Roberto Strano’s Post

Short term rentals – opportunity or the threat to cities? 🌆🏡 In recent years, several tourist cities have seen increasing rental and property rates, driven by an increase in short-term rentals. While property investments have always been regarded as solid, secure bets, the winds of change are sweeping slowly through Europe, indicating a possible reversal in this trend.   Barcelona's Bold Move 🚫🏙️ Barcelona has been a prime example of attempting to combine tourism expansion, which considerably contributes to the economy, with the demands of its increasingly stressed local population. Last Friday, the mayor declared a ban on short-term rentals beginning in 2029. This decision comes as Barcelona's airport experiences unparalleled passenger numbers, underlining the city's thriving tourism industry. City officials are now focusing on luring fewer but higher-spending tourists, with the goal of reducing overall tourist intake while increasing revenue. The bigger picture 🌍🔍. The effectiveness of Barcelona's approach will be determined over time. Other cities have launched a range of initiatives to address the impact of tourism on local residents; nevertheless, their position differs from the Spanish city (especially given Spain's high unemployment rate): • Venice earns significant money for property owners, despite its declining population. • New York has implemented limitations to regulate short-term rentals. The Verdict? Time Will Tell ⏳🔮 Only time will tell whether Barcelona's policy will benefit both locals and tourists with no negative consequences. The global debate over how to best balance visitor demands with local populations' needs continues. #Tourism #CityPlanning #ShortTermRentals #RealEstate #UrbanDevelopment #SustainableTourism

How will Barcelona’s plan to eliminate short-term holiday lets impact the city’s housing market and tourism industry? Barcelona’s mayor, Jaume Collboni, has announced a groundbreaking plan to eliminate short-term tourist rentals within the city by 2028. This ambitious move aims to address the city's housing crisis and make living more affordable for locals. Key Details of the Plan Elimination of Tourist Licenses: Mayor Collboni has pledged not to renew any of the 10,101 tourist licenses granted to landlords once they expire in November 2028. These properties, currently listed on platforms such as Airbnb and HomeAway, will be repurposed for local residents. Rationale Behind the Decision: Collboni argues that the influx of short-term rentals has significantly contributed to the housing shortage, driving up rents by 70% over the past decade. By converting these tourist rentals into long-term housing, the city aims to provide the equivalent of 10,000 new homes. The Association of Tourist Apartments of Barcelona criticized the policy, suggesting it could lead to illegal tourist rentals and labeled it as a distraction from what they see as Collboni’s failed housing policies. This decision comes amidst broader protests in Spain against the effects of mass tourism, particularly in regions like the Canary Islands, where locals claim tourism is harming the environment and displacing residents. This policy, if implemented effectively, could serve as a model for other cities grappling with similar issues. However, it will require careful monitoring to ensure it addresses the housing crisis without severely impacting the tourism industry, which is a vital part of Barcelona’s economy. What do you think about Barcelona’s plan to eliminate short-term holiday lets? How can cities balance the needs of local residents with the benefits of tourism? Share your thoughts and experiences! Read more in the source article: https://lnkd.in/esbtVxnZ #Barcelona #Tourism #AffordableHousing #ShortTermRentals #SustainableTourism #TravelIndustry #SkalInternational #TourismInnovation #HousingCrisis #CommunityFirst

Barcelona plans to enact a citywide ban on all short-term rentals to address complaints that tourism is to blame for a local housing crisis and soaring rents. The Mediterranean city will stop giving new licenses and won’t renew existing ones so that in 2029 no homes will have permission to be rented as tourist accommodation, Barcelona Mayor said at a press conference on Friday. There are now about 10,000 houses registered as rentals for tourists. “More supply of housing is needed, and the measures we’re presenting today are to provide more supply so that the working middle class does not have to leave the city because they can’t afford housing,” Collboni said. “This measure will not change the situation from one day to the next. These problems take time. But with this measure we are marking a turning point.” Rent prices per square meter in Barcelona increased 14% in the 12 months through April and are the highest among Spanish cities, according to Idealista, the country’s largest website for property listings. The city was visited by 16 million tourists in 2023, according to the Barcelona Tourism Observatory. Airbnb didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment. #airbnb #sharingeconomy #rentals #bans #tech https://lnkd.in/gVYrbKZZ

