Smoking in Spanish hotels as well as in restaurants across the country is planned to be banned in 2011. Open terraces will make an exception

Smoking in Spanish hotels will be banned in 2011

The ban on smoking in public places, including hotels of Spain, will come into force in 2011. Starting from next year anti-smoking law in Spain will spread not only on hotels, but also on bars, restaurants, cafes and shops. The exception in the law will be made only in certain cases. Thus, in the hotels of Spain is partially allowed to smoke in hotel rooms. 30% of the total number of hotels are for smokers. At the same time lobby zones, hotel corridors and restaurants will be announced the tobacco free zones.

Measures on protection of the Spaniards and tourists from smoke were disapproved by the Hotel Association of Spain. Portal city-of-hotels.ru has already talked about the first reaction of the Spanish hoteliers to the innovations of local Ministry of Health. Then the owners of Spanish hotels claimed that the ban on smoking in public places will cost the country falling sales in the hotel and restaurant industry by 10-15% and, as a consequence, a significant reduction in tax revenues. At the moment, Spain is one of the largest travel powers in the world, and such decline can be costly for the state budget. In turn, the Government of Spain gives the example of other EU countries where ban on smoking does not seriously affect the economies of these countries.

It is difficult to say whether the Ministry of Health of Spain agreed for the concessions for owners of restaurants and hotels for this time, but a number of exemptions will be set in the new law, reports AFP. For example, hotel guests will be able to smoke on the open terraces of the hotel, as well as at stadiums and other places with open space.

It is worth noting that Spain is one of the most smoking European countries. Every year, due to the effects associated with smoking die about 50 thousand people.

Photo: Alesya Belaya

Date: 09/06/2010