Catalonia's tourism decree approved

After a long period of processing, on 4 August the Catalan government approved the new Decree on tourism in Catalonia. One of the main objectives of this regulation was to provide clarity, coherence and better interpretation. For this reason, the different regulations in force in the field of tourism have been simplified, updated and integrated into a single body of legislation in order to guarantee greater legal certainty.

On the other hand, in order to favour competitiveness and adapt the legal reality to demand and activity, new tourism products have been regulated, such as unique accommodation, shared homes and motorhome reception areas. And the tourism and classification requirements for tourism establishments, businesses and activities have been updated. In addition, from now on tourist establishments will not require any authorisation from the Administration of the Government of Catalonia responsible for tourism.

Joining the Catalan Tourism Quality System is now free of charge. This is the set of tools and instruments that the Administration and private agents in the tourism sector have at their disposal and manage in order to guarantee the competitive projection of Catalonia as a tourist destination with high added value.

Another area regulated by the recently approved regulation is that of tourist accommodation intermediaries, as it establishes the definition and responsibility in accordance with their legal regime. It also specifies that operators, information society service providers, are subject to the legal regime of the Decree, both those located in Catalonia and those outside Catalonia when they provide intermediation in accommodation located in Catalonia. The aim is to prevent fraud and avoid the marketing of illegal tourist accommodation.

The new regulation also incorporates the regulation of the Funds for the Promotion of Tourism, which is made up of the resources that come from the tax on stays in tourist establishments. Among other aspects, the number of representatives from the private tourism sector on the Commission of these Funds is increased from 3 to 6 representatives, and the sectors represented are detailed. It also establishes that local authorities must allocate a minimum of 60% or 75% of the Funds to tourism promotion projects and actions.

Finally, the new Tourism Decree of Catalonia defines the administrative discipline and the relationship model between the different tourism stakeholders, as it provides the tourism administrations with new tools to improve the control of tourism activities, through the development of the regulation of tourism inspection, the sanctioning procedure and the regulation of the procedure to order the reestablishment of legality.