Airbnb hosts help extend the benefits of tourism beyond hotels and traditional tourist industry venues, supporting the economies of local families and small businesses.
Airbnb urged the next Spanish government – which will be formed after the elections taking place this weekend – to work towards harmonizing short-term rental regulations in Europe and Spain by supporting and quickly adopting the European proposal.
The European Commission launched its proposed regulation for short-term rentals (known as EU STR) last November, aiming to improve Member State governments' access to data on the sector's activity. To this end, it proposes a harmonized framework for data exchange between authorities and platforms, while also promoting an environment where local rules are clear and easy for hosts to follow.
Airbnb's appeal comes after a recent survey of Airbnb hosts and guests in Spain revealed that home sharing has become an economic lifeline for ordinary Spaniards. Half of Airbnb hosts in Spain say the income they receive from hosting travelers has helped them cover rising costs of food and other essentials, and nearly half say the extra income helps them make ends meet.
According to the same survey, in Spain almost 8 out of 10 hosts have only one listing on the platform, indicating that most of these hosts are individuals or families who occasionally share their residence, or a private room or a second home, such as a house in a village or at the beach when they are not using it. The typical host in Spain earned around €4,750 in 2022, equivalent to more than two months' salary on top of the average Spanish wage.
The new EU rules give hope to many ordinary Europeans who are currently excluded from the benefits of tourism, including some regions of Spain that have fragmented and disproportionate local regulations designed with large tour operators in mind.
Another recent Airbnb survey also revealed that around 45% of Spanish hosts find current short-term rental regulations difficult to comply with. Nearly 70% of Spaniards surveyed support the EU's proposal for clear and simple registration requirements, and almost 40% believe EU regulations will simplify home sharing.
Airbnb, it says in a statement, has always advocated for common EU-wide regulation of short-term rentals. Spain recently assumed the European presidency and will play a key role in finalizing the institutional negotiations on the new regulation.
“We believe that with this EU proposal, Spain has the opportunity to address some of the concerns caused by speculative activity in the housing market and overtourism, as well as facilitate equitable access for families to the benefits of tourism. As the new EU regulatory framework takes shape, Airbnb wants to work with policymakers to ensure that these rules empower ordinary citizens across Europe to host—at a time when many are facing rising living costs—and help to spread tourism away from urban centers where there are no hotels. All of this will be done while providing authorities with the tools they need to address their local challenges,” said Georgina Browes, Head of EU Public Policy at Airbnb.
Airbnb said it also supports a more active role for the European Commission in assessing and verifying the proportionality of local activity registration systems, which would help ensure that all European citizens who share their homes have comparable processes.
He adds that in some Spanish cities, such as Barcelona, complex short-term rental regulations restrict the ability of ordinary citizens to host, even if they share a private room in their main residence, something that has no impact on the housing supply.
Airbnb considers these local regulations disproportionate and contrary to the principles of the Services Directive, with Member States and local authorities responsible for ensuring that local regulations are consistent with EU rules, or face intervention from the European Commission.
Airbnb hosts help extend the benefits of tourism beyond hotels and traditional tourist destinations, supporting the economies of local families and small businesses. Nearly 9 out of 10 hosts recommend nearby businesses to their guests. These recommendations have a significant impact: half of the money guests spend during their stay, excluding accommodation, is spent in the neighborhood where the property is located. Furthermore, according to Oxford Economics , guest spending has also helped sustain approximately 62,000 jobs in Spain, mostly in bars, restaurants, local shops, food businesses, and transportation.
