Airbnb has slammed Spain's new vacation rental rules, saying they won't stop overtourism.
Short-term rental booking platforms slammed the new restrictions, saying they would severely impact incomes and jobs in Spain.
The Spanish government has introduced new regulations regarding short-term rentals. Anyone who wants to rent out real estate must obtain a permit and register in the national database.
You will also be asked to collect further information about the renter, such as bank account details and personal identifying information. Spain is also proposing to increase the value-added tax on such properties in line with hotels.
When the new laws come into full force in July, property owners who fail to comply will face fines of up to £500,000.
Airbnb has warned that 400,000 jobs and almost £25bn of revenue are at risk, Euronews reported. The company cites a 2024 Oxford Economics study.
According to the study, 141 million nights were spent on short-term rentals in Spain in 2023. The host's income was £4.5bn, while the economy earned £25bn through spending in shops, restaurants and local businesses.
“Undue restrictions on short-term rentals will have a negative impact not only on hosts, but also on local development and the commercial activity of local small businesses,” Airbnb said.
“It will also have a negative impact on families traveling simply to find affordable accommodation in less crowded areas, undermining Spain’s competitiveness as a family destination.”
Airbnb says 70% of its bookings are in rural or sparsely populated urban areas.
Oxford Economics concluded that “Airbnb's role in promoting these rural experiences increases the attractiveness of these destinations, empowers local communities, and encourages sustainable tourism practices.”
Juliette Lenglet, Airbnb's director of communications for EMEA, said travelers discover new regions and landscapes by staying in holiday homes.
“By moving tourists away from crowded urban areas where hotel supply, tourist concentration, and local challenges accumulate, short-term rentals spread the benefits of tourism to local families and businesses in countless rural destinations. I have let you.”
The Airbnb and Oxford Economics reports both warn that introducing these restrictions could actually increase the number of tourists to Spain's already overcrowded cities and urban areas.
“These regulatory restrictions have made Spain's tourism economy highly dependent on international hotel chains and highly concentrated in certain urban and coastal areas,” Airbnb said.
“This has encouraged mass tourism and driven up hotel prices for tourists, but with little or no benefit to local families.”
