The protests from Spain’s entire tourism sector – which in recent months had managed to delay the implementation of the new Travelers’ Registry – ultimately could not deter the government’s firm determination to enforce the reform established by Royal Decree 933/2021.
As of December 2, the platform has gone live: travel agencies, accommodation providers (including campsites and motorhome rest areas), and car rental companies must enter more than 40 pieces of information per booking into the system, to be transmitted to the Ministry of the Interior. The Ministry reported that, in just the first three days of operation, the system registered 323,642 entries.
Ongoing controversy
Industry associations continue to criticize the measure, arguing that its current implementation raises concerns about violations of travelers’ privacy. The platform requires the submission of both personal data and financial information related to transactions, such as payment methods, credit card numbers, or bank account details.
Moreover, the system imposes a significant bureaucratic burden on tourism operators, exposing them to the risk of hefty fines for failing to comply with reporting obligations. This, critics say, could harm Spain’s reputation as a tourist destination, potentially leading to a significant drop in visitor numbers.
Just two days after the Travelers’ Registry went into effect, the political party Iustitia Europa requested the precautionary suspension of the regulation. The party filed an administrative appeal with the National High Court against Royal Decree 933/2021, claiming its enforcement would have a “severe impact on tourism and Spain’s image”.
According to Iustitia Europa, the decree “invades the privacy of millions of tourists, both Spanish and foreign,” by requiring highly sensitive information such as financial data, family relationships, and payment methods. Additionally, the Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodations (CEHAT) and the Spanish Confederation of Travel Agencies (CEAV) have not ruled out pursuing legal action against the Travelers’ Registry in the coming days.
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