Eurobarometer: Short-term rentals enrich EU tourism services offer but impact communities

A Eurobarometer survey on short-term rentals published today reveals that short-term accommodation rentals help to improve the attractiveness of the tourism services offer in the EU but there is a need to consider the impacts on wider communities. The survey provides evidence underscoring the need for a balanced development of the short-term accommodation rental sector. This implies maintaining opportunities for innovative platforms and SME service providers while respecting public policy objectives like available and affordable housing and protecting urban centres. The survey, conducted in September 2021 across Europe, shows that 25% of Europeans book short-term rentals through online platforms and that a large majority (89%) of those who have ever booked a short-term rental consider it a positive experience that they would recommend to others. Results also show how such services can lead to a more diversified accommodation offer, providing better prices (63%), better facilities (49%) and better locations (43%).  At the same time, the rapid rise of these services can have an impact  beyond the tourism ecosystem, showing that almost half the people surveyed find that short-term rentals cause an increase in nuisance by tourists, such as noise, congestion and waste (45% of respondents) and higher prices and pressure on availability of housing (42% of respondents). The results of the survey will feed into the Commission’s assessment of the relevance of possible new regulatory measures, as announced in the recent Commission staff paper outlining scenarios for a transition pathway in the tourism ecosystem. The Eurobarometer data will also complement the stakeholder feedback from the currently ongoing public consultation related to short-term rentals. The findings of today’s Eurobarometer report will also be presented at the first of two online workshops on the short-term rental economy this Friday.  The full Eurobarometer report and a factsheet with key data from the Eurobarometer survey are available here.