A hit with hosts and holidaymakers, rental platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com are booming. But as Europeans battle against saturated housing markets, many are calling for a new rulebook to promote sustainable tourism.
Short-term rentals currently account for around a quarter of the European Union's tourist accommodation, and in 2022, 355 million nights were booked in European holiday properties.
This shift in the way we travel has brought numerous benefits. Rental platforms can help tourists to travel on a budget, and ordinary Europeans are able to bring in extra income by renting out their space.
That said, not everyone is a winner. A common complaint is that more apartments for tourists mean fewer, and more expensive, properties for long-term residents.
Local authorities are trying to manage the market, but it isn’t easy.
In some destinations, regulations go unenforced, and many hosts complain of draconian and ineffective measures.
So, how to introduce regulation that works for both hosts, locals, and tourists?
To find out more about the EU’s plan, watch our video.
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