Airbnb Supports EU Proposal for Short-Term Rentals to Share Booking Data With Authorities
Through a statement, Airbnb has stressed that following the new proposals local rules must be simple and clear for hosts to follow and authorities will have better access to data through a harmonized data-sharing framework in order to support effective policy-making, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.
Last year, Airbnb introduced a plan called the EU Host Action Plan which urged for a simple, clear and harmonized EU framework in order to unlock the benefits of hosting for millions of families in Europe and provide authorities in European countries with the information they need in order to clamp down on speculators as well as over-tourism.
In this regard, the Head of EU Public Policy, Georgina Browes, said that these proposals offer a framework for Airbnb in order to scale the company’s collaborations with governments and make it easier for citizens of European countries to share their homes and follow the rules.
“We have long supported the EU’s work on new STR rules. By taking a more harmonized approach to regulation, industry and governments can better work together to improve access to data, boost transparency and address disproportionate local rules that undermine the single market and prevent European families from sharing their homes to boost their income,” Browes pointed out.
Recently, the European Commission announced that it is looking forward to enhancing transparency in the field of short-term accommodation rental. Airbnb through a statement announced that it welcomes the new regulation and also wants to be part of the solution to challenges that the communities are facing.
“The EU is home to more Hosts on Airbnb than any region in the world and the vast majority of Hosts are regular people who share one listing. The typical EU Host earned just over €3,000 last year and 40 per cent say the additional income helps them afford rising living costs,” the statement reads.
It also notes that in 2019, travel on Airbnb supported about 345,000 jobs in European Union countries and also generated about €19 billion in GDP contribution through guest spending.
The company also announced that it is investing in tech-driven solutions in order to help address challenges related to the growth of tourism in Europe, while last year it shared data revealing flexible search features diverting bookings from Europe’s most over-touristed places.
