Majorca has 'growing concern' over new 'Big Brother' law for UK tourists

Holidaymakers and tourists heading abroad from the UK to the Balearic Islands holiday destination have been warned over the strict new rules.

There is growing concern in Majorca over new "Big Brother" law for tourists. European Union holidaymakers and tourists heading abroad from the UK to the Balearic Islands holiday destination have been warned over the strict new rules.

The new laws which come into force on October 1 require hotel and apartment owners to hand over sensitive details about their clients to the authorities. The Spanish government claims that it will make the country a safer place.

But critics say that it could be breaking privacy guidelines. Hhoteliers are not impressed and have called on the government to scrap the new regulations and restrictions, which many have branded Orwellian and like "Big Brother".

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The Spanish Ministry for the Interior has said that they wanted to know who and when were staying in hotels and apartment complexes across the country. Critics say that it is "Big Brother" legislation which could mean that tourists go elsewhere because they are unwilling to part with their sensitive information.

One fumed: "The police can have your passport details, because they are entitled to ask for them when you enter the country anyhow. Anything else, let them get a search warrant, which I'm sure will be granted if they can show that you are such a threat to national security."

"Agreed. That's going too far (if it's true). Especially the credit card / bank details thing. But then, I admit I haven't bothered to look up the details of it, and we've received no official notice or any other communication from anybody (except the MDB). It's a tabloid. It may actually be nothing like what is implied here. I'm not bothering with it until I receive some sort of official notice. And even then... (?)" another asked.

A tourist wrote: "Myself, my husband and our children and now grandchildren have been holidaying in Majorca for over 20 years and have always loved the island." She claimed her daughter and son-in-law "were stopped by a female in a car near the Portixol Hotel." She continued: "The driver asked where our daughter and son-in-law were from.

"When they answered the UK, she shouted at them ‘Tourists go home’ and drove off at speed.”