The new reporting portal Ses.Hospedajesintroduced by the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, has been causing trouble since its launch on Monday (2.12.). On the very first day, the platform collapsed under the strain - a circumstance that has brought the already controversial new regulation under further criticism. Hoteliers, vacation landlords and travel agencies on Mallorca vehemently reject the extended reporting requirements and are calling for them to be withdrawn.
Technical chaos and high demands
With the introduction of Ses.Hospedajes Royal Decree 933/2021 comes into force, which stipulates extensive reporting obligations for providers of accommodation and rental vehicles. In addition to traditional information such as name and date of birth, sensitive data such as email addresses, credit card numbers and telephone numbers must now also be reported - within 24 hours of arrival or conclusion of the contract.
However, the implementation failed on the very first day. "The platform is unstable and even manual entries were not possible," criticized Pedro Fiol, President of the travel agency association Aviva. The industry is not only complaining about technical shortcomings, but also the enormous administrative burden. "We can't treat our guests like suspects," said Ramón Estallella, Secretary General of the hotel association Cehat.
High fines loom
The new regulation provides for fines of up to 30,000 euros for companies that do not comply with the reporting obligation. The Ministry of the Interior argues that the measures are necessary to combat terrorism and organized crime. Hoteliers and vacation rental companies, on the other hand, see a disproportionate burden and warn of data misuse.
Protests and boycott threats
Criticism from the tourism industry is getting louder and louder. Associations have been protesting against the regulation for weeks. Some entrepreneurs are even threatening to boycott the platform altogether. "The requirements are excessive and the technical implementation is catastrophic," is the tenor. The collection of the 40 different data records is particularly problematic and, according to industry representatives, is neither practicable nor compliant with data protection regulations.
What happens next?
Although the platform continues to struggle with problems, the Ministry of the Interior is sticking to its implementation. However, it remains to be seen whether the government will respond to the protests and adjust the requirements. In the meantime, the deadlines for submissions and proposed amendments from the city council groups are running.
Mallorca's hoteliers in a quandary
The extended reporting obligation is putting Mallorca's hoteliers and vacation rental companies under great pressure. The industry, which is only just recovering from the effects of the pandemic, sees the additional bureaucracy as a serious threat to smooth operations. "We need a practicable system that combines safety and efficiency," demands a spokesperson for the vacation rental platform Fevitur.
0 Comments