Else Beekman
“This is Third World.” Such was the blunt assessment of Santiago Vallejo, Head of Institutional Relations at Spain’s Tourism Board, referring to the collapse at Madrid Barajas Airport last Tuesday. The disruption, still without a clear explanation, coincided with mounting problems on Spain’s high-speed trains, striking a blow to the country’s image just as the summer season reaches its height.
The chaos at Barajas saw ministries of Transport and Interior blaming each other. Officials cited an unspecified IT failure, while passengers faced hours-long delays at passport controls. Vallejo stressed that systems should have been prepared and stress-tested. “We knew there would be a surge in demand. A country expecting 100 million tourists this year cannot afford such an image,” he said.
While many passengers sought compensation from airlines, the Association of Airlines (ALA) clarified that carriers were not responsible. The ALA expressed “serious concern” about bottlenecks at passport control in Terminal 4S due to a shortage of police staff.
Staff shortages blamed
The number of officers at Barajas has fallen from 600 to 500, with an additional 200 deployed only during peak periods. Even this reinforcement is “insufficient,” Vallejo warned. “It’s incomprehensible. We need planning and solutions. I dread to think what could happen later this month or in August.”
Virginia Blasco, CEO of Cinco Estrellas Club, a major Spanish tour operator, highlighted the damage to Spain’s reputation among both foreign and domestic travellers. “This is generating enormous distrust,” she noted.
Across the tourism sector, agencies, hotels and airlines have been inundated with complaints. “When a client misses a flight, they demand answers and compensation. But it’s beyond our control, the authorities hold the key,” Blasco emphasised. The financial impact of claims is still unclear, but companies are fielding constant calls and emails asking if this chaos will repeat.
High-speed rail reliability in question
Meanwhile, the country’s rail network has come under fire. The president of Adif, the infrastructure manager, has pointed to private operators as the source of the problem. But Vallejo rejects this defence: “If more operators and frequencies are added, maintenance must also be stepped up.”
Andalucia, especially the Costa del Sol, has been among the worst affected. Delays, cancellations, and return journeys to Madrid have become frequent. “These incidents are growing in frequency and severity just as the summer season begins, causing real frustration,” said the Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Andalusia.
Falling domestic tourism
Domestic tourism, a critical market in high season, is already showing signs of decline. In May, 75% of overnight visitors in Málaga province were international, with only 25% from Spain. Last year, hotel occupancy fell by 3.1% during the summer, with 82,000 fewer guests.
“The chaos is relentless,” said José Carlos Escribano, President of the CEA’s Tourism Council. “We are calling for urgent action. This is damaging our main industry.”
Sources: El Confidencial, Preferente