Faro, Portugal, June 3, 2025 (Lusa) - Tourist developments in the Algarve with the “Save Water” seal, awarded to establishments that implement a set of measures to save water, have reduced their annual consumption by 13%, the Portuguese Tourist Board has announced.
The 13% saving was recorded between March 2024 and March 2025, a period in which tourist developments in the district of Faro participating in the scheme used 348,000 cubic metres less water, the public body said in a statement released on Monday.
Turismo de Portugal clarified that the data is contained in the 6th Monitoring Report on the Algarve's Commitment to Water Efficiency, promoted jointly with the Algarve Tourism Board and the Energy Agency (ADENE), which reflects the first full year of implementation of the initiative.
"The data collected between March 2024 and March 2025 show a clearly positive balance: participating tourist developments achieved a 13% reduction in absolute water consumption and a 10% reduction in specific consumption (per overnight stay) compared to consumption recorded in 2023," it quantified.
The savings achieved exceed 348,000 cubic metres of water and represent "around 2% of the useful capacity stored in the Algarve's reservoirs", according to Turismo de Portugal, which estimated the average financial saving per accommodation unit achieved through the reduction in consumption over the last year at €6,700.
Turismo de Portugal pointed out that, on 31 March, 105 tourist developments had been registered with the ‘Save Water’ seal, awarded to units that have signed up to the Commitment to Water Efficiency and have implemented technical and awareness-raising measures to reduce water consumption and save a resource that is becoming increasingly scarce due to the drought affecting the region.
These tourist developments represent "more than 30% of the installed accommodation capacity", stressed the tourism authority, pointing out that 73% of the approximately 3,100 water efficiency measures planned under the Algarve Water Efficiency Commitment have already been implemented.
"The results of the first year of implementation confirm the effectiveness of “Save Water” and reinforce the Algarve tourism sector's commitment to sustainable water management," said André Gomes, president of Algarve Tourism, quoted in the statement.
André Gomes considered that, "more than just a simple seal", “Save Water” is a “mark of environmental responsibility and vision for the future of the Algarve, at a time when water scarcity continues to demand collective and sustained action from everyone” to preserve water reserves as much as possible.
In turn, Carlos Abade, president of Turismo de Portugal, considered that the reduction demonstrates that, through collaboration and the adoption of responsible practices, it is possible to combine economic growth with environmental protection and make the sector "more resilient and prepared for the challenges of the future".
Also quoted in the statement, the ADENE energy agency considered that the data now revealed on the savings achieved "are proof that efficient water management is possible, necessary and advantageous" and constitutes "a way forward" that should be extended to "new sectors".
MHC/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
