British tourists may soon have to share their bank details with Spanish hotels, car-hire firms and travel agencies if a new law comes into force in December.
Holidaymakers will need to provide around 18 extra details to these operators under Spain’s planned Royal Decree 933/2021. The details will be kept on file for three years.
The regulations were due to come into force on October 1, but have now been delayed until December 2 following outcry from Spain’s travel industry.
So what will the new rules mean for British tourists in Spain?
Michele Massa, CEO at Ibiza Summer Villas, tells MailOnline Travel: ‘The Royal Decree 933/2021 rules [would] mean that we’d have to compile additional details from all of our guests staying at our villas. Accommodation providers across Spain already have to take passport and identification details – that’s something British tourists are used to – but [if the rule comes in] we’d have to also collect their bank account and card details and hold onto them for three years.
Holidaymakers will need to provide around 18 extra details to accommodation providers, travel agencies and car rental companies to travel to Spain under the country’s planned Royal Decree 933/2021
‘To be honest, we’re still a little confused about exactly how much personal data would be needed and where we’d need to pass it onto, the rules are still unclear and that’s something felt by most private accommodation providers across Spain.
‘What we do know is that this will add additional pressure onto our staff, who will have extra administrative duties to ensure data is collected, stored and managed correctly. It’s pretty much impossible to automate and if there are errors, we’re worried we could be hit with fines of up to €30,000 (£25,000).
‘There’s a lot of pressure on British tourists already not to enter Spain, and if there are now extra deterrents, as more of their personal information is being withheld, it may entice them to go elsewhere.
Hotels and travel agencies will need to collect tourists’ bank details if the regulations go ahead
‘As yet, it’s unclear if tourists will be penalised if they don’t share details. But when they make a booking, it’s expected that staff will have to introduce systems to automatically save personal details like bank card information.
‘It may be impossible to make a booking unless they are willing to share these details, much in the same way that tourists currently have to provide passport details in order to finalise their stay.’
While the delay was welcomed by the travel industry, hoteliers are fighting to scrap the decree altogether.
The Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodation (Cehat) has said that the regulations could cause ‘chaos’ for the country’s tourism industry if they are introduced.
