Tourists in Spain are waiting in line for hours to check into hotels.

In Spain, tourists are facing long queues at hotels due to new check-in rules

Complaints from vacationers are coming from various resorts in the country, such as Mallorca, Ibiza, and Tenerife. Hoteliers across the country are reporting issues and failures in the check-in system, according to The Sun.

“We looked at the queue at the hotel reception, left our bags, and went across the street to the nearest pub” - tourists describe the chaos that unfolded in the hotel lobby.

Hotel and hostel owners report dissatisfaction among guests and instances of booking refusal when requesting additional information.

Since the end of last year, hotels and car rental companies have been required to provide the Spanish Ministry of the Interior with detailed information about clients.

They must fill out 42 points at the check-in desk. In addition to standard passport data, detailed residence address, mobile and home phone numbers, bank card information, and account details must be provided. It is also necessary to indicate the name and address of the employer and explain the marital status and relationships with other persons staying with the guest in the hotel.

The tourism sector views the new rules as anti-tourist. The Ministry of Tourism expresses concerns about the potential disclosure of such personal information to fraud.

Hoteliers are demanding compensation for the extra time spent on this “paperwork” and are calling for a review of the new rules.

According to information from the Spanish tourism business, hotels must register with the Ministry of the Interior, send daily data about tourists, and keep this information for 3 years. Penalties of up to 30,000 euros are imposed for violating the new rules.

It is worth noting that last year, hotel registration rules in Spain required only 18 points of personal information, which also drew criticism from travelers as well as representatives of the hotel and tourism business.