The National Police arrested a foreign tourist at Gran Canaria airport when she was trying to leave the island. The woman accumulated a debt of €2,483 for eleven nights in a hotel in San Bartolomé de Tirajana.
The National Police detained a foreign tourist at the Gran Canaria airport as she was about to take a flight back to her country. The woman is accused of fraud after staying eleven nights in a hotel in San Bartolomé de Tirajana without paying the bill, which amounted to €2,483.
The events occurred when the automatic payment system of the guarantee card she provided at check-in failed to charge the total amount for the stay. The hotel attempted to contact the guest without success, and unable to collect payment, alerted the authorities.
The woman was located at the passport control of the Gran Canaria airport just moments before boarding. The officers intercepted her and proceeded to arrest her for an alleged fraud. After giving a statement, she was released with charges, awaiting a court summons.
The hotel scam: a more common practice than it seems
Such incidents, although striking, are not isolated. In recent years, several hotels in the Canary Islands have reported similar cases of guests who stay for days and leave the hotel without paying. The National Police has intensified collaboration with the tourism sector to prevent these frauds, which during peak season can lead to significant losses for small hotels.
In this specific case, the hotel in San Bartolomé de Tirajana managed to act quickly, blocking the suspect's exit before she boarded the plane. The debt of €2,483 corresponds to eleven nights of accommodation, averaging about €226 per night, a typical rate in the area for a mid-high category establishment.
Legal consequences and advice for hoteliers
The accused now faces legal proceedings for fraud, an offence defined in Article 248 of the Penal Code. Penalties may include fines and even imprisonment of up to three years if the defrauded amount exceeds €400, as is the case here. Additionally, the woman will have to face the payment of the debt incurred with the hotel.
For hoteliers, this incident serves as a reminder of the importance of verifying the validity of guarantee cards before admitting guests. Many establishments are already implementing banking pre-authorisation systems that allow them to check that the card has sufficient funds to cover the stay. It is also recommended to request a cash deposit or a verifiable contact number at the time of check-in.
The Hotel Association of Las Palmas has reminded that, in case of non-payment, it is essential to report the events to the National Police as soon as possible to increase the chances of locating the offender before they leave the country. In this case, the collaboration between the hotel and the authorities was key to the arrest taking place at the airport.
Tourism is one of the economic engines of Canarias, and episodes like this should not tarnish the image of a destination that welcomes millions of visitors each year. Justice will now determine the tourist's responsibility, who will have to answer for her alleged fraud.
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