Spain‘s Tourism Industry Voices Concerns Over New Nationwide Smoking Ban
Spain’s hospitality sector is warning that a recently approved nationwide ban on outdoor smoking could negatively impact tourism and the country’s international image.The new law, an amendment to the 2005 health measures against smoking, extends the existing ban – in place since 2011 – on indoor smoking to include outdoor spaces like beaches, bar and restaurant terraces.
Hostelería de España, representing restaurants and bars, has expressed concern that the comprehensive ban, similar to that of Sweden within Europe, could drive tourists to other destinations. They point to countries like France, which exclude terraces from smoking restrictions, as examples of maintaining a balance between public health and a thriving hospitality industry.
The organization argues the ban will create confusion for the over 94 million tourists who visited Spain in 2024, a sector crucial to the Spanish economy. Furthermore, they foresee an added burden on hospitality workers who may be forced to enforce the new regulations, potentially leading to conflict with customers.
José Luis Álvarez Almeida, President of Hospitality of spain, emphasized the importance of terraces to the nation’s economic and social life, stating that any decision regarding their use must carefully consider the impact on employment, business activity, tourism competitiveness, and customer experience. Hostelería de España also suggests the ban may prove ineffective, potentially driving smokers to enclosed spaces and increasing exposure to secondhand smoke.
The new law builds upon existing smoking restrictions already in place at numerous Spanish beaches, including those in Benidorm (Levante and Poniente), Valencia, Benicassim, and across the Balearic Islands (Ibiza, Majorca, and Menorca).