Jurídicos y Administrativos

💸 Javier Vich, president of the Mallorca Hotel Business Federation, criticized the mismanagement of €482 million from the €700 million collected via the ecotax between 2017-2023 in the Balearic Islands. He highlighted issues like a 52% population increase since 2000 versus a 21% housing growth, and outdated infrastructure. Vich called for immediate political action and a national Strategic Tourism Transformation Plan, noting the private sector's €3.5 billion investment in modernization.

💻 CEAV and Locos por Viajar, on April 2024, raised concerns over travel agency intrusiveness to the Agencia Catalana de Consumo, citing 57 complaints since summer 2024, 21 in Catalonia. They propose ID codes for authorized agencies and an informative campaign to warn consumers about unregulated entities. Enhanced website and social media monitoring are advised. CEAV's president, Carlos Garrido, emphasizes consumer protection, while Locos por Viajar's president, Jordi García, calls for decisive action against legal loopholes.

🛫 Dara Brady, Ryanair's Marketing Director, accuses EU governments and Spain's Consumer Minister, Pablo Bustinduy, of ignoring consumer harm by online travel agencies (OTAs) like Edreams. In Spain, Ryanair demands a ban on Edreams' unjustified surcharges. Edreams, Tix, and Vola charge up to 124% more than Ryanair's website prices, with Edreams adding a €17.92 fee for a seat costing €8. No action has been taken by Minister Bustinduy despite these practices.

📅 El Imserso adjudicó el programa de turismo de mayores 2025/2026 con Ávoris gestionando lotes 1 y 3, y Mundiplan el lote 2. Los lotes 1, 2 y 3 tienen valores de 444,4 millones, 303,6 millones y 222,4 millones de euros, respectivamente. Las puntuaciones: Ávoris 81.91 (lote 1) y 85.3 (lote 3), Mundiplan 74.47 (lote 2). La adjudicación totaliza 970,4 millones de euros, con opciones de prórroga. Ofertas abiertas el 20 y 27 de mayo; dictamen emitido en dos semanas.

💰 La Sindicatura de Cuentas en les Illes Balears revela problemas significativos con la "ecotasa", un impuesto turístico instaurado en 2017 por el gobierno de Francina Armengol. De los casi 700 millones de euros recaudados hasta 2023, solo 59 millones (12.3%) se destinaron a proyectos. Excluyendo los 218 millones usados durante la pandemia (2020-2022), la gestión del impuesto es criticada por falta de transparencia. La ecotasa no ha sido efectiva en sostenibilidad ni en mejorar la competitividad turística.

💰 El 10 de octubre de 2023, el Congreso de los Diputados aprobó una resolución del PP para revisar los rescates estatales a empresas como Air Europa. El rescate de Air Europa, de 475 millones de euros, fue cuestionado por ser dividido en dos tramos para evitar la revisión de la Comisión Europea. La ayuda se otorgó en 75 días, frente a los 300 días promedio. El TSJM investigará un posible conflicto de intereses de Pedro Sánchez relacionado con este rescate.

✈ In June 2025, the EU confirmed airlines can cancel return flights if the outbound isn't used. This policy, a longstanding practice of traditional airlines, is considered consumer-unfriendly by some European governments. However, low-cost airlines are less affected. New EU measures include compensation for delays over four hours, raising it from €250 to €300. Airlines must provide food, drink, and accommodation during delays, with reimbursements if they fail to do so.

🛩 If flying from the UK, airlines like Easyjet, Ryanair, Jet2, British Airways, and Tui UK must compensate €250 for delays over three hours. This remains unchanged post-Brexit, as the UK retained the same regulations despite the EU considering revisions. European flights departing from the UK are subject to the same rule. EU plans to compensate €300 for delays over four hours, but the UK chooses its established norm.

✈️ European low-cost airlines, Ryanair and Wizz Air, are poised for victories. In 2024, Brussels might allow charging for carry-on luggage, and delay compensation rules could change, extending the compensation threshold from three to four hours. Current luggage size standards, slightly altered but favoring airlines, now require European Parliament ratification. Meanwhile, Spain's opposition has been ineffective. Travelers should expect minimal immediate changes but anticipate stricter carry-on regulations soon.

📅 El Imserso está implementando nuevas medidas para evitar problemas en la venta de viajes, tras experiencias previas caóticas. Se realizarán pruebas 20 días hábiles antes de la comercialización para asegurar el funcionamiento de la plataforma de reservas. Se exige que el sistema soporte 2,500 conexiones simultáneas y sea accesible para todos. Adjudicatarias deben proporcionar ocho conexiones a la base de datos dentro de un mes tras la formalización del contrato para la temporada 2025/2026.