British tourists heading to Spain this summer have been warned by travel experts to carry cash with you at all times.
The warning was issued earlier this week after a widespread blackout that crippled much of Spain, Portugal and France, plunging the entire city into the darkness, causing chaos due to marginalized vacationers and panic purchases.
Due to the crisis, people in the UK are told to start stockpiling cash in case something similar happens here – as cash machines and card machines may not function during a power outage or long-term power outage. And the same applies to tourists who go abroad. PSE Consulting Director Chris Jones has urged people to carry cash with them all the time in emergencies like the power blackout seen on the continent this week.
He said: “The widespread suspensions in several regions of Spain, Portugal and France earlier this week are a clear reminder of why cash is essential. As digital trading controls more aspects of everyday life, we risk overlooking the fundamental resilience that physical money offers during periods of disruption.
“If the system fails due to a technical issue, a cyber attack, or a power outage, access to cash allows people to purchase essential goods and services. In an emergency, cash becomes more than just a payment method. This is an important safety net.
“While cash usage continues to decline across Europe, events like this reinforce the reason that maintaining robust access must remain a priority, including identifying and supporting key services such as supermarkets, gas stations and pharmacies, allowing cash to be accepted when digital systems go down.
“As we continue to move towards a more digital economy, policymakers and businesses should not lose sight of the need for a balance. Securing access to cash is not just about supporting vulnerable groups. It is about ensuring that the entire economy works when digital systems are unstable.
Spain is currently recovering more than 99% of its power following an unprecedented blackout that has halted the country and much of Portugal.
The blackout left thousands of train passengers stuck, leaving millions of people without telephone and internet coverage or access to cash from ATMs on the Iberian Peninsula.
This was the second European blackout, less than six weeks after the March 20 fire closed Heathrow Airport in Britain, protecting European authorities from the Russian-backed sabotage.
