ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to analyse how the pursuit of the public interest is incorporated into the Portuguese spatial planning policy and practice. To that end, three aspects of the concept of public interest, in particular, are examined: reconciliation of the diverse interests of stakeholders; the existence of overriding interests; and process transparency. With a view to showing how the Portuguese planning practice deals with these three aspects of public interest, the conflict between tourism development and ecological preservation is analysed. A case study was carried out on the Alentejo Coast (Portugal), a stretch of coast rich in natural assets and currently under increasing pressure from real estate developers. Interviews were conducted with 26 key stakeholders who are responsible for policies and interventions that have an impact on the Alentejo coastline. The fact that tourism development and ecological preservation interests are neither overtly discussed, nor appropriately balanced, and that no entity is invested with the necessary powers and authority to coordinate reconciliation of interests among the key stakeholders are some of the important findings of this study.
