PSD calls for Albufeira to move away from mass tourism after Oura incident – Portugal Resident

Albufeira should move away from a tourism model focused largely on visitor numbers and instead prioritise quality, safety and higher-value tourism, the local branch of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) has said following this week’s hit-and-run incident in the Oura district.

The party is calling for a wider public debate over the future of tourism in the municipality after 16 people were injured, two seriously, when a driver allegedly fled police and struck pedestrians in Albufeira’s best-known nightlife district early on Tuesday.

In a statement, the local social democrats – who led the local council continuously between 2001 and 2025, when Albufeira solidified its status as a leading destination for nightlife – said the incident should “relaunch the debate” over the kind of destination Albufeira wants to become.

The party believes the resort should evolve from a model based predominantly on the quantity of tourists towards one centred on “quality and added value”, while protecting local identity, traditions and residents’ quality of life.

Among the changes it wants to see are efforts to attract “more qualified tourism that respects the local community”, alongside the recovery of some areas of the city for families and residents.

PSD is also calling for stronger security and measures to tackle behaviour that could damage Albufeira’s reputation as a holiday destination.

The proposals echo a wider debate that has emerged since Tuesday’s incident over the future of nightlife tourism in Albufeira, particularly in Oura.

Earlier this week, Algarve hotel association president Hélder Martins called for the region to move away from what he described as “booze tourism” and stag-party tourism, arguing that destinations such as Ibiza and Magaluf had already begun repositioning themselves.

Driver remanded in custody

The 35-year-old Portuguese man arrested following Tuesday’s incident was remanded in custody on Thursday after appearing before a judge at Albufeira Court.

He had been holidaying in the Algarve and recorded a blood alcohol level of 1.29g/l following his arrest.

According to the GNR, the driver ignored orders to stop before embarking on an uncontrolled escape through Rua Francisco Sá Carneiro, where vehicles are prohibited during nightlife hours and large numbers of people were in the street.

At least 16 people ultimately sought medical assistance, including two GNR officers.

PSD says any rethink of Albufeira’s tourism model should involve the government, council, tourism businesses, police, operators and local residents rather than being decided by any one group.

The party argues that Albufeira “has the capacity to reinvent itself” and begin a new tourism cycle built around safety, sustainability, economic value and respect for local identity.

The debate also comes against a changed political backdrop. Albufeira was traditionally a PSD/CDS-PP stronghold, but Chega took control of the council in 2025, with Rui Cristina becoming mayor.