British tourists may soon have to share their banking details with Spanish hotels, car rental companies and travel agencies if a new law comes into force in December.
Tourists will have to provide around 18 additional details to these operators according to Royal Decree 933/2021 provided in Spain. The data 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 protests from the Spanish travel industry.
So what will the new rules mean for British tourists in Spain?
Michele Massa, CEO of Summer villas in Ibizatells MailOnline Travel: ‘The rules of Royal Decree 933/2021 (would mean) that we would have to collect additional details from all our guests staying in our villas. Accommodation providers across Spain already have to take your passport and ID details, something British tourists are used to, but (if the rule comes into force) we would also have to collect your bank account details and from your card and keep them for three years.
Tourists will need to provide around 18 additional pieces of information to accommodation providers, travel agencies and car rental companies to travel to Spain under Royal Decree 933/2021 provided for in the country.
“To be honest, we are still a bit confused about exactly how much personal data would be needed and where we would have to pass it on, the rules are still unclear and that is something that is felt by most private accommodation providers across Spain.
‘What we do know is that this will put additional pressure on our staff, who will have additional administrative tasks to ensure data is collected, stored and managed correctly. It is virtually impossible to automate and if there are errors we are worried that we could be fined up to €30,000 (£25,000).
“There is already a lot of pressure on British tourists not to enter Spain, and if there are now additional deterrents, as more personal information is withheld from them, this may prompt them to go elsewhere.
Hotels and travel agencies must collect tourists’ bank details if the regulations go ahead
‘So far, it is unclear whether tourists will be penalized if they do not share details. But when they make a reservation, staff are expected to have to introduce systems to automatically save personal details such as bank card information.
“It may be impossible to make a booking unless they are willing to share these details, in the same way that tourists currently have to provide their passport details to finalize their stay.”
While the delay was welcomed by the travel industry, hoteliers are fighting to remove the decree entirely.
The Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodations (Cehat) has said the regulations could cause “chaos” for the country’s tourism industry if they are introduced.