Vila do Bispo: 91 fined for illegal camping and motorhomes

Due to the coronavirus pandemic and border closures, many motorhome travelers are unable to return home. In Portugal, ferries to the UK have been cancelled, campsites are closing, and authorities provide no guidance. Travelers, mostly elderly and at high risk, are left without options to leave the country or find parking.

In Portugal, a group of 20 local residents conducted night raids on camper vans and tents in the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park, targeting illegal campers. The group claimed authorities have failed to address the issue and took direct action, waking up violators on three beaches in Vila do Bispo. The raids were filmed and shared on social media. The president of the Alentejo and Algarve Camping Association urged authorities to take measures against illegal camping.

Faro municipality officially took over the city's campsite on Monday (November 25), the same day most campers began leaving the site they had called home for years. Their departure was 'peaceful' although a considerable amount of trash was left behind, which municipal services have started removing. Some campers were given extra days to remove all their belongings so the municipality can finally 'open the campsite for everyone'. Mayor Rogério Bacalhau refused to describe the end of the dispute as a 'won battle', stating the goal was to create a project for the area, not to fight. The renovation, representing an investment of €450,000, will involve cleaning and reorganizing the campsite, renovating electrical and water networks, and creating green areas. The park will have 200 tent pitches, including 84 for large tents, and 24 pitches for motorhomes, with plans to open to the public by the end of 2020.

The Tax and Administrative Court of Loulé rejected an injunction filed by a group of about 100 campers seeking to prevent eviction from the Faro campsite. The decision, announced by Faro City Council on Monday (11 November), allows the planned renovation of the campsite's infrastructure to proceed. The project represents an investment of €450,000. Campers must vacate the site by 25 November; the municipality stated it will assist with relocation, including social services for two individuals reportedly lacking financial means for alternative housing.

GNR police fined 55 caravan owners in Algarve for parking outside legally designated areas. The violations occurred after new, stricter Road Rules on illegal camping came into force on January 9. Three cases were also detected in Odemira (Beja) and two in Moita (Setúbal). Total fines for 60 violations amounted to €3,540.

The Republican National Guard (GNR) fined 96 people in Vila do Bispo, Algarve, for illegal motorhome use and wild camping. The operation was carried out with the Institute for Nature and Forests, the Maritime Police, and firefighters. GNR stated that spontaneous motorhome occupation leads to overcrowding of public and coastal areas with negative impacts on landscape, environment, and public health.