Royal Decree 933/2021 introduced by the Sanchez government, has been in effect since December 2024. It obliges tourist facilities, including open air establishments, and travel agencies to collect and store a large amount of data on travelers, including full name, date of birth, ID, method of payment, and details of the stay or rental. The measure also requires that this information be kept for three years and forwarded to the Ministry of the Interior.
The “traveler’s registry” has been criticized by the People’s Party, bitterly opposed by entrepreneurs and workers in the tourism sector, who say the regulation particularly affects small and medium-sized tourism businesses, and as pointed out by Senator Agustín Almodóbar, PP spokesman in the Senate Interior Committee, “Most travel agencies in our country are SMEs with only one employee, who are now forced to hire additional staff or invest in technology to comply with the regulations.”
In contrast, the PSOE, Pedro Sanchez’s party, argues that the regulation responds to national security reasons and that its enforcement is necessary to prevent criminal activities.
Privacy focus
Privacy issues and data control, are the most controversial aspects of the “traveler registry.” Even organizations specializing in data protection have expressed concern about the cybersecurity risks involved in accumulating personal information for three years.
A report issued by theSpanish Data Protection Agency makes similar statements, “This measure increases the possibility of unauthorized access and data leaks, putting the information of millions of travelers at risk.”
There are also numerous industry associations that have called on the government to suspend implementation of the decree. The Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodations (CEHAT) says, “The measure will slow down the recovery of tourism and could drive away international travelers who do not want to be subjected to such exhaustive control.”
For the time being, the Ministry of the Interior has not proposed any changes in the application of the Royal Decree. Senator Almodóbar points out, “The government is imposing a norm without being ready to apply it.”
As of today, the outcome of this controversy is yet to be decided, but there is no doubt that the tension between the government and tourism professionals will continue to grow.Royal Decree 933/2021 is shaping up to be one of the most controversial measures in recent years in the Spanish and European tourism sector.
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