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Date Published: 02/12/2024

Tourism sector wages war as new guest registry system comes into force in Spain

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The new law requires hotels and car rental companies in Spain to collect reams of personal information about their customers

Tourism sector wages war as new guest registry system comes into force in Spain

A contentious new law is set to shake up the tourism industry in Spain, sparking outrage among hoteliers, travel agencies and car rental companies.

As of Monday December 2, the Royal Decree 933/2021 will come into force, imposing a new guest registry system that has been widely criticised for its bureaucratic burden, potential invasion of travellers' privacy and incompatibility with EU regulations.

The Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodation (Cehat) has sounded the alarm, warning that the new system will compromise the accommodation experience for both international and Spanish tourists.

“More complex procedures will compromise the accommodation experience” for guests, they caution.

The new registry

But what exactly does this new registry entail? Under the new system, hotels and accommodation providers, as well as car rental businesses, will be required to collect a whopping 17 pieces of information from each guest, including personal details, passport numbers and even their relationship to other travellers.

This is a significant increase from the 9 pieces of data previously required, but, contrary to early reports, guests won’t be obliged to provide bank details.

The Ministry of the Interior claims that the new system is designed to improve transparency and efficiency, but industry leaders are not convinced. The Spanish Confederation of Travel Agencies (CEAV) has denounced the legislation as “unacceptable” and is exploring legal action.

In fact, several tourism organisations are already understood to be working with legal experts to challenge the decree.

Jorge Marichal, president of Cehat, said that “defending the rights of travellers and guaranteeing a fair regulatory environment is a priority for the sector”.

Affected: Accommodation, car rentals and agencies

The new law affects not only hotels and accommodation providers but also car rental companies, tour operators and digital platforms that offer intermediation services.

The rental of taxi vehicles and, in general, the leasing of vehicles with a driver are excluded from the new rules.

The Ministry of the Interior has attempted to allay concerns about increased costs, insisting that the new registry does not necessarily mean significant investments. They argue that, until now, guest details still had to be taken at check-in and passed on to the authorities through the Hospederías or WebPol websites.

Going forward, a few more details will be required, which will be uploaded to the Ministry of the Interior via their dedicated SES.Hospedajes platform.

However, industry insiders remain sceptical and a drawn-out legal battle is most likely on the horizon.

In other news: The Constitution weekend explained: Why does Spain have two public holidays in early December?

Image: Ministry of the Interior

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