Implications of Spanish Royal Decree 933/2021

NoodleDoodleMan

I thought this might come up for discussion - but can't see it here yet.

Effective Monday 2nd December - observers were expecting early experiences to report on.

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/spain-new-travel-rules-hotels-flights-visa-b2655790.html

Certain elements of the British media are intent on senationalising news stories and inducing ill informed knee jerk reactions.

This is one such instance IMO - much ado about nothing.

Westin

Being asked for is:

• Full name
• Gender
• Nationality
• Passport number
• Date of birth
• Home address
• Landline phone number (if you have one)
• Mobile phone number
• Email address

I really don't see a problem with providing this information to lodging establishments.

Hope the media don't make an unnecessary drama out of this.

daveyjp

Storm in a teacup whipped up as ever by media.

All package holidays providers will have the info provided when a booking is made.

For DIY most of the info is or can be provided when booking or on arrival so no issue there.

Its the providers who will need to pass on that info to the authorities.

Keep_pedalling

NoodleDoodleMan said:

I thought this might come up for discussion - but can't see it here yet.

Effective Monday 2nd December - observers were expecting early experiences to report on.

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/spain-new-travel-rules-hotels-flights-visa-b2655790.html

Certain elements of the British media are intent on senationalising news stories and inducing ill informed knee jerk reactions.

This is one such instance IMO - much ado about nothing.

I don’t think there is anything wrong with Simon Calder’s reporting it is entirely factual. The headline writer on the other hand needs a smacked bottom. 

eDicky

The only real drawback is the possibility of extended queueing time during busy periods at hotel reception and car hire desks. Data protection may well prevent details being passed by booking agents to outlets in advance, so they have to be collected in person.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce9g93p405zo

In Italy the common practice of using 'key boxes' for self check-in to short term lets is being banned, requiring the host to visually check identity.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5ydwgkq1kro

Grumpy_chap

Westin said:

Being asked for is:

• Full name
• Gender
• Nationality
• Passport number
• Date of birth
• Home address
• Landline phone number (if you have one)
• Mobile phone number
• Email address

I really don't see a problem with providing this information to lodging establishments.

Hope the media don't make an unnecessary drama out of this.

Many hotels request this information, either at check-in or earlier in the booking process, so it seems like no change so far as I can tell.  Even UK hotels can often have a form that asks for this information.

NoodleDoodleMan

This website lists the 17 relevant pieces of information required under Guest Entry Data - para 3.1.

https://www.civitfun.com/blog/en/spanish-royal-decree-guide/

Nothing unreasonable being requested IMO.

onomatopoeia99

eDicky said:

Data protection may well prevent details being passed by booking agents to outlets in advance

No, it won't.  Nothing in EU GDPR would prevent this and 6(1)(f) provides the lawful basis.

daveyjp

Just back from 2 nights in Spain and despite what the media might think the world didn't end.

We checked in as normal, passports taken as normal, the only extra piece of admin was a form for our home address details and a contact phone or email address.  Took a minute.  Once the new rules are embedded this is the sort of info which will now probable start being asked before arrival to reduce check in queues at busy periods.

eDicky

eDicky said:

Data protection may well prevent details being passed by booking agents to outlets in advance

onomatopoeia99 said:

eDicky said:

Data protection may well prevent details being passed by booking agents to outlets in advance

No, it won't.  Nothing in EU GDPR would prevent this and 6(1)(f) provides the lawful basis.

In that case, it's hard to understand the reaction of the Spanish hoteliers association, and their considering a legal challenge to the new regulations.

But the hotel industry body CEHAT said the the change “puts the viability of the sector in serious danger”.

It said both tourists and Spanish citizens will have to deal with "complex and tedious administrative procedures, compromising their accommodation experience".

It added hoteliers were being are forced to comply with "confusing and disproportionate regulations" that go against other European directives related to data protection and payment systems.

Doshwaster

daveyjp said:

Just back from 2 nights in Spain and despite what the media might think the world didn't end.

We checked in as normal, passports taken as normal, the only extra piece of admin was a form for our home address details and a contact phone or email address.  Took a minute.  Once the new rules are embedded this is the sort of info which will now probable start being asked before arrival to reduce check in queues at busy periods.

I've stayed in two AirBnBs in Spain recently. In the first one I had to send a copy of my passport via WhastApp and in the second the host took a photo of it during check-in.