“Destroying Albufeira’s image is like destroying a national monument”
Following yet another weekend where Albufeira’s drunken excesses were highlighted by the media, mayor Carlos Rolo has decided to hit back.
In a lengthy statement received by the press today, he describes his municipality as “the second greatest Portuguese touristic destination after Lisbon, internationally recognised as one of the unique destinations capable of competing with other first-line European holiday venues, and one that is, indisputably, an engine of the national, regional and local economy”.
The statement is directed at the residents of Albufeira.
Mr Rolo explains that he “vehemently refutes the latest news reports published by some media outlets which have once again ‘rehashed’ the issue of crime in Albufeira, with images of extreme violence that have been used before, claiming that such images occur almost daily.
“The subject is presented in a sensationalist manner, without impartiality and without awareness that such a headline discourages people who live and work in Albufeira, either for themselves or for others, and who depend on it for their livelihood and that of their families and, in many cases, to balance their resources for the winter period.
“Journalism is a profession of utmost importance for freedom and democracy, as an unbiased and independent voice. These recent cases discredit this statement, harming its authors and all other journalists who take their profession seriously. To project an image of insecurity and crime in Albufeira, in the middle of the tourist season, in speculative headlines and manipulative content is a crime against the municipality and its citizens. It is common knowledge that crime rates do not take into account floating populations, particularly those caused by tourist flows.
“It should be noted that, according to INE, Albufeira received more than 1,750,000 overnight guests (7,718,000 overnight stays) in registered hotel establishments in 2024 – hotels; AL; Tourism Accommodation and Rural Tourism – not including in these figures those who travelled to the municipality and stayed in second homes or did not stay overnight.
“If we take these figures into account, it is clear that the rate calculated by dividing the number of crimes by the resident population drops dramatically, putting an end to the harmful speculation that is being made about Albufeira.
“It is important to note that the vast majority of tourists are people who come mainly with their families, who want to make the most of their short holidays to enjoy the fantastic and diverse attractions that Albufeira has to offer, which are the result of the committed efforts of the resident population, whose livelihood and future depend on their continued visits”.
What Mr Rolo’s statement actually shows is that the crime figures are not incorrect: they simply do not refer to local people, but to visitors (which is exactly what the stories in the media have been inferring).
It is true that one recent story, of a young British youth beaten to pulp late at night, requiring hospital treatment, was the victim of Portuguese thugs. But this is not the ‘usual crime’ reported in Albufeira: the more usual crimes are those involving drunken holidaymakers.
Mayor Rolo however is much more concerned with the image of his municipality, which he likens to a “national monument”.
“It is a heritage that will take years to rebuild, if that is even possible”, he admits, adding that he has taken these concerns to the Minister of Internal Administration, Maria Lúcia Amaral, of whom he has “demanded solutions (…) This attack on Albufeira is also an attack on the government and the Ministry of Internal Administration in particular, and on its role as the body responsible for overseeing the GNR and the main security forces”.
The mayor ends his statement saying Ms Amaral has agreed to assess the possibility of “urgently reinforcing police contingents in order to ensure greater and more effective security for this municipality and its most critical areas.
“I also asked her to refute the serious allegations that have been made and to intervene to ensure fairness and clarity in the calculation of the crime rate, taking into account the actual population present in the municipalities”.
Again, this last point makes dubious sense: Mayor Rolo seems upset that the crime rate might reflect on local citizens, when it is clear from press reports that it is related to what the mayor himself calls “tourist flows”. ND
Source: statement by Mayor Carlos Rolo
