“We want to ensure that Porto Covo maintains a trajectory of sustainable tourism growth that does not jeopardise its tourism resources,” says José Santos, president of Turismo do Alentejo.
Porto Covo becomes the first sustainable tourist destination in the Alentejo. Mértola to follow
Tuesday, 13 January 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
Local accommodation (alojamento local) means short-term tourist rentals—private apartments, houses or rooms rented for days or weeks—that must be registered and licensed with municipal authorities. Municipalities can suspend or cancel licences (Lisbon cancelled about 6,700 licences in early 2026), so travellers and hosts should check a listing's registration and local rules before booking or offering stays.
Sustainability (sustentabilidade) means meeting present needs without reducing the ability of future generations to meet theirs, covering environmental, economic and social dimensions. For residents it affects local planning, jobs and services—look for municipal or company targets, timelines and measurable actions when assessing how sustainable a place or employer is.
