Ultimate summer season, vacationers in Barcelona have been soaking wet by way of water pistols by way of native citizens demonstrating in opposition to overtourism of their town. In Genoa, Italy, protesters performed a “noisy walk,” dragging suitcases throughout the town to make their emotions
about guests recognized. In Lisbon, activists who sought after to forestall the improvement of a five-star lodge paraded a handcuffed effigy of town’s patron saint across the streets, disrupting the busy summer season duration.
The ones wielding water pistols can have some degree. Barcelona’s in a single day vacationer numbers grew from 4.5 million in 2004 to fifteen.5 million in 2024.
So, who’s accountable for overtourism? Grasping vacationer bosses in the ones locations? Low cost airways for making flights too affordable? Cruise corporations for development mega-liners that decant 1000’s of passengers for a couple of hours, leaving rubbish and no longer a lot
cash of their wake after they go away?
In case you imagine holiday apartment large Airbnb, the solution is resorts.
STRs vs. resorts
In mid-June, Airbnb revealed a file referred to as Overtourism
within the EU.
The file claimed that “virtually 8 out of 10 (78%) visitor nights around the EU have been spent in resorts or different identical lodging” and that STRs in reality “constitute a small fraction of the tourism ecosystem within the EU.”
Airbnb mentioned that momentary leases (STRs) can “lend a hand alleviate one of the crucial maximum commonplace considerations” surrounding overtourism within the EU, including that STRs “disperse trip clear of overcrowded towns” whilst resorts are “frequently concentrated within the
busiest spaces.”
“[STRs] supply versatile capability right through prime call for classes, e.g., massive occasions, with out the price of vacant stock outdoor of those classes, whilst producing source of revenue and jobs for households and communities,” the corporate stated.
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The STR large referred to as on leaders to “deal with the overpowering affect of resorts on overtourism and include tourism that helps households and communities,” whilst additionally pointing to airways and cruise ships as “important participants to the drift of holiday makers
to historic facilities.”
“Doing away with momentary leases won’t remedy overcrowding considerations. There are higher answers to addressing overtourism, together with tackling the overpowering affect of resorts, selling tourism dispersal and ‘off the crushed trail’ trip or by way of managing
customer get right of entry to to historic facilities,” Airbnb stated.
In line with Fabián González, Phocuswright marketplace analyst for Spain, a third-party could also be important to confirm Airbnb’s claims.
“When an organization analyzes the affect and doable externalities it generates, it’s, on the very least, more likely to show off important bias. It could be really useful for an unbiased and impartial group, with out vested pursuits, to behavior an intensive
and constant analysis file.”
Debbie Hindle, chair of the Global
Centre for Accountable Tourism (ICRT) international, added that Airbnb is making an attempt to shift the blame for overtourism because of the rising choice of criminal demanding situations it’s going through.
“Expanding law in towns internationally is a big trade possibility to its type, which might impact each its volumes and percentage value,” she stated.
In Would possibly, when the Spanish executive ordered Airbnb to take away 65,000 listings pronouncing they have been unlawful, Airbnb’s percentage value fell by way of round 3%. The corporate’s attraction used to be rejected.
“Airbnb is having to spend money and time on criminal demanding situations. Governments world wide are performing to crack down on compliance, taking a look at tactics to suppress call for and scale back the quantity of momentary leases,” Hindle stated.
Barcelona is making plans a complete ban on tourist-focused STRs by way of the tip of 2028. On the identical time, the Spanish executive is thinking about including 21% value-added tax on momentary leases. This final level may just give an explanation for the timing of Airbnb’s newest file.
Barcelona’s government even have their palms tied.
“Town of Barcelona has little affect over the improvement of the airport and the port. It doesn’t regulate arrivals; a brand new terminal is being constructed within the port,” stated ICRT’s founder Harold Goodwin.
“The problem of overtourism has been a priority in Barcelona since 2004 and a subject officially engaged with by way of the Ajuntament de Barcelona [City Council of Barcelona] since 2008.”
Airbnb has additionally been desirous about court docket circumstances in New Orleans and New York over laws to limit STRs.
The lodge viewpoint
Lodges in locations the place protests are going down aren’t proud of being scapegoated.
Gabriel Escarrer, chairman and CEO of Spanish lodge team Mélia Lodges Global, referred to as Airbnb’s stance “unfair and hypocritical.”
