An array of top hoteliers have slammed Spain’s new “Big Brother” tourist rules as being a “disaster”.
Earlier this month Spain sparked fury by introducing a new travel rule that means anyone who is 14 or above will have to provide a breadth of information, with up to 31 additional details including their names and surnames, ID numbers, home address and email addresses, telephone numbers, card details, passport number and account numbers
The changes will mean children under 14 will not need to provide the information, but adults travelling with them must explain their relationship with them.
However, the system has proved “chaotic” proving unanimous disapproval with it crashing on its first day affecting the travel agency sector.
At the time Pedro Fiol, president of the Aviba Balearic Association of Travel Agencies, warned that the failures have already had an “international impact.”
“It was chaos. It hardly ever worked during the test period”, said Fiol.
And now the chief executive of the Palma-based Melia hotel Group, Gabriel Escarrer, has slammed the new registration system as a “disaster”, the Majorca Daily Bulletin reports.
Business owners and hoteliers are also worried they will have to shoulder the inevitable backlash and tourists with boycott the European hotspot thanks to all the additional information which they have to provide.
Hoteliers are demanding that the new measure either be “watered down” or “withdrawn” but so far these complaints have fallen on deaf ears with the Spanish government saying that the increased measures are needed for security reasons.
A spokesperson for the Interior Ministry previously said: “It is justified for the general interest for the security of citizens against the threat of terrorism and other serious offences committed by criminal organisations.”
Express.co.uk readers up and down the country have been left with a bad taste in their mouths over Spain’s new tourism rules with some comparing the new registrations to a “criminal investigation form”.
One commentator said: “Absolutely furious why should we in the UK be treated like we are criminals?
“My advice is to avoid and the UK should state to all of the EU that this violates citizens rights.
“Why do they need to know your home address, all of your phone numbers, your email addresses, the places you are going etc.
“We don’t ask all these questions to EU’s coming here.
“We only want to go on holiday. We don’t need to fill in a criminal investigation form.”
Another reader said: “We’re booked for a holiday in Spain next year. It’s booked and fully paid for. We won’t be going to Spain after that holiday because of the newly introduced tourist scheme.”
