Miguel Praga

🏖 Riu constructed the Boabab hotel on Petite Côte, south of Dakar, Senegal. A robbery occurred at the hotel in late January, followed by another armed attack at Les Mangiers de Guéréo in Popenguine in the same week. Despite these incidents, Senegal, which annually attracts about two million tourists, contributing to 7% of its national wealth, is considered safe. Authorities have increased surveillance following the two attacks within a two-month period.

🛫 Volotea, with significant presence in France, has been charging customers retroactively for a new aviation tax using their banking details without notification or authorization, facing criticism from Guillaume Beurdeley, secretary of the travel agencies' association. Air France absorbed the cost for tickets sold before the tax was announced, while Transavia passed it on to customers. The situation led to bureaucratic chaos when earlier tax proposals fell through with the government's budget, prompting refunds. The industry association has reported Volotea to the Directorate of Competition, Consumption, and Fraud Repression.

💸 Italy attempts to ensure online reviews' authenticity with a new law; commentators must provide proof of visit, such as a bill or booking confirmation, and identify themselves. Reviews are limited to within 15 days post-visit. Non-compliance can lead to fines ranging from EUR 5,000 to EUR 10 million. TripAdvisor removed 2.7 million fake reviews, warned 9,000 businesses against manipulation, and found 360,000 false reviews by employees. Up to 30% of tourist business may be affected by fraudulent reviews, according to Tourism Minister Daniela Santanché.

🔎 Begoña Gómez, wife of the Spanish Prime Minister, is alarmed by Judge Peinado's potential investigation into the Air Europa rescue. She has requested through her lawyer to halt any proceedings, fearing a "fishing expedition." The National Court may authorize Peinado to clarify state aid provided to the Hidalgo's airline, amid concerns about possible criminal decisions. Despite government and prosecution opposition, the UCO supports continued scrutiny into the rescue, independent of political pressure, including Gómez's formal accusation of four crimes linked to her Complutense University connections and the rapidity of Air Europa's aid compared to other sector companies.

🏠 Politicians in Baleares are now taking the issue of vacation housing seriously due to a surge in tourists, signaling a commitment to enforce existing laws against illegal offerings. The focus is on compliance with laws previously unenforced, exemplified by the initiation of proceedings against the publicly known hospedería de Lluc in Mallorca. Enforcement actions underscore the shift in political determination to address illegal vacation rentals.

🚨 In Malta, a passenger on a Ryanair flight from Cologne was fined €2,000 for smoking onboard and disobeying crew instructions. Ryanair, seeking to enhance its image, supports the court's decision and plans further actions, including travel bans and civil damage claims, against passenger misconduct.