🚫🏠 Barcelona Bans Short-Term Rentals: What Does This Mean for the City? Barcelona has recently announced a ban on short-term rentals, a move that aims to address several pressing issues facing the city. This decision is set to impact both residents and tourists alike. Here are some key points to consider: 🔹 Housing Availability: This policy is expected to increase the availability of long-term housing for residents, potentially alleviating some of the city's housing shortages and rising rental prices. 🔹 Tourism Management: The ban might influence how tourism is managed in the city, possibly shifting the focus towards more sustainable and community-friendly practices. 🔹 Local Communities: Reducing the prevalence of short-term rentals in residential areas could impact community dynamics, potentially leading to a stronger sense of local identity and stability. This significant change brings a variety of perspectives and potential outcomes. It's an interesting time for both locals and visitors to consider the broader implications of such policies. What do you think about this new policy? How will it impact Barcelona's housing market, tourism industry, and local communities? #Barcelona #ShortTermRentals #HousingCrisis #SustainableTourism #CommunityImpact #UrbanPlanning #CityLife #TravelNews #TourismPolicy #HousingPolicy #LocalCommunities #RealEstate #Property

Inspiring move by Barcelona – The over-toured city is helping locals return by reinstating its housing supply. By 2029 no homes will have permission to be rented as tourist accommodation. This won't fix the entire situation, as rental caps and a diversification away from tourism is needed – but it sets an inspiring precedent to watch for other global cities. #sustainabletourism #housingaffordability #makingspaceforculture https://lnkd.in/gk_23ube

This summer is poised to be the best yet for short-term rentals in Malaga, with record-high occupancy rates on the horizon. Gemma Del Corral, Delegate in Malaga for the Department of Tourism of the Junta Andalucía, shared this promising forecast. This projection follows the first-quarter statistics of 2024, which have surpassed those of the same period in 2023. Moreover, data indicates that the average length of stay for tourists in short-term rental properties on the Costa del Sol is nearing six days. Exciting times await Malaga as it prepares to welcome visitors worldwide. The trend in this sector suggests that demand will continue to grow, reaffirming Malaga as an ideal destination for investing in short-term rentals. #RealEstateInvestment #RealEstateMalaga #Malaga #shorttermrentals

Barcelona's Bold Move: Eliminating Tourist Apartments by 2028 In a landmark decision, Barcelona has announced plans to remove all tourist apartments by 2028, a move celebrated by anti-tourism activists as a significant victory. This decision reflects the city's ongoing efforts to address the pressures of overtourism, which has escalated housing prices and impacted the quality of life for residents. With over 9,600 legal tourist flats currently in the city, this policy will reshape Barcelona’s urban landscape and tourism industry dramatically. The move is part of a broader strategy to reclaim neighborhoods for long-term residents and redistribute tourism more sustainably. How will this affect the local economy, which heavily relies on tourism revenue? What implications will this have for property owners and the broader real estate market? How will other popular destinations respond to similar pressures? As cities around the world grapple with similar challenges, Barcelona’s approach could serve as a model or a cautionary tale. I’m keen to hear your thoughts: Is Barcelona setting a precedent for sustainable tourism, or might these measures be too drastic? #UrbanPlanning #Tourism #SustainableDevelopment #Barcelona #RealEstate

On 17 October 1986, Barcelona was selected to host the 1992 Summer Olympics. It was celebrated at the highest levels as a victory, as it was hoped that the "Olympic Boost" would catapult Barcelona into the top ten of most visited cities after 1992. That was the plan - unabated business growth and visitor growth. What could go wrong? Fast forward to 2015 and Barcelona became the fifth most popular tourist destination in Europe. Fast forward to 2024 and there is only one word in Barcelona - OVERTOURISM. Barcelona Mayor threatens to ban Airbnb in fight against #overtourism Mayor Jaume Collboni has pledged to revoke the more than 10,000 licences for tourist flats currently active for the period through to November 2028. The decision comes after residents in the city have for several years faced housing shortages and rent increases as more and more properties are turned over to tourism accommodation. https://lnkd.in/gnkCiwzR