Asolan has shared with the media a statement from the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodation (CEHAT) in which it reiterates its concern about the imminent entry into force of the new Royal Decree on the Traveler Registry.
This regulation, which requires establishments to collect up to 31 data from both travelers and the company and the transaction itself, could not only violate fundamental privacy rights, but also threatens to complicate and hinder the experience of millions of visitors who choose Spain as a destination.
Just weeks before its implementation, the Spanish hotel association denounces that the Government has not provided clarifications on how this measure will be implemented, nor has it heeded the sector's repeated warnings about the risks for travelers and for Spain's international reputation.
An obstacle for travelers: invasion of privacy and unnecessary procedures
CEHAT regrets that it has been denouncing for months the "disproportionate bureaucratic burden that the new regulation would place on hoteliers and tourists, forcing them to hand over highly sensitive data, such as personal, professional and travel details. This level of demand, which triples the data currently requested, could cause discomfort, distrust and a negative perception of Spain as a tourist destination."
“Travelers who come to Spain seek to enjoy their leisure time, not to be immersed in intrusive and endless administrative processes that put their privacy at risk. This regulation is not only unnecessary, but it generates uncertainty and erodes confidence in our tourist offer”, says Jorge Marichal, president of CEHAT.
The Confederation recalls that this measure will also affect Spanish citizens who travel for tourism or travel for work within the country, since they will also be required to provide a significantly greater amount of personal data than the current one upon arrival at their accommodation, affecting their customer experience and also violating their privacy.
In addition, failure to comply with these requirements could result in penalties of up to 30,000 euros for hoteliers, something that would add pressure to their daily work and could affect the service offered to tourists, negatively affecting their experience.
This Royal Decree "attacks fundamental privacy rights and is contrary to several community directives", for which CEHAT expresses the "impossibility of complying with it due to the risk to which establishments are exposed of being the focus of complaints from travelers."
