Spain: The new rules raise concerns for tourists, including the Moroccan community.

Since Monday, a regulatory controversy has entered into force in Spain, forcing the actors in the tourism sector and other sectors to collect and transmit sensitive personal data about their customers. This measure, which affects both the Spanish citizens and foreign tourists and the communities established in Spain, including the Moroccan community estimated at 893,953 people, according to the Spanish National Institute of Statistics, causes a great deal of controversy.

Under the pretext of strengthening national security in the face of terrorist threats and organized crime, the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, now demands hotels, campgrounds, car rental agencies, and parks of bungalows that they collect information such as bank details, phone numbers, and details of the passports of their customers, even for a single night. Offenders are liable to fines of up to EUR 30,000.

In an official statement, the ministry justified this decision by referring to "the public interest for the safety of citizens, arguing that these data could play a crucial role in the fight against serious crimes. However, this raises significant concerns related to data privacy and the modalities of their treatment.

The professionals of tourism, a vital sector for the Spanish economy that annually receives about 85 million visitors, are sounding the alarm. According to the major actors in the field, the magnitude of the required information and the uncertainty surrounding its management are threatening the viability of some businesses.

"These new requirements, we dive into the uncertainty. We are concerned that the collection and processing of these data, in addition to their secure storage, not going beyond our capabilities, logistical and financial, " says a representative of the tour operator TUI.

The sector also denounces the character that precipitated the entry into force of this measure, originally planned for 1 October but postponed to December 2 to allow for the adaptation. However, many argue that this period was not sufficient to remove the ambiguities.

A threat to tourism and the rights of aliens

In addition to the concerns of the economy, this regulation raises questions about the implications for foreigners living in Spain, including the Moroccan community, the first foreign community in the country. The latter expressed concerns about a possible strengthening of controls that would be discriminatory and a violation of fundamental freedoms.

For Fatima, a Moroccan living in Barcelona, "These rules are similar to large-scale surveillance. We don't know how our data will be used or whether it could be used for other purposes, such as administrative procedures that are unfair or additional restrictions."

On the side of the tourists, the obligation to disclose banking information responsive to a simple reservation raises doubts about some associations of consumers against the potential "pointing abusive.".

The Spanish government, while insisting on the validity of these measures to prevent criminal acts, must now face a sling growing. Associations of data protection, human rights activists, humans, and tourism professionals are calling for a review of the regulation.

While the country prides itself on being one of the most popular destinations in the world, this controversy could tarnish its image. Some foreign tour operators are already considering redirecting their offers to competing destinations.

The Moroccans established in Spain often face administrative challenges, fearing that this new legislation is going to weigh down the procedures and exacerbate their sense of marginalization.