30 September 2024 | 17:26

Tourism industry criticizes new tourist registration rules in Spain

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Tengrinews.kz - Debates have emerged in Spain over new tourist registration rules, which have sparked a wave of criticism from representatives of the tourism industry, according to Sur in English.

These are amendments to Real Decreto 933/2021, which establish new requirements for the collection and transmission of tourist data. Specifically, the new rules require hotels and other accommodation providers to collect up to 18 different pieces of personal information from guests. This includes full name, passport details, date of birth, nationality, full address, contact information, payment details, as well as information about travel companions and duration of stay in the country.

Initially, these rules were set to take effect on October 1, but the Spanish Ministry of the Interior announced a two-month postponement for their implementation. The new requirements are now expected to come into force on December 2. The official reason for the delay is technical difficulties encountered during the preparation of the system for data transmission to local law enforcement agencies. However, criticism of the new rules continues despite the postponed deadline.

The Spanish confederation of hotels and tourist accommodation, Cehat, representing around 16,000 enterprises, has sharply criticized the new regulations. They argue that the issue lies not only in the lack of time for adaptation but also in the content of the law, which creates excessive administrative burdens and does not align with the actual situation in the tourism sector. Cehat also highlighted legal risks, as the new requirements contradict EU legislation on data protection and do not provide sufficient legal safeguards. This has already created tension in the tourism sector, including hotels, agencies, and online rental platforms.

Industry representatives' criticism underscores that the introduction of these new rules could significantly complicate the operations of tourism businesses and reduce Spain's appeal as a tourist destination. In particular, there are concerns that overly strict data collection requirements could deter potential customers and lead to a decrease in the number of tourists in the country.

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