Spain Introduces New Data Rules for Hotel Check-Ins, Raising Concerns Over Privacy and Delays

 
(The Post News)- A new regulation mandating that hotel operators, car rental companies, and other businesses related to tourism in Spain gather and report personal information about their customers to the government will be implemented on Monday. These guidelines, designed to improve national security, have raised worries among tourism professionals regarding privacy issues and the possibility of increased waiting times at check-in counters.
 
According to the updated regulations, companies are required to gather and provide data, including passport information, residential addresses, and payment methods, for customers who are older than 14 years. This data will be communicated to the Ministry of the Interior, prompting worries about privacy and data protection. 
 
Citing “confusing and disproportionate regulations” that run counter to European guidelines on data protection and payment systems, the Confederation of Spanish Hoteliers and Tourist Accommodation (CEHAT) has voiced worries about how the new rules may affect the operations of its members’ companies. CEHAT is thinking about filing a lawsuit to contest the regulation.
 
The new restrictions oblige tourists to disclose personal information while booking a hotel room or renting a car, as well as when they arrive in Spain. This might cause delays, especially during peak travel seasons, as firms try to meet the new regulations. According to travel journalist Simon Calder, the Spanish government’s principal worry is organized crime and terrorism, and the new laws are intended to provide authorities a greater idea of who is entering and leaving the country, where they are staying, and what vehicles they are renting. 
 
While many businesses are expected to automate data collection through online registration, tourists may still encounter delays at check-in counters. Penelope Bielckus, a Gibraltar-based travel content creator, remarked that the new requirements add another layer of documentation, potentially slowing down the check-in procedure. However, Bielckus pointed out that hotels and vehicle rental firms already collect most of the necessary information from travelers. She hoped that the new rules would not cause severe disruptions but emphasized the importance of continuously monitoring the situation.
 
Companies that disregard the new rules risk fines of up to €30,000 (£25,000). Both businesses and travelers will be attentively observing how the new laws affect the Spanish travel experience as they go into effect.