Scottish tourists visiting Spain are set to 'roast' as strict new rules banning air conditioning from being set lower than 27C come into force.
A tourism expert has warned that those visiting the country over the summer months will feel the impact of the law, one of a new set of energy-saving measures as Spain looks to improve its climate footprint.
The new legislation will also prevent heating from being raised about 19C in winter.
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The rules, which comes into force this week, apply to bars, restaurants, and shops as well as public transport systems and transport centres. Only hotel rooms are exempt from the changes as they are considered private spaces, the Mirror reports.
The new laws, which will also see lights going off in shop fronts and empty government offices from 10pm, are in place until November 2023. They are part of Spain's drive to reduce its gas consumption by 7pc under a recent European Union agreement to limit dependency on Russian gas.
The regulations could prove challenging to tourists visiting the country as sweltering temperatures of more than 42C have been forecast in Spain. Francisco Salado, the president of Costa del Sol's tourism board, described the measures as a "direct attack on everything we’ve worked hard to achieve".
He also suggested the laws had been drafted by a "Martian". "Tourism is the industry of wellbeing, happiness, rest and relaxation," Mr Salado added.
"We want satisfied tourists, not roasted tourists or holidaymakers who are afraid of walking down dark streets. The decree has been designed and formulated behind the backs of economic agents and the productive, social and climatic reality of our country."
What do you think of the rules? Have your say in the comments below.
Spain is hugely popular with British tourists and the country expects an influx of 18 million people every year. It is one of the hottest European countries in summer.
It has already seen two heat waves this year with temperatures often surpassing 40C for several days in a row. As part of a wider drive to cut energy bills, ecologists have also noted the importance of turning down the use of gas and non-renewables as heatwaves strike across the globe and the world faces a climate emergency.
Javier Andaluz, Head of Ecologists in Action, said: "The measures are adequate but also insufficient and too late. It’s sad this is being imposed as an exceptional circumstance and a sacrifice for the war in Ukraine, when they are necessary and common-sense measures that should be taken because of the climate emergency and the energy crisis we are experiencing."
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