“Knowledge is information, and the truth is that during Spain, lodge lodging grew by way of
2.5% over the past 10 years, whilst holiday leases greater by way of 135%, exceeding the capability of the locations,” he stated.
Whilst resorts (and different regulated lodging choices) have all the time been closely regulated and needed to agree to city making plans in accordance with the city construction type and the wearing capability of locations, vacationer apartment properties have proliferated with none making plans or limits
Gabriel Escarrer, Mélia Lodges Global
“Additionally, whilst resorts (and different regulated
lodging choices) have all the time been closely regulated and needed to comply
with city making plans in accordance with the city construction type and the wearing
capability of locations, vacationer apartment properties have proliferated with none
making plans or limits. This has brought about dysfunctions in group existence, overuse of
public assets and infrastructure that weren’t designed for such extra
call for.”
Escarrer stated Mélia has been making an attempt to deal with
overtourism by way of repositioning its portfolio to concentrate on the top rate and comfort
segments.
“We prioritize upgrading and bettering
current property somewhat than rising for expansion’s sake, which doesn’t make
sense within the present atmosphere. We even have an intensive accountable tourism
program referred to as ‘Commute For Just right,’ aimed toward lowering
our unfavorable affect and maximizing our sure social and environmental
affect,” he stated.
Accor additionally believes that is moving blame. A spokesperson for the gang advised Phocuswire that resorts “are a supply of monetary and employment expansion and feature a good affect at the native existence.”
“Lodges are completely built-in of their financial and social atmosphere, and we will see it with the good fortune of the way of life lodge section for the decade: Lodges are puts that draw in vacationers but additionally native communities due to their merchandise
and services and products (co-working, meals & beverage gives, wellness and so on.) This is a virtuous circle,” the spokesperson stated.
“We have now an ideal instance with the final lodge opening of the gang in Barcelona a couple of months in the past, an SLS lodge. What has been vital is this has been finished with all of the related stakeholders: We labored with the general public government and the native
communities to create the precise position. As an example, we controlled to fulfill plenty of wishes in an outlying space that used to be no longer prior to now lined; this lodge has grow to be related and authorised since its opening by way of the group, vacationers and locals.”
Accor stated it’s taking overtourism “very critically” and is operating on a number of tasks, together with the Global Sustainable Hospitality Alliance. The corporate has additionally revealed a white paper, “Development
Resilience: Town-hotel Collaborations for Long run-proof Locations,” specializing in sustainability making plans, city resilience and local weather adaptation.
Downside-solving efforts
Mélia’s Escarrer could also be president of the Spanish tourism thinktank Exceltur.
“[Exceltur has] been caution for years concerning the possibility of overcrowding in positive
locations. This factor has been worsened over the last decade by way of the
proliferation of unlawful and/or unregulated holiday apartment houses, which
emerged beneath the pretext of marketing the ‘sharing financial system’ and now devour
50% of the to be had apartment housing in key vacationer locations such because the
Balearic and Canary Islands (in keeping with the Financial institution of Spain),” he stated.
“We’re satisfied that earlier than adopting measures that
are ‘simple’ or beauty, basically aimed toward public opinion, we should have a rigorous
research and prognosis of this factor.”
Quick-term leases—like some other type of lodging—should be regulated in an effort to fall beneath the governance of native government.
Fabián González, Phocuswright
Exceltur has evolved a big public-private
collaboration referred to as Turismo
Que Suma to craft an initiative.
Escarrer stated its function is to “mitigate the affects of overcrowding, scale back its
dangers and transfer towards a extra respectful, empathetic and sure tourism type
for vacation spot communities”
And it is vital to have a look at the
larger image, too.
“The problem of overtourism is extremely complicated and must no longer be decreased to a easy ‘Airbnb sure or no’ debate. You will need to acknowledge that the foundation of the issue does no longer lie with Airbnb as an entire, however somewhat with the unlawful listings discovered at the
platform,” Phocuswright’s González stated.
“Quick-term leases—like some other type of lodging—should be regulated in an effort to fall beneath the governance of native government. In a different way, any trade running outdoor the legislation no longer handiest places shoppers in danger, but additionally escapes the regulatory framework
of the vacation spot. This creates an unfair benefit over different segments that do agree to present laws and the foundations set by way of public administrations.”
Overtourism is obviously a fancy factor and no longer person who any participant can remedy on their very own. Airbnb would possibly do higher to have interaction with all of the sector and with executive somewhat than attempt to shift blame.
