Algarve Beach Inspections Continue Until End of August - What You Need to Know

The inspection of beaches and bathing concessions in the Algarve will run until the end of August, with results expected to be presented in the first or second week of September, the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) announced this Wednesday.

José Pimenta Machado, president of APA, shared with Lusa that the inspections aim to ensure public access to beaches and compliance by concessionaires with public service obligations. The focus will be on access to beaches, bathrooms, and changing rooms, areas where restrictions have been noted.

Maria da Graça Carvalho, Minister of Environment and Energy, highlighted that complaints in the Algarve mainly concern access to sanitary facilities rather than beach access restrictions. The APA, in collaboration with the National Maritime Authority, began inspections in the Algarve, starting with the eastern region (Sotavento), including areas like Monte Gordo and Praia Verde.

Pimenta Machado emphasized the importance of ensuring that access to changing rooms and bathrooms is always external, allowing free use by the public. He also mentioned ongoing monitoring in Grândola, where previous inspections led to corrections of non-compliances, including the removal of misleading private beach advertisements.

The APA plans to increase the number of beach accesses and parking areas, with several projects underway to improve conditions by next year. Inspections have already identified beaches with unrestricted, controlled, conditional, and prohibited access, leading to immediate corrections by tourism promoters.

Collaboration with local authorities and tourism promoters has been positive, with efforts focused on signage, parking zones, and public access information. Future interventions include creating new bathing areas and improving access to existing ones, ensuring the Algarve's beaches remain public and universally accessible.