Spain recently introduced new rules for tourists to enhance security. Under the new rules, rental properties and car rental firms will collect more personal information from customers, raising privacy concerns and complaints of bureaucracy. Hotels, campsites, travel agencies, etc., will share this information with the government on a digital platform.
The ministry said its main motive for this policy change is to boost security and fight terrorism. Failure to comply with the new rules could cost organisations up to 30,000 euros or $31,500.
Before the new rules came into effect, Spain Hotels only asked visitors for the details of their ID cards or passports. Under the new rules, tourists will need to provide the following information.
- Full name
- Gender
- Nationality
- Passport number
- Date of birth
- Home address
- Landline number (if applicable)
- Mobile number
- Email address
- Number of travellers in the group
- Relationship to other travellers (if applicable)
When renting a vehicle on a Spain tour, travellers need to give the following information in addition to the above.
- Driver’s license information
- Payment information
- Vehicle GPS data (if available)
This move by Spain’s ministry is facing criticism; the president of the tourism board, Juan Molas, stated, “We are faced with an unfortunate and incomprehensible decree. Meanwhile, the secretary general Ramon Estalella said that the private lives of people are getting disrespected.”