Spain has warned tourists heading to the country there will be no respite from plans to introduce mandatory air-conditioning restrictions - even though temperatures are set to surge towards 40C. The country's government said the controversial energy saving plan approved last week will not be postponed, despite calls for legislation to be scrapped because of fears it could hurt tourism.
Another heatwave is also forecast with temperatures surging above 40C in the coming days with a mass of scorching African air sweeping over the mainland and the Balearic Islands. The upcoming regulations have left opposition politicians and tourism bosses hot under the collar with officials planning spot-checks to make sure premises are complying with the new rules.
The scheme, which comes into force tomorrow (Wednesday) requires air conditioning to be turned down in hotels, restaurants and stores. It also involves restrictions on lighting, in a bid to save between four and five per cent of the nation's energy use, government minister Teresa Ribera said.
Ms Ribera said that while regions could propose "new and concrete" proposals for tweaks to the plan before the end of this month, there was no going back. She said: "The royal decree is already in force. We cannot postpone it."
However, blogger Alexandra Smith, who runs the Mallorca Under The Sun website, suggested the energy-saving plans should not cause too much discomfort for holidaymakers.
She said: "The new ruling will apply to public buildings. It will mean these public spaces will not be able to have their air-conditioning below 27C, and in some cases, 25C and street lights will be dimmed in an attempt to create a 25 per cent saving on the demand for energy.
"I can’t believe how many messages I have received about this issue from worried holidaymakers. To confirm, if your hotel room, apartment or villa does have air conditioning, then you will be able to use it."
Alexandra added: "You won’t notice much difference because this new air-conditioning rule will apply to bars, nightclubs, gyms and shopping centres."
Parts of Spain have again been placed under heat alert with highs expected to top 40C by the weekend. This follows reports that July 2022 was the warmest month ever recorded in Spain, with an average temperature of 26.6 C, according to the country's Met Office AEMET.
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