Ultimate summer season, vacationers in Barcelona have been soaking wet by way of water pistols by way of native citizens demonstrating in opposition to overtourism of their town. In Genoa, Italy, protesters performed a “noisy walk,” dragging suitcases throughout the town to make their emotions
about guests recognized. In Lisbon, activists who sought after to forestall the improvement of a five-star lodge paraded a handcuffed effigy of town’s patron saint across the streets, disrupting the busy summer season duration.
The ones wielding water pistols can have some degree. Barcelona’s in a single day vacationer numbers grew from 4.5 million in 2004 to fifteen.5 million in 2024.
So, who’s accountable for overtourism? Grasping vacationer bosses in the ones locations? Low cost airways for making flights too affordable? Cruise corporations for development mega-liners that decant 1000’s of passengers for a couple of hours, leaving rubbish and no longer a lot
cash of their wake after they go away?
In case you imagine holiday apartment large Airbnb, the solution is resorts.
STRs vs. resorts
In mid-June, Airbnb revealed a file referred to as Overtourism
within the EU.
The file claimed that “virtually 8 out of 10 (78%) visitor nights around the EU have been spent in resorts or different identical lodging” and that STRs in reality “constitute a small fraction of the tourism ecosystem within the EU.”
Airbnb mentioned that momentary leases (STRs) can “lend a hand alleviate one of the crucial maximum commonplace considerations” surrounding overtourism within the EU, including that STRs “disperse trip clear of overcrowded towns” whilst resorts are “frequently concentrated within the
busiest spaces.”
“[STRs] supply versatile capability right through prime call for classes, e.g., massive occasions, with out the price of vacant stock outdoor of those classes, whilst producing source of revenue and jobs for households and communities,” the corporate stated.
Subscribe to our e-newsletter under
The STR large referred to as on leaders to “deal with the overpowering affect of resorts on overtourism and include tourism that helps households and communities,” whilst additionally pointing to airways and cruise ships as “important participants to the drift of holiday makers
to historic facilities.”
“Doing away with momentary leases won’t remedy overcrowding considerations. There are higher answers to addressing overtourism, together with tackling the overpowering affect of resorts, selling tourism dispersal and ‘off the crushed trail’ trip or by way of managing
customer get right of entry to to historic facilities,” Airbnb stated.
In line with Fabián González, Phocuswright marketplace analyst for Spain, a third-party could also be important to confirm Airbnb’s claims.
“When an organization analyzes the affect and doable externalities it generates, it’s, on the very least, more likely to show off important bias. It could be really useful for an unbiased and impartial group, with out vested pursuits, to behavior an intensive
and constant analysis file.”
Debbie Hindle, chair of the Global
Centre for Accountable Tourism (ICRT) international, added that Airbnb is making an attempt to shift the blame for overtourism because of the rising choice of criminal demanding situations it’s going through.
“Expanding law in towns internationally is a big trade possibility to its type, which might impact each its volumes and percentage value,” she stated.
In Would possibly, when the Spanish executive ordered Airbnb to take away 65,000 listings pronouncing they have been unlawful, Airbnb’s percentage value fell by way of round 3%. The corporate’s attraction used to be rejected.
“Airbnb is having to spend money and time on criminal demanding situations. Governments world wide are performing to crack down on compliance, taking a look at tactics to suppress call for and scale back the quantity of momentary leases,” Hindle stated.
Barcelona is making plans a complete ban on tourist-focused STRs by way of the tip of 2028. On the identical time, the Spanish executive is thinking about including 21% value-added tax on momentary leases. This final level may just give an explanation for the timing of Airbnb’s newest file.
Barcelona’s government even have their palms tied.
“Town of Barcelona has little affect over the improvement of the airport and the port. It doesn’t regulate arrivals; a brand new terminal is being constructed within the port,” stated ICRT’s founder Harold Goodwin.
“The problem of overtourism has been a priority in Barcelona since 2004 and a subject officially engaged with by way of the Ajuntament de Barcelona [City Council of Barcelona] since 2008.”
Airbnb has additionally been desirous about court docket circumstances in New Orleans and New York over laws to limit STRs.
The lodge viewpoint
Lodges in locations the place protests are going down aren’t proud of being scapegoated.
Gabriel Escarrer, chairman and CEO of Spanish lodge team Mélia Lodges Global, referred to as Airbnb’s stance “unfair and hypocritical.”
