The contempt that has been reported in recent days at Oura, in Albufeira, is «a complicated situation and something needs to be done immediately to stop this process», says Desidério Silva, president of the Algarve Tourism Region.
In statements to the Sul Informação, the former mayor of Albufeira, expressed concern about the impacts on the image of the Algarve that the disturbances in Oura could have, which reached their peak on Sunday night.
According to Correio da Manhã, there was «a pitched battle, led by about 600 English tourists, between 19 and 22 years old».
«There were attacks and bottles were thrown by tourists against the GNR of Albufeira, which in the meantime had been alerted and had to use force», adds the newspaper.
The GNR even fired rubber bullets into the air and "at least two boys, aged 20 and 21, and a girl aged 20, were injured and assisted by firefighters."
The video images were shared on social networks and reached British newspapers which, citing British tourists, criticized «the excess of aggressiveness» of the Portuguese police.
For Desidério Silva, «the visibility of this type of news, which can destabilize, is a complicated situation».
The responsible for the RTA says that there is a problem “in travel packages sold online, to many people, with little control. Measures are needed for immediate actions, inhibiting this type of situation, involving the security forces, the SEF and also the local authority, businessmen and even coordinating with the Government».
According to Correio da Manhã, the tourists involved in the contempt are in the Algarve for the “Portugal Invasion”, a festival of “urban clubbing”, who moved to the bars of Oura «some of the best urban DJs in London».
Since last Wednesday, the event has brought around a thousand young English people to the Algarve. The package for this festival, which ends today, all-inclusive, for seven days, cost 600 pounds (678 euros), according to the promotion site.
In addition to the problems of violence, throughout the week, merchants and residents in this area of Albufeira complained of theft and vandalism.
For Desidério Silva, it is important to identify “who encourages and sells this type of package. Who are these agents who are contributing to this. Money is not everything, it is important that the forces intervene and take action, because it damages the image of the region».
The Algarve is known, as a tourist destination, for its safety and “any action like this has negative impacts. Now it is necessary to minimize these impacts», concludes Desidério Silva.
Although the last weekend was the one in which the security problems in Oura were most visible, for several months there have been problems in that place related to the high consumption of alcohol, such as brawls, aggressions and robberies.
O Sul Informação tried to contact Carlos Silva e Sousa, mayor of Albufeira, but so far it has not been possible. Also the GNR did not want to provide any information to our newspaper on this matter.
Two of the videos shared on social media:
#Portugal invasion pic.twitter.com/l9ZCRWRtEP
— CB'Trey🇯🇲🇳🇬 (@TREYLUCIXNO_) June 26st, 2017
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