Tui says ‘overtourism’ is fault of short-term let firms not lodge business

[ad_1] Europe’s largest journey operator, Tui, has hit again at an accusation by Airbnb that “overtourism” is the fault of the lodge business, arguing that short-term dwelling leases firms are as a substitute guilty.

Tensions have risen between rivals within the tourism business after protests by native individuals in opposition to overcrowding, rising housing prices and unhealthy behaviour by vacationers in some vacation hotspots throughout the continent.

Theo Yedinsky, vice-president for public coverage at Airbnb, mentioned in an interview that the corporate was being unfairly blamed and being made a “scapegoat” by native authorities and protesters.

“We find yourself getting loads of the blame, particularly in metropolis centres however the actuality is overtourism is basically pushed by lodges,” Yedinskytold the Monetary Instances. “It's completely unfair. They're scapegoating Airbnb.”

Protests by residents have damaged out in locations together with Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Venice, Amsterdam and the Greek island of Santorini.

Authorities have taken motion focusing on the booming short-term lettings sector – led by providers comparable to Airbnb, Vrbo and Reserving.com – in an try to alleviate an issue exacerbated by the post-pandemic growth in journey.

Alexander Panczuk, group director of coverage and popularity at Tui, mentioned: “It isn't scapegoating, it's a very impartial evaluation of the issue.

“The rationale protesters hit the streets is due to points with the price of dwelling and particularly housing. Each are pushed by the secondary dwelling market and short-term leases. All of the locations the place we've seen the battle of vacationers and dwelling areas in the previous few years should not the place [operators like] Tui are lively.”

Final month, the Spanish authorities ordered Airbnb to take away practically 66,000 listings from its platform; in Portugal new short-term rental licences in Lisbon have been suspended, and earlier this yr Greece launched a one-year ban on new short-term rental registrations in Athens.

Hotrec, the European lodge business’s foyer group, mentioned the sector was extremely regulated by authorities to suit with tourism capability, and that providers comparable to Airbnb wanted to “play by the identical guidelines”.

Resorts accounted for 63% of in a single day guests in Europe final yr, whereas flats, trip leases and different short-term leases made up 24%, and campsites 13%, in line with Eurostat knowledge.

Whereas the estimated variety of in a single day stays in lodges rose by lower than 4% year-on-year in 2024, the brief let market surged by 8%, a rise of 57m.

Yedinsky argued that the focusing on of providers comparable to Airbnb by governments has not improved the scenario as a result of a lot of the points don't stem from short-term leases.

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Citing the instance of Barcelona, he mentioned the mayor “wants to take a look at the development of lodges, he wants to take a look at lodges usually … and they should construct extra housing”.

“They're attacking a fraction of the issue after which questioning why it’s not getting higher,” he mentioned.

Nevertheless, Tui, which had 20.3 million prospects guide its numerous vacation providers final yr, mentioned native authorities weren't making an attempt to shift the blame.

Panczuk mentioned: “Figuring out the vacation spot coverage stakeholders they're primarily fascinated by fixing their points, not scapegoating as if it’s a simple reply to their drawback.

“We discuss quite a bit with our vacation spot companions, ministers and MPs from numerous locations, and it's primarily about [the issues] with vacation leases. It's a matter that's mentioned quite a bit as a result of there's a actual drawback.”