joins a list of cities with laws against public nudity, including Barcelona, Dubrovnik, Nice, and Sorrento, by introducing fines for naked tourists.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq