Majorca 'panicking' after UK tourists 'threaten to boycott' over new travel rule

Majorca 'panicking' after UK tourists 'threaten to boycott' over new travel rule
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


There is panic in Majorca over new rules for UK tourists across the European Union holiday hotspot. Brits will soon be required to supply 43 pieces of information while on holiday in the Balearic Islands, it has been warned.

New rules for holidaymakers could put British tourists off coming to the island, it is warned. The new law will require hotel owners and those with rental properties to hand over a large amount of sensitive information, 43 pieces in total, about their visitors.

The Mesa del Turismo of leading figures in the country’s tourism sector, and the industry at large, have succeeded in securing the suspension of the new Royal Decree, given “the impossibility of compliance with the rule for tourism companies and potential conflict with the Data Protection Act”.

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It was due to come into force on October 1, but it has now been pushed back until December. Benidorm resident Frank, known on TikTok as @frankthestagman, said: “I’ve got to be honest with you, I can’t believe we’ve got to a stage in life where anybody can actually ask for this type of information.”

He claimed "as soon as you arrive at the airports", tourists will be required to fill out a form and provide information about themselves. He noted a lot of the information you have to provide will be "very personal". He added: “If you fail to provide any of this information, and there is more, you can be fined up to 30,000 euros. Wow.”

The Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodation (CEHAT) warned: “It is impossible to automate the process and it would involve additional and disproportionate manual work for establishments and a considerable increase in errors."

One person said: "It's going to really put the stops for loads of people - too much hassle for a bit of sun." Another replied: "Won't be going." A third also added: "That's a shame. We've been to Finestrat for the last two years (10 of us), popping into Benidorm as well. We were just about to book again. We've just discussed it, and we are not booking now."