What UK Operators Need to Know

Practical guidance for road cyclists, mountain bikers and triathlon training camps

 

Spain is a dream for cyclists and triathletes: Mallorca’s climbs, Costa Blanca’s coastal roads, the Pyrenees’ epic cols and Andalucía’s Mountain Bike playgrounds. For UK-based operators, the opportunity is enormous — but success depends on getting both the Spanish operational foundations and the UK consumer protections right.

1. Choose where and how you’ll operate in Spain

Spain’s tourism rules vary depending on the autonomous community. Before you launch, decide whether you’ll:

• Register a Spanish company (e.g. an SL) or trade as a UK business with a Spanish branch
• Obtain a Spanish tax number (NIE/NIF) and open a local bank account
• Register with the regional tourism registry (often the Registro de Empresas Turísticas) and apply for any required licences

If you plan to operate an office, workshop or bike storage facility, you’ll often need a municipal licencia de actividad from the local Ayuntamiento.

2. Meet Spain’s active-tourism and local operational rules

Guided rides, multi-day tours and training camps often fall under active-tourism rules. Expect to need:

• Qualified or accredited guides in some regions — official tourism guide licences are required in places
• Social security registration if you employ local staff
• Documented risk assessments, emergency procedures and first-aid-trained staff

3. Understand the UK Package Travel Regulations (PTR)

Even if your tours run entirely in Spain, selling packages to UK customers triggers the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018. A “package” commonly means you bundle two or more travel services (for example, accommodation + guided riding or bike hire + coaching).

Key requirement: You must provide insolvency protection for customers — either via an insurance/bond, or by placing customer money into a statutory trust account held in the UK.

Other PTR obligations include providing clear pre-contract information, compliant booking terms, and consumer-friendly cancellation and refund rules. If you sell flight-inclusive packages, ATOL protection may also be required.

 

4. Insurance: essential covers for cycle & triathlon holidays

Insurance is both a legal safeguard and a sales differentiator. The following covers are essential or strongly recommended:

• Tour operators’ liability — combines public liability and professional indemnity for organisers
• Public liability — for injury or damage to customers and third parties
• Employers’ liability — if you employ staff (including local hires)
• Equipment cover — for hire bikes, e-bikes, trailers and luggage
• Personal accident — for guides and staff
• Medical evacuation / repatriation — essential when operating in remote areas or mountainous terrain
• Crisis management & legal expenses — for emergency response, PR and defence costs

As a specialist insurance broker, Yellow Jersey understands cycle tourism and triathlon exposures — such as, open-water swims, high-altitude rides, and off-road MTB add underwriting complexity.

5. Tax, VAT and cashflow — plan for cross-border realities

Running operations in Spain while selling to UK customers creates tax and cashflow considerations:

• Spanish VAT (IVA) and local tax registration will likely be required for services supplied in Spain.
• If you use a UK statutory trust to secure customer money under PTR, that account must be UK-based — which can affect cashflow for your Spanish operations.
• Work with a Spanish gestor and a UK travel-tax adviser to get the structure right.

6. Build customer trust with transparency and safety

Professionalism sells. Make it easy for customers to trust you by:

• Publishing full booking terms and your PTR insolvency protection statement
• Explaining your safety standards: bike maintenance logs, guide qualifications, and medical procedures
• Listing your local registration or licence where possible

In a competitive market for road cycling holidays, MTB adventures and triathlon training camps, peace of mind is part of the product.

The bottom line

Spain offers world-class terrain for cyclists and triathletes, and UK customers are prepared to pay for high-quality, well-run experiences. Get the Spanish registrations, licences and local compliance right, and pair them with UK consumer-protection measures (PTR/insolvency protection and clear T&Cs). That combination builds the credibility your business needs to thrive.

Need help getting started?

Yellow Jersey specialises in insurance and risk solutions for cycle and adventure travel businesses. We can:

• Provide you access to specialist insurers who underwrite cycle-tour operators.
• Provide cover for business travel and coaches liability
• Provide tailored cover for your customers for road cycling, mountain biking and triathlon training camps. Including Cycle Travel Insurance and Short-term Bicycle insurance.

Contact Yellow Jersey to discuss the right cover and setup for your Spain-based tours.