EU vs. Spain: A Data War that Changes Liability

The Headline

European tourism bodies (ECTAA, HOTREC, ETOA) have officially welcomed the European Commission’s infringement proceedings against Spain regarding Royal Decree 933/2021 .

The Analysis

This is the story for any DMC or tour operator selling Spain. The EC argues Spain’s demand for “extensive categories of personal information” including payment and location data with a 3-year retention violates EU data protection laws.

The B2B Takeaway

If the Commission wins, the administrative burden on B2B suppliers currently collecting 40+ data points per passenger will collapse. It’s a direct shot at over-regulation. Watch this space; if Spain folds, other EU nations won’t dare implement similar walls.