backpacker hostels keeping records of guests

Why do you backpacker hostels and guesthouses keep a record of guests' passport numbers and issue/expiry dates?

I have no specific reason for asking, I'm just curious what these businesses do with my personal information after I check out?

I would say its mostly for tax purpose, although they might want to audit their own clients for marketing reasons. In some countries they may also have to prove that they are what they say they are and all those passport numbers may do that. Countries that are a little more parnoid...Cuba, China, Eastern European countires I think they just want to know who is in thier country and what they are doing, prob a goverment mandate.

In Italy we were told that they had to contact interpol everyday and tell them exactly who was staying with them

We were also told the same thing in Italy, and certainly in any communist country the government keeps tabs on who's in the country and roughly where, by having the hotels/hostels record your passport number. In some places they even hold your passport, for the duration, which is just awful.

:tumbleweed:

Are you enjoying your trip ? We really we'd like to hear from it, and if our answers were helpful ? What kind of work have you finally found ? I hope you're having a super time ! :thumbup:

Yeah, in many countries it's by government mandate. In fact, it's the case in most countries that hotel guests must present a passport when checking in. It's the quickest way for your embassy to reach you if there's trouble brewing.

When I worked in a hostel in Britain, it was the law for us to take passport numbers. I dont know why exactly, I dont believe we reported them. Though it did come in handy several times when the police came by looking for someone...