Jurídicos y Administrativos

📌 Spain's Interior Ministry disregards tourism sector warnings, upholding most provisions of the controversial documentary register law effective since December 2. The draft of the ministerial order maintains significant burdens on the industry. CEAV calls the draft disappointing for not excluding travel agencies and operators, criticizes the unaddressed issue of data sharing among multiple operators, and protests the six-month data retention period. CEAV to make formal objections by January 21, 2025.

📌 European agencies express concerns over the ambiguous wording in the modified EU travel directive, which allows for trip cancellations under "exceptional and unforeseen circumstances". Travel agents demand clarity as the vague language may lead to disputes, complicating the industry's operations. They also push for the reintroduction of vouchers, which proved crucial during the pandemic, warning that cash-only refunds could render insurances nearly impossible. The final approval from the European Parliament is pending.

📰 Finlandia, Canadá, Holanda, Emiratos Árabes Unidos, Reino Unido, Italia, Estados Unidos, la India y otros países están probando controles de identidad digitales en fronteras. Singapur ya permite viajar sin documentación física, con más de 1.5 millones de usuarios. La mayoría de los países Schengen avanzan en digitalización fronteriza en 2023. La digitalización reduce riesgos de robo y suplantación, aunque presenta nuevos desafíos no completamente explorados.

🚀 At least 178 people died on a flight from Bangkok that crashed in South Korea's Muan International Airport, located 300 kilometers from Seoul. The incident involved a Boeing 737 operated by Jeju Airlines carrying 175 passengers and six crew members, with at least two flight attendants surviving. Among the passengers were 173 South Koreans and two Thais. A bird strike and bad weather are being investigated as possible causes by Muan's fire department chief, Lee Jeong-hyun.

🌊 The American Civil Aviation Authority has banned tourist airplane flights over Canyon de Chelly, Arizona, to protect the Navajo cultural area. Commercial flights are prohibited over the national park and half a mile beyond its boundaries. Despite the ban's impact on local employment, safety concerns persist following a 1986 plane crash in the nearby Grand Canyon that killed 25 people. Helicopter tours of certain Grand Canyon areas are still allowed.

✈️ Azerbaijan Airlines canceled ten air routes between Baku and Russian cities as a precaution after a suspected air attack caused the crash of the Embraer 190 aircraft on Christmas Day. Qazaq Air from Kazakhstan also halted flights between Astana and Ekaterinburg for at least one month. Azerbaijani pilots refuse to operate in Russia citing safety concerns. The attack may have been Chechen in origin but within the Russian domain. The airline confirmed the external cause of the crash, ruling out aircraft or pilot issues. The final death toll stands at 38, with 29 survivors recounting the ordeal.

🏕️ In Europe, social protests in 2024 sparked by demands for sustainable tourism have led to public support for tourist number restrictions in cities and islands. A YouGov survey from August 2024 shows that in Spain, 60% of respondents support tourist limits: 26% strongly and 34% partially. Other countries' strong support: France and Germany (21%), Denmark (19%), Italy (16%), Sweden (15%), and Great Britain (12%). Destinations like the Galápagos Islands and Machu Picchu already impose visitor restrictions. Venice is attempting to control tourism with an entry fee and mandatory registration on the cda.ve.it platform, generating a QR code for visitor checks.

🚀 In October and November, India's aviation faced chaos with thousands of bomb threats leading to countless delays, diversions, and emergency landings. Civil Aviation of India has now revised protocols to prevent such chaos, with more realistic response mechanisms and virtual meetings allowing faster decision-making. The threat wave nearly ceased following multiple arrests and ensuing criminal proceedings.

🏖️ Key tourism sector figures faced challenges in 2024: Javier Hidalgo was scrutinized for a €475 million state bailout, Víctor de Aldama arrested for corruption, Marco Sansavini's Iberia failed to absorb Air Europa, Pilar Crespo's Booking fined €413 million by CNMC, Rafael García Garrido’s Travel Live returned profits at 95% of its 230 Spanish outlets, Gabriel Subías expanded World2Meet, Enrique Saiz integrated Wamos Air into Grupo Abra, Encarna Piñero’s Grupo Piñero partnered with Hyatt in a €400 million deal, Airbnb’s Brian Chesky faced legal action for rental saturation, Miquel Moyá’s Grupo Viajes El Corte Inglés netted €49.6 million, quadrupling 2022's profit, and Carolina Martinoli became CEO of Vueling. Lastly, Pablo Bustinduy's Ministry of Consumption fined five airlines €179 million for carry-on baggage fees and targeted Airbnb with a major sanction.

📌 Spain's Interior Ministry faces backlash for not responding to queries about the "Gran Hermano" tourist law of Marlaska. The controversial Real Decree 933/2021, effective from December 2 after multiple postponements, mandates the collection and storage of up to 42 personal and banking details from customers by tourist accommodations and travel agencies, triggering administrative chaos. Non-compliance fines can reach €30,000. The sector seeks to exclude social tourism programs and school trips, reduce data retention, and shorten the 3-year preservation period. Legal challenges are considered as the law contradicts an EU court ruling on data conservation without crime suspicion.