Albufeira, Portugal, July 24, 2026 (Lusa) - More than 100 drivers of passenger transport vehicles booked via ride-hailing platforms gathered outside Albufeira Town Hall on Friday to demand unimpeded access to all areas of the town.

Speaking to journalists, Filipe Lopes, from the National TVDE Movement Association (ANM-TVDE), described the measure as illegal, arguing that only the State can regulate this activity, and called on the council to reverse it.

He expressed concern about what he described as «persecution by the local council» of drivers operating through these platforms, emphasising that there are approximately 2,000 ride-hailing vehicles in Albufeira, a municipality which accounts for more than half of the region's hotel accommodation.

The Mayor of Albufeira, Rui Cristina, announced on Wednesday that, from Thursday, the council would ban these vehicles from areas where their concentration is hindering traffic flow and access for emergency vehicles.

According to the mayor, who was elected by Chega in last October's local elections, the ban will apply from the Pau da Bandeira area to Albufeira town centre and its surroundings, in the southern section of Avenida da Liberdade, in the Rua da Oura area and on the side roads leading off Avenida dos Descobrimentos.

MAD/ADB // ADB.

Lusa