Loulé seeks “cleaner, safer” Vilamoura

Loulé Municipal Council is stepping up efforts to keep Vilamoura clean, safe and attractive as the Algarve prepares for the peak summer tourism season.

Municipal officials, business owners, security forces and tourism stakeholders met earlier this month to discuss growing concerns over waste management, public safety and noise, all of which are expected to come under increased pressure as thousands of visitors arrive in the resort over the coming months.

Reputation can be lost “overnight”, says mayor

Opening the meeting, held on June 12, Loulé mayor Telmo Pinto stressed the importance of protecting Vilamoura’s reputation as one of Portugal’s leading tourism destinations.

“Building a reputation is difficult, but losing it can happen overnight,” he said. “We want quality for those who live here, those who work here and those who visit us. We cannot solve these problems alone, only together.”

Waste management emerged as one of the main concerns. Ricardo Cipriano, chairman of infrastructure company Inframoura, warned that overflowing rubbish bins and poor waste disposal around businesses can create a negative first impression for visitors.

“When tourists arrive and the first thing they see is rubbish around commercial premises, that obviously does not help Vilamoura,” he said.

Figures presented during the meeting showed that more than 10,500 tonnes of waste were collected in Vilamoura during 2025, with around half of that volume generated between June and September. By the end of May this year, waste volumes were already running around 20% higher than during the same period in 2025.

To cope with demand, Inframoura plans to reinforce staffing levels and extend collection schedules throughout the summer. Waste collection services will operate almost continuously, pausing only between 2am and 5am.

The free Comércio a Reciclar programme, which provides businesses with recycling bags and door-to-door collection services, will also continue.

Council calls for more policing

Security was another major topic of discussion at the meeting. Although policing is not a municipal responsibility, Telmo Pinto revealed that he planned to meet the Minister of Internal Administration to request additional GNR officers for Vilamoura during the busy summer months.

The municipality is also moving forward with plans to install a CCTV system comprising 60 cameras covering the hotel zone, complementing surveillance already in place around Vilamoura Marina. Similar systems are also planned for Quarteira, Almancil and Loulé.

At the same time, the council is continuing work on the creation of a municipal police force, which officials believe would allow GNR officers to focus more heavily on patrol and enforcement duties.

Nighttime noise to be tackled

The municipal council has also promised to tackle excessive nighttime noise.

The municipality warned that businesses repeatedly breaching regulations could face stricter measures, including reduced opening hours, the loss of terrace licences or restrictions on playing music.

Major Marta Santos, head of the GNR’s Loulé Territorial Detachment, told participants that authorities are closely monitoring local issues and continue to carry out joint operations with organisations including ASAE and the Algarve Local Health Unit (ULS).

“One bad experience”

Closing the meeting, Quarteira parish council president João Romão warned that a single negative experience can be enough to discourage visitors from returning.

“One bad experience in one year can be enough for a customer not to come back,” he said.

Despite acknowledging that improvements may not happen overnight, Telmo Pinto said collaboration between businesses, residents and public authorities will be key to maintaining Vilamoura’s standing as one of Portugal’s premier tourism destinations.

“We are counting on everyone’s help,” he said. “This collaborative approach and joint effort will lead us to positive results.”