Airbnb hits back, blames hotels for Europe's overtourism

As protests erupt across southern Europe, Airbnb defends its role and accuses the hotel industry of driving overcrowding and housing shortages in tourist hotspots

Airbnb is pushing back against mounting criticism that short-term rentals are fueling overtourism in Europe. Amid widespread protests across major tourist destinations like Barcelona, Venice, and Ibiza, the company’s public policy chief, Theo Yedinsky, argues that hotels — not platforms like Airbnb — are the primary drivers of overcrowding and rising housing costs. A new Airbnb report claims hotels account for the vast majority of tourist stays, and the company accuses city officials of scapegoating Airbnb while neglecting the larger structural issues behind the crisis.

Key takeaways

• Airbnb deflects blame: Theo Yedinsky, Airbnb’s VP of public policy, says Airbnb is unfairly blamed for overtourism, asserting that hotels are the real contributors, particularly in city centers.
• Report cites hotel dominance: Airbnb claims that hotels and similar accommodations represent nearly 80% of guest nights in the EU, suggesting their role in overtourism is far greater than that of short-term rentals.
• Widespread anti-tourism protests: Demonstrations erupted in Spain and Italy, with thousands protesting against mass tourism’s impact on housing, local life, and the environment. Slogans included “your holiday, my misery” and “mass tourism kills the city.”
• Regulatory crackdowns intensify: Spain ordered Airbnb to delist 65,000 properties violating local laws. Greece introduced a one-year freeze on new short-term rentals in Athens due to a housing shortage.
• Political pushback on tourism model: Spain’s consumer rights minister emphasized that tourism must not undermine citizens' constitutional rights, including access to housing.
• Call for structural solutions: Airbnb argues that rather than targeting short-term rentals, local governments should focus on regulating hotel expansion and increasing housing supply.

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