Jurídicos y Administrativos

📆 CEAV plans to gather over 90 travel professionals at its annual event, "Jornadas Técnicas 2024," set for October 2-5 in Rabat and Tangier, Morocco. A key issue, the enforcement of Royal Decree 933/2021, requiring agencies to submit lodging and vehicle rental data to the Interior Ministry, is to be discussed. The decree is expected to be in effect from October 1, after a postponement announced at the last Jornadas Técnicas in April 2023. Additional topics include retailer-airline relations and artificial intelligence.

🏡 Rome plans to introduce an access fee for the famous open-air Fontana di Trevi to manage overcrowding, as reported by Corriere della Sera. An online reservation system is also proposed to limit visitors, with designated visiting hours. The fee would be 1 euro for tourists, while free for local Romans. The initiative, led by tourism official Alessandro Onorato, aims to control crowds, not to generate revenue. Implementing such measures is complex due to the fountain's unenclosed location at a corner.

✈ Eddie Wilson, Ryanair CEO, is optimistic about overturning a sanction exceeding €100 million imposed by Consumer Affairs for carry-on luggage regulations. The company, alongside Vueling, Easyjet, and Volotea, faces a total fine of €150 million, with Ryanair's share being the largest. All affected airlines have appealed, citing compliance with EU norms. Wilson highlights the low-cost model's role in making air travel accessible compared to 25 years ago.

🚘 The car rental sector in Baleares has been targeted by anti-tourism activists, leading to increased preventative measures during summer. Incidents include car scratches, torn mirrors, and punctured tires. A notable case involved a family's rental car being severely damaged and tagged by "Associació de Veinades Enfadades". Industry representatives, such as Baleval's Julio Nieto, consider these as isolated incidents, while Aevab's Ramon Reus acknowledges the issue but condemns vandalism as a solution.

💛 Two lifeguards at a Playa de Palma hotel pool are under investigation for reckless homicide following the drowning death of a 6-year-old boy on August 25. The child drowned in the adult pool after swimming from the kids’ area, while the lifeguards temporarily left their posts, leaving the pool unsupervised. Police declared the incident an accidental drowning and have taken statements from the accused with legal counsel present.

🏖️ In 2021, the European Commission reported on issues with the Directive 2016/2302 implementation, including complex definitions and insolvency protection. Thomas Cook's 2019 bankruptcy and COVID-19's impact prompted changes, such as limiting traveler deposits to 25% and addressing insolvency protection disparities. UNAV's legal expert criticized the proposed changes for being restrictive, costly, and confusing, potentially leading to unintended market imbalances.

🍽 Iberostar Selection Sábila 5*, part of Iberostar Beachfront Resorts in Tenerife, features a Gourmet Market with eight specialized stalls offering local, national, and international cuisine, including grilled meats and fish, tapas, Asian delights, homemade desserts, and signature cocktails. The market's latest addition is the Tex Mex corner with iconic Mexican dishes and vegan options. The dining experience is enhanced by spectacular sea views and sunsets.

🏠 Más del 76% de los españoles favorables al control de viviendas de uso turístico, según encuesta del Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas. Encuestados: más de 4.000 personas, mayores de 18 años, entre el 18 y el 26 de julio. Más de 350.000 pisos turísticos en España, con mayor concentración en Andalucía, Comunidad Valenciana, Cataluña y Canarias. Preferencias vacacionales: 31.3% pueblos costeros, 19% ciudades costeras; 50% elige estar junto al mar. Tiempo de vacaciones: 29.4% de 1 a 2 semanas, 27.8% una semana, 19% más de dos semanas. Compañía de vacaciones: 86.2% con pareja, familiares o amigos.

🎰 Hard Rock Hotels' project led to early elections in Catalonia last May. The project's future hangs by a thread after the elections yielded 42 seats for the PSC, requiring support from ERC and Comuns for Salvador Illa's investiture as president. Initially, Hard Rock was set to pay only 10% of gaming taxes instead of the standard 55%, thanks to 2014 fiscal incentives. However, the new government announced the withdrawal of these tax benefits. Despite a 2018 authorization for Hard Rock's complex, a 2020 TSJC ruling partially annulled the project's urban plan, which remains unresolved. The initial investment for the project was around €700 million, with potential to reach €2,000 million.

🏖️El grupo turístico FTI Group, tercer turoperador europeo, entró en quiebra el 1 de junio, con una deuda estimada en 1.000 millones de euros. Los viajeros empezarán a recibir reembolsos desde el Fondo Alemán de Seguridad en Viajes en septiembre. Una reunión de acreedores tendrá lugar el 20 de noviembre en Múnich, con el Fondo de Estabilización Económica (FSM) esperando recuperar parte de los 600 millones de euros prestados. FTI posee 54 hoteles y 12.000 habitaciones, los cuales se venderán para abonar deudas. Hasta el momento de la quiebra, el grupo tenía solo 30 millones de euros en efectivo.