Spain’s New Traveller Registry Stirs Controversy in the Hotel and Travel Industry

• Spain’s new law, the ‘Traveller Registry,’ will require travel agencies, hotels, and car hire firms to collect extensive customer data, causing an industry uproar. 
• Industry experts warn that the additional administrative burden could increase travel costs.

Spain’s travel industry is bracing for potentially disruptive changes. A new law, effective December 2, imposes stringent data collection requirements on travel agencies, hotels, and car rental companies. The law, known as the ‘Traveller Registry,’ has drawn heavy criticism from industry insiders who fear it could lead to privacy infringements and rising travel costs.

The law, encapsulated in the Royal Decree (“Real Decreto 933/2021”), mandates the collection of extensive personal information from customers, including full names, gender, ID numbers, nationality, birth date, home address, phone numbers, emails, and even familial relations if traveling with children. Furthermore, service providers are also obligated to provide comprehensive details about their operations. All this information must be submitted via an online system within 24 hours of service and approved by travelers aged 14 and above.

Many in the industry, particularly those representing small businesses, have criticized the law as a ‘bureaucratic nightmare’. They argue that the additional paperwork could push struggling firms to the brink of survival. Cehat, Spain’s leading hotel association, has also expressed concerns about the potential privacy overreach and damage to Spain’s reputation as a top-tier travel destination.

Despite the outcry, the Ministry of the Interior maintains that the law does not demand more information than what is already collected. However, digital platforms and car rental companies have criticized these claims, citing numerous glitches in the system.

The controversy surrounding the new law has reached Spain’s Senate, where the Partido Popular (PP) and its allies have called for a delay in its implementation. However, the ruling left-wing PSOE party has defended the law, arguing that it is necessary to regulate new trends in the hospitality sector.

Critics warn that the new requirements could lead to increased travel costs as businesses may have to extend working hours or hire additional staff to cope with the extra workload.