The debate over the new traveler registry, crafted by the government for the tourism sector, has moved into the political arena. After hotel association Hosbec criticized the plan, warning that the new rules would create chaos in accommodations and undercut competitiveness, the Valencian Tourism Counselor, Nuria Montes, spoke out forcefully this Tuesday, saying the proposal would trigger numerous conflicts. After lending her support to the public criticisms, she questioned Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska for not engaging with the sector’s demands, urging a change in tone and strategy.
The traveler registry, set to take effect on October 1, requires hotels and other tourist accommodations to collect new data in addition to the standard details already requested from guests, such as identity documents like a passport or national ID. The new obligations include payment methods, transactional details, and contract elements such as an updated address, mobile number, or email address.
These requirements prompted Hosbec to join the criticisms already voiced by the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Lodgings (Cehat), arguing that the regulation would cause chaos at reception desks and disadvantage users. They claim it would violate data minimization rules under European directives and undermine data protection. They also warned that, since this is a registry applicable only in Spain, it would erode the sector’s competitiveness and drive away foreign clients.
In the midst of the debate, Nuria Montes, the Counselor for Innovation, Industry, Commerce and Tourism, has now voiced support for sector-wide concerns, warning that the traveler registry will cause countless conflicts in hotels, apartments, campsites, and other tourist accommodations across the country.
The representative of the Consell asserts that the Generalitat will always stand on the side of reason and, in this case, support the hotel sector, not only for Valencians but for the entire Spanish hotel industry, which has spent two years trying to modify a regulation abruptly approved by the Interior Ministry.
Montes adds that the new traveler registry imposes obligations on all tourist accommodations that are particularly burdensome, while making them responsible for certain data they may not be able to verify confidently.
The only country
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Montes notes that Spain is the only country in the European Union insisting on a traveler registry and requiring the data to be transmitted electronically to the Police and Civil Guard. She argues that any obligation beyond what is listed on a passport or ID card should not be part of this requirement.
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Montes also points out that the tourism minister is aware of the sector’s position and, she says, likely shares it, but regrets that Interior has shown little openness to change.