Tourexpi
Spain introduces controversial new travel rules
Controversial
new rules requiring Spanish hotels, car rental agencies, and other tourism
operators to collect additional personal data from travelers came into effect
on Monday.
The
new rules are reportedly meant to help police combat terrorism and organized
crime, but the beefed-up personal information requirement has sparked criticism
from the tourism industry, which argues this will infringe on privacy while
making travel more expensive and time-consuming.
“Now
we have to include around 40 client data points, asking for personal
information about relationships, payment methods – like which account or cards
are used – and this is even necessary just for making bookings,” Jorge
Marichal, head of the Spanish hotel association CEHAT, told broadcaster COPE on
Monday.
CEHAT
said it is considering legal action over the negative impact the new rules
could have.
A
hotel manager told broadcaster RTVE that the process could extend the average
check-in time by as much as 10 minutes per customer.
The
data must be submitted through an online application run by the Interior
Ministry. However, on Monday, users reported that the app had crashed.
“We
don’t know the technical reasons, but ... this is proof of the ministry’s lack
of foresight, as they haven’t adequately calibrated the volume of daily
operations,” said Catiana Tur of the tourist agency association ACAVE, speaking
to industry daily Hosteltur.
Travelers
have also expressed concerns about the impact on their privacy, with some
British tourists telling GB News they plan to avoid Spain due to the new rules.
The
ministry contends that the changes are merely an update to previous data
collection rules, which have been “made obsolete” by advances in payment
technology and shifts in the tourism industry.
It
argued that criminals have increasingly found ways to circumvent data
regulations when renting cars or booking accommodations.
Image
Credit: © AA
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