Since the controversial “Big Brother Law” came into effect on December 2, Spanish hotels, holiday apartments, and car rental companies are now forced to collect a large amount of personal information from tourists.

Before, they only needed to provide up to 14 pieces of information, but now they must collect up to 42. 

Failure to comply with the new rules will see businesses handed fines of 30,000 euros (£24,800).

The legislation is part of a plan by the Ministry of the Interior – headed up by Fernando Marlaska – to tighten security among visitors and fight against terrorism and organised crime in Spain. 

However, industry leaders have fought back against the law, saying it will put off tourists and seems “useless” as they can “easily put in fake information and addresses”.

They claim it will add a mountain of work for hotel and other staff and could cause serious delays and chaos for the industry, which they say is not yet prepared for the changes.

These are the 42 pieces of data that are now requested from each holidaymaker:

1. Name and surname

2. Type of identity document (DNI, passport).

3. Identity document number.

4. Date of issue of the document.

5. Place of issue of the document.

6. Expiration date of the document.

7. Gender.

8. Date of birth.

9. Place of birth.

10. Nationality.

11. Country of habitual residence.

12. Province of residence.

13. Municipality of residence.

14. Address of residence (street, number).

15. Postal code of residence.

16. Contact landline telephone number.

17. Contact mobile telephone number.

18. Email address.

19. Occupation or work activity.

20. Company for which you work.

21. Company address.

22. Relationship between travellers (if you are staying with minors).

23. Marital status.

24. Vehicle details (if you arrive by car): license plate.

25. Credit card number.

26. Credit card expiration date.

27. Payment method used (cash, card, transfer).

28. International Bank Account Number (IBAN) code of the bank account (if a transfer is made).

29. Date and time of check-in at the hotel.

30. Expected date and time of check-out.

31. Assigned room (room number).

32. Dietary preferences (if catering service is requested).

33. Special needs or medical requirements (if applicable).

34. Guest signature (on registration).

35. Purpose of travel (leisure, business, etc.).

36. Name of companion (if applicable).

37. Companion’s ID number.

38. Companion’s date of birth.

39. Companion’s nationality.

40. Companion’s place of residence.

41. Companion’s email address.

42. Companion’s signature.

Chaotic scenes erupted in Spain after the new system crashed on its first day.

Pedro Fiol, president of the AVIBA Balearic Association of Travel Agencies, warns that the failures have already had an “international impact.”

“It was chaos. It hardly ever worked during the test period”, said Fiol.

He added: “It is disproportionate and has already had an international impact. We cannot upload data that we don’t know”. 

Fiol argued that the plans implemented to “fight terrorism and organised crime” will “neither prevent nor deter any possible attack.”

A spokesperson for the Interior Ministry previously said: “It is justified for the general interest for the security of citizens against the threat of terrorism and other serious offences committed by criminal organisations.”