Jurídicos y Administrativos

🛂 ETIAS border control equipment has been unused in Spain for over a year, with operational delays now extending to late 2026. Meanwhile, the UK, as of Wednesday, requires non-national travelers to obtain electronic authorization. Tourists complete an online process, paying 12 euros, typically receiving permission within two days, then presenting it at borders. The UK's identical model to the EU's had its price pre-launch increased to 19 euros. Travelers face issues not at the border but with poorly trained transport operators who may wrongly deny entry to those without the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), valid for two years upon issuance.

📌 Jaime Concheiro, partner at CCS Abogados, addresses key queries from hoteliers about the collective lawsuit against Booking during Updating Hotelero 2025, an event organized by tourism news outlet HOSTELTUR. The video clarifies the lawsuit's connection to the CNMC fine and options for hoteliers seeking to sue Booking for damages due to parity clauses.

🏡 Starting April 3, new tourist apartment openings in Spain require three-fifths support from property owners for approval. The Organic Law 1/2025 amends the 1960 Horizontal Property Law, empowering communities to approve, limit or prohibit short-term rentals. Pre-existing tourist apartments can continue under old regulations. Also, a digital registration for legal compliance is underway, with 18,104 applications since January; 49% approved, 11% rejected. The measure aims to reduce housing pressure and ensure more long-term residential rentals.

🧙 In Spain, a scandal involving Begoña Gómez, Air Europa, the Public Prosecutor's Office, Aldama, and even the Moncloa has emerged, reflecting a normalization of corruption in the country. Despite the gravity of the allegations, life continues as usual with no significant public outrage or accountability, suggesting a deep-rooted acceptance of corruption in the tourism sector and beyond. The case highlights how controlling judges and prosecutors is seen as vital for maintaining impunity in the face of widespread corruption.

🎓 On April 2, 2025, it was highlighted that outdoor training, a technique used by HR departments to boost productivity and well-being, has become increasingly popular for talent retention plans. Unlike team building, outdoor training focuses on experiential games in nature to enhance leadership, communication, and resilience. Key benefits include improved teamwork, adaptability, creativity, interpersonal relationships, and corporate culture. The practice also impacts organizational culture by revealing hidden dynamics and areas for improvement, ultimately enhancing team performance indicators. Integrating digital tools such as Zucchetti HR software can help measure the effectiveness of outdoor training activities and contribute to the strategic development of talent within a company.

📌 Destinia, a Spanish online travel agency, joins the case against Booking.com due to a €413 million fine imposed by CNMC for abuse of dominance (Article 2 of the Spanish Competition Law & Article 102 of the TFEU). CNMC initiated the sanctioning procedure following complaints by Spanish hotel associations in 2021. In July 2024, CNMC fined Booking; in November 2024, Booking appealed. The National Court suspended the fine on March 7, pending appeal resolution. Booking vows to exhaust all legal avenues to defend its rights.

📆 Zurab Pololikashvili, secretary-general of the UNWTO, seeks to maintain his position despite opposition and controversies including accusations related to masks in the Dominican Republic and a trip to St. Petersburg. Spain will not vote for his candidacy in May's elections. Pololikashvili has enlisted former Spanish President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero to help gain China's support, which could influence African countries. The alliance between Zapatero and Pololikashvili is not new; they have a history of frequent interactions.

📌 Travel agencies led by CEAV are preparing to challenge a ministerial order that has been in effect since December 2, with no penalties yet imposed after nearly four months. CEHAT General Secretary Ramón Estalella notes companies are not providing required information without repercussions, suggesting a strategic avoidance of giving grounds for legal challenges. As of March 17, 202,664 companies, including 12,713 hotels and 5,021 travel agencies, are registered in the system, while agencies argue the regulation breaches normative hierarchy by including intermediaries not mentioned in the Organic Law of Citizen Security.

🛫 Fiscalía challenges Judge Juan Carlos Peinado's investigation into Air Europa's rescue, terming it "irregular" and criticizing "inaction." Fiscalía requests UCO to halt their actions and not submit the report, while Peinado insists on probing potential irregularities, citing avoidance as prevarication. Additionally, there's contention over the witness summons of Justice Minister Félix Bolaños for April 16 and the charge against ex-PP official Juan José Güemes, highlighting a "situation of irregularity" and "genuine defenselessness.

🏨 Ramón Vernet, CEO of Best Hotels with 18 hotels and 4,628 rooms in Catalonia, criticizes the Generalitat's decision to double the tourist tax to potentially €15 per person per night. He argues that the already highest tourist tax in Europe will hurt Barcelona's competitiveness, as a couple could pay up to €160 in a week. Vernet suggests using the tax revenue for infrastructure rather than housing issues, which he believes hotels did not cause.