People sunbathe at Poniente Beach in Benidorm, Spain.(Image: Getty Images)

Spain holiday warning over new tourist rule coming into effect next week

Critics claim the change will be 'impossible to comply with'

by · NottinghamshireLive

Spain is facing growing concern over new "impossible" regulations for UK tourists, which are set to come into force next week. The rules, part of Royal Decree 933/2021, will require private rental accommodations and hotels to collect sensitive 'reservation data' from guests, reports Chronicle Live.

While the Spanish government claims this will boost national security, critics fear it could violate privacy rights. The regulation affects both domestic and international visitors, but hoteliers are pushing back, calling on the government to scrap the policy.

Major industry bodies including the Tourism Council of the Spanish Confederation of Business Organisations, FETAVE, UNAV, and ACAVe have all voiced their opposition. They warn that the new rule could have "significant negative consequences for the tourism sector in Spain as it is a rule that is impossible to comply with".

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CEAV has called for changes to the law to "guarantee the competitiveness of the Spanish tourism sector against tour operators from other countries and avoid a disproportionate burden on companies in the tourism sector", according to Birmingham Live.

The Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodation (CEHAT) is raising alarm bells about the industry's latest challenges: "There is widespread confusion regarding what data is required and how to submit it. It is impossible to automate the process and it would involve additional and disproportionate manual work for establishments and a considerable increase in errors."

On the flip side, the Spanish Ministry for the Interior has revealed plans to keep closer tabs on guests at various hospitality venues, stating their desire to be informed about who stays in hotels and apartment complexes, and when. Hoteliers are now cautioning that this new mandate may significantly add to the workload of their already stretched staff.