Sellers of fake goods arrested in Praia da Rocha, Portimão

counterfeitThe Public Security Police have arrested seven people selling fake goods in Portimão and seized over 600 articles of clothing and accessories.

The PSP said that those arrested, aged in their 20s, could not provide documentation showing where the goods had been bought from.

'Sunshine tax' will hit the Algarve harder than all other regions

pvThe Social Democrat party leader in the Algarve, David Santos, had commented that the weighting attributed to sun exposure to work out property tax is "illogical and unreasonable."

The so-called ‘sunshine tax’ will hit the Algarve harder than other regions in Portugal, says Santos, as "on the one hand, on average, properties located in the Algarve have more sun exposure than in the rest of the country. On the other hand, because the region has the largest concentration of properties located in coastal areas with a sea views, this will be reflected in the amount of tax to be paid by the owners."

Albufeira: Maria Luísa beach cliff collapse despite extensive safety work

marialuisacliffcollapse2009A section of cliff collapsed onto a popular beach in Albufeira just before 1pm on Sunday.

The authorities claimed there were no injuries, thankfully this proved to be true after 1,000 tonnes of rock collapsed onto the sand.  Maria Luísa beach was the scene of the 2009 tragedy (pictured) when five people were crushed to death.

Anti-oil campaigners in summertime blitz

oilrigatseaLoulé council has given the anti-oil awareness campaign a boost by donating three huge billboards to Plataforma Algarve Livre de Petróleo (PALP) so the organisation can put up posters until the end of the summer.

"These public awareness materials will be placed in high visibility locations where thousands of vehicles go past each day, especially at this time of year.

Algarve MP on Galp ‘tickets for favours’ guest list

galpLogoA Social Democrat MP, the long-serving Cristóvão Norte, was also on the freebie trip to the Euro2016 Hungary vs Portugal game paid for by Galp.

This is the same Galp that is in partnership with the corrupt Italian state-owned oil company ENI and has a concession to explore and produce oil or gas off the west coast of the region.

New sunshine tax 'penalises the Algarve’s tourism economy'

modernhouseThe Algarve’s main hotel association has stated that the amendments to the way property rates are determined "penalises the Algarve’s tourism economy."

The amendments in the decree published on Monday will have "a direct impact on tourism in the Algarve, including residential tourism" warns the Association of Hotels and Resorts in the Algarve (AHETA), in a statement responding to the so-called ‘sunshine tax’ that will hit owners of south facing properties with pleasant views by an estimated 20% rise in their annual rates bill.

Six year lifeline for the Algarve's shellfish industry

oysterThe government formally has renewed the operating licenses for about 1,000 shellfish nurseries in the Rias Formosa and Alvor, giving operators a further six years of unthreatened activity.

The measure announced by the Minister of the Sea on a visit to the Algarve, is part of a long-overdue aquaculture plan for the sector and those involved now are able to apply for and access EU funds to develop their businesses and improve productivity."

Cristas fuels Galp 'tickets for favours' furore

cristasThe Galp furore continues with the head of the CDS-PP, Assunção Cristas demanding that parliament fully discusses the ‘tickets for favours’ trip, while accusing the prime minister of hiding away until the dust has settled.

Cristas says the prime minister’s attitude to revelations that three secretaries of state went on a trip paid for by Galp to watch the Euro2016 football "is inadmissible."