Spain’s new system for registering traveller information has sparked chaos on the country’s mainland and the Canary and Balearic Islands after it crashed on its first day
Spain’s new system for registering traveller information descended into chaos on its first day, causing widespread disruption, according to one hotelier.
The system has already faced unanimous criticism after proving to be “problematic,” causing issues for the travel agency sector. Pedro Fiol, president of the Aviba Balearic Association of Travel Agencies, warns that the failures have already had an “international impact.”
“It was chaos. It hardly ever worked during the test period”, said Fiol. He added: “It is disproportionate and has already had an international impact. We cannot upload data that we don’t know.” Fiol – who is a long-term critic of the proposals – argues that the plans which were implemented to “fight terrorism and organised crime” will “neither prevent nor deter any possible attack”.
He said: “Terrorists with names and surnames will not be staying with their faces uncovered in any hotel surrounded by tourists. The measure violates all the principles of privacy of our customers. Europe should act. It will be easier to file a tax return than book a hotel.”
With fines for non-compliance as high as 30,000 euros, Aviba is now advising members to take screenshots of website errors as evidence. “It is very important that we can prove that the system has not been working and that we have therefore not been able to load the data”, said Fiol.
The government’s new regulations have come under fire as they require anyone aged 14 or over to submit an extensive list of personal details, including names, ID numbers, residential address, email addresses, phone numbers, card and passport numbers, and account numbers. Kids under 14 are exempt, yet accompanying adults must clarify their relationship to them, reports the Express. Holidaymakers renting cars will also need to share their driving licence, payment information and GPS data.
An Interior Ministry spokesperson defended the rules, claiming: “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.” However, business owners and hotel managers fear they’ll bear the brunt of consumer frustration.
The ministry says that the new regulation, Royal Decree 933/2021, is needed to help in the fight against terrorism and organised crime.
Some in the industry, such as Ali Zartash-Lloyd, 62, who co-owns holiday accommodation rental firm Colours of Andalucia in Mijas with his wife, believes the regulations are “a lot of fuss being made over nothing” and won’t mean much change from existing measures.
“When you check in, even when you stay in a self-catering place, the agent that checks you in has to take a copy of your passport and register it with the police,” he told The i Paper. “Even if you don’t tell them where you’re going, they will know, because we have registered you. So if you came and stayed at one of our properties and then you went to Sevilla and went to another property, they know, because your agent there or the hotel will check you in.”
