Jurídicos y Administrativos

📌 The new traveler data registry in Spain has caused confusion in the UK, the main tourism source for Spain, as confirmed by Jordi Martí, president of ACAVE. British tourists now need to provide personal details such as email and phone number, a significant change from just names before. The system shift, effective since November 28, has faced issues including a single platform split between general use and Catalonia-specific requirements, with technical problems on December 2 and 3. Travel agencies struggle with constant administrative criteria changes and technical access to the platforms. There is concern that this may negatively impact Spain's image and upcoming summer reservations.

✈ Michel Barnier, French Prime Minister, announced two months ago a plan to increase aviation taxes to raise €1 billion annually, potentially adding up to €80 per ticket. Air France preemptively raised ticket prices from January 1 to avoid paying with their funds, affecting travelers purchasing tickets from that date, not November or December travelers. Barnier's subsequent fall from power due to a left-right alliance puts the unapproved tax, and therefore Air France's surcharge, in doubt.

📍 Aena's airport fees for 2025 will remain unchanged from 2024, as determined by Spain's National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC). In February, CNMC approved Aena's proposal to increase airport fees by 4.09% against airlines' request to freeze them until 2026. Aena's president claimed these are the "lowest in Europe," with a 31% reduction between 2015 and 2023. The maximum income per passenger (IMAAJ) for 2025 will remain at €10.35, with average tariff variation set at 0% to balance service costs and revenues.

💸 Wizz Air, Transavia, and Eurowings are accused by Facua of illegal practices for imposing hand luggage fees or additional charges, initially reported in June. Following a €179 million fine against Ryanair, Vueling, Easyjet, Norwegian, and Volotea for similar charges, Facua urges the Ministry of Social Rights to sanction these airlines. Wizz Air's Basic fare allows only a 40x30x20 cm item, forcing upgrades or extra fees for a 10 kg bag. Transavia and Eurowings have similar restrictions, requiring higher fare purchases or additional payments for larger hand luggage.

💰 The CNAE (Clasificación Nacional de Actividades Económicas) is a numerical code essential for any economic activity, used to classify companies and self-employed activities. Each CNAE code consists of 4 digits, representing sections (letters), divisions (2 digits), and groups/classes for more precise activities. The code helps in creating national statistics, is required for public tenders, grants, and mandatory for the Registro Mercantil. CNAE can be consulted on the Instituto Nacional de Estadística website or fiscal registration documents (model 036). Changes in CNAE can be made through model 036 to accurately reflect the company's activity. CNAE differs from IAE (Impuesto sobre Actividades Económicas), the latter being a tax with no statistical purpose, required for businesses exceeding 1 million euros in turnover.

🏨 Airlines triumph over Aena as Spain's National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) decides to keep airport tariffs frozen at a 0% variation for 2025, denying Aena's proposed increase of 0.54%. CNMC adjusted Aena's overly conservative traffic forecast for 2025 and set the Maximum Adjusted Revenue Per Passenger (IMAAJ) at €10.35, consistent with 2024 rates. The 0% average variation of the IMAAJ will be asymmetrically distributed among services.

🛈 El registro de viajeros en España es un trámite obligatorio para cualquier persona o empresa que ofrezca alojamiento, estipulado en el Real Decreto 933/2021. Está diseñado para garantizar la seguridad de los huéspedes y colaborar con las autoridades en caso de incidentes. En 2017, las multas por no registrar huéspedes oscilaban entre 100 y 30,000 euros. Las plataformas varían por comunidad autónoma, con SES.HOSPEDAJES como la más común. Herramientas como la API de Mews, junto con Chekin, pueden automatizar el registro y envío de datos de los huéspedes.

🕵️ Javier Hidalgo testified before the Senate Commission regarding alleged influence peddling involving the Spanish President's wife and the Air Europa bailout. He was serene in court but read a statement in the Senate, disputing favoritism claims. Hidalgo has strong ties to the Popular Party and their notable members like the Aznar family and former ministers Acebes and Michavila. Controversies involve unclear situations with figures such as Koldo, Ábalos, and the suspicious OMT secretary-general. Begoña Gómez, the President's wife, visited only Globalia's headquarters among rescued companies and met with Hidalgo Jr. and an unnamed commissioner without guards in San Petersburgo. Hidalgo's claims of 50,000 employees and 35 hotels were challenged as inaccurate.

📌 Digital Markets Act (DMA) aims to make the European digital market fairer and more competitive. Google conducted a 10-day SERP experiment in Germany, Belgium, and Estonia to assess DMA implications. The author's 25-year expertise spans OTAs (8 years at Expedia), Google (7 years), and hotels/marketing technology (7 years at Iberostar H&R and Mirai). The DMA has impacted consumer choices, reducing hotel website visibility compared to intermediaries. EU-travel-tech members like Booking and Expedia lobby to regain "lost territory" from Google. The European Commission must ensure the DMA doesn't result in a less competitive market, prioritizing consumers and European businesses.

🛈 In the UK, the top source market for Spain with 16.5 million tourists and a spending of €20.343 billion in the first ten months, a new travel documentation regulation, despite unanimous opposition from the tourism sector and negative votes in both the Senate and Congress, took effect on Monday, December 2. The measure aimed at combating organized crime and terrorism has sparked negative media reactions and calls for a boycott, suggesting British citizens "are not welcome in Spain," risking the viability of Spain's tourism sector.