Menorca – Spain / By Lotharingia / Adobe Stock
In Spain, before renting accommodation for a holiday stay, you must first ensure that the owner has the necessary licenses. In some destinations, unlicensed rentals are common