SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 8th May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Airbnb has issued a caution this Wednesday regarding the application of “excessive” local regulations – specifically the holiday rental law in the Canary Islands – impacting the welfare of families residing on the islands and failing to tackle the “issue” of mass tourism effectively.
Sara Rodríguez, the Director of Public Policies and Campaigns, expressed in a statement her readiness to collaborate with the Canarian and Spanish authorities “to establish fair regulations that prioritise local residents and allow them to reap the benefits of tourism in their respective regions, steering away from policies that continue to favour the dominance of hotels.”
The company acknowledges that the Canary Islands are among the most sought-after destinations in Europe and that tourism has brought forth “numerous advantages” for the islands. However, “concerns” and “challenges” have arisen due to the “high volume of tourists” flocking to the same areas simultaneously.
According to company-provided Eurostat data, hotel bookings constituted 82% of all tourism on the islands in 2022, whereas stays on Airbnb represented less than 4% of the total.
Furthermore, the overwhelming majority of local hosts who offer entire homes – over seven out of ten – only have one property listed, with 70% confirming that renting out on Airbnb is not their primary source of income. More than half mention that the earnings from the platform aid them in maintaining their residences.
Thus, the average ‘typical’ Airbnb host earns around 5,100 euros per annum, roughly equivalent to two months’ salary in Spain.
Airbnb also highlights that the lodgings advertised in the Canary Islands are more evenly spread across the territory compared to hotels, which tend to be clustered in specific regions.
In fact, in 2023, as many as 9 out of 10 entire properties listed on the islands were situated outside the main three urban areas.
The company emphasises that it has played a part in “mitigating” mass tourism in the Canary Islands when compared to other conventional accommodation choices. However, it is “mindful” of local apprehensions and advocates for the enforcement of regulations that foster a more sustainable tourism approach in the forthcoming decades.
