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[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] The Spanish government has ordered short-term rental platform Airbnb to remove 65,000 listings from its site within the country, Reuters reported on May 19 (local time).



According to a statement from Spain's Ministry of Consumer Affairs, most of the listings in question failed to include the required registration number, while some did not specify whether the property owner was an individual or a corporation — both in violation of regulations.



Consumer Affairs Minister Pablo Bustinduy told reporters that the aim of the measure is to put an end to the lack of oversight and illegality in holiday rentals. “No more excuses,” he said. “It’s time to stop protecting those who profit from exploiting the right to housing in our country.”



According to official Spanish data, as of November last year, there were about 321,000 vacation rentals officially licensed in Spain — a 15% increase from 2020. However, many tourist accommodations continue to operate without official authorization.



The Spanish government began tightening regulations last year, citing the proliferation of such accommodations as a contributing factor to housing shortages and rising property prices.



In Barcelona, a major tourist destination, the city plans to revoke licenses for 10,101 short-term rental properties — including those listed on platforms like Airbnb — by November 2028 in an effort to curb rising rents.



Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also announced earlier this year that the government plans to increase tax collection from short-term rental operators.

 

 

 

 

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