Brit tourists in Spain to 'roast' as country's strict new air-con laws slammed

Brits visiting Spain will "roast" under strict rules banning air conditioning from being set lower than 27C in the summer, a tourism expert has warned. A new set of energy-saving measures approved by the country will also prevent heating from being raised above 19C in winter.

The rules, which comes into force next 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.

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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."

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