“Knowledge is information, and the truth is that during Spain, lodge lodging grew by way of
2.5% over the past 10 years, whilst holiday leases greater by way of 135%, exceeding the capability of the locations,” he stated.
Whilst resorts (and different regulated lodging choices) have all the time been closely regulated and needed to agree to city making plans in accordance with the city construction type and the wearing capability of locations, vacationer apartment properties have proliferated with none making plans or limits
Gabriel Escarrer, Mélia Lodges Global
“Additionally, whilst resorts (and different regulated
lodging choices) have all the time been closely regulated and needed to comply
with city making plans in accordance with the city construction type and the wearing
capability of locations, vacationer apartment properties have proliferated with none
making plans or limits. This has brought about dysfunctions in group existence, overuse of
public assets and infrastructure that weren’t designed for such extra
call for.”
Escarrer stated Mélia has been making an attempt to deal with
overtourism by way of repositioning its portfolio to concentrate on the top rate and comfort
segments.
“We prioritize upgrading and bettering
current property somewhat than rising for expansion’s sake, which doesn’t make
sense within the present atmosphere. We even have an intensive accountable tourism
program referred to as ‘Commute For Just right,’ aimed toward lowering
our unfavorable affect and maximizing our sure social and environmental
affect,” he stated.
Accor additionally believes that is moving blame. A spokesperson for the gang advised Phocuswire that resorts “are a supply of monetary and employment expansion and feature a good affect at the native existence.”
“Lodges are completely built-in of their financial and social atmosphere, and we will see it with the good fortune of the way of life lodge section for the decade: Lodges are puts that draw in vacationers but additionally native communities due to their merchandise
and services and products (co-working, meals & beverage gives, wellness and so on.) This is a virtuous circle,” the spokesperson stated.
“We have now an ideal instance with the final lodge opening of the gang in Barcelona a couple of months in the past, an SLS lodge. What has been vital is this has been finished with all of the related stakeholders: We labored with the general public government and the native
communities to create the precise position. As an example, we controlled to fulfill plenty of wishes in an outlying space that used to be no longer prior to now lined; this lodge has grow to be related and authorised since its opening by way of the group, vacationers and locals.”
Accor stated it’s taking overtourism “very critically” and is operating on a number of tasks, together with the Global Sustainable Hospitality Alliance. The corporate has additionally revealed a white paper, “Development
Resilience: Town-hotel Collaborations for Long run-proof Locations,” specializing in sustainability making plans, city resilience and local weather adaptation.
Downside-solving efforts
Mélia’s Escarrer could also be president of the Spanish tourism thinktank Exceltur.
“[Exceltur has] been caution for years concerning the possibility of overcrowding in positive
locations. This factor has been worsened over the last decade by way of the
proliferation of unlawful and/or unregulated holiday apartment houses, which
emerged beneath the pretext of marketing the ‘sharing financial system’ and now devour
50% of the to be had apartment housing in key vacationer locations such because the
Balearic and Canary Islands (in keeping with the Financial institution of Spain),” he stated.
“We’re satisfied that earlier than adopting measures that
are ‘simple’ or beauty, basically aimed toward public opinion, we should have a rigorous
research and prognosis of this factor.”
Quick-term leases—like some other type of lodging—should be regulated in an effort to fall beneath the governance of native government.
Fabián González, Phocuswright
Exceltur has evolved a big public-private
collaboration referred to as Turismo
Que Suma to craft an initiative.
Escarrer stated its function is to “mitigate the affects of overcrowding, scale back its
dangers and transfer towards a extra respectful, empathetic and sure tourism type
for vacation spot communities”
And it is vital to have a look at the
larger image, too.
“The problem of overtourism is extremely complicated and must no longer be decreased to a easy ‘Airbnb sure or no’ debate. You will need to acknowledge that the foundation of the issue does no longer lie with Airbnb as an entire, however somewhat with the unlawful listings discovered at the
platform,” Phocuswright’s González stated.
“Quick-term leases—like some other type of lodging—should be regulated in an effort to fall beneath the governance of native government. In a different way, any trade running outdoor the legislation no longer handiest places shoppers in danger, but additionally escapes the regulatory framework
of the vacation spot. This creates an unfair benefit over different segments that do agree to present laws and the foundations set by way of public administrations.”
Overtourism is obviously a fancy factor and no longer person who any participant can remedy on their very own. Airbnb would possibly do higher to have interaction with all of the sector and with executive somewhat than attempt to shift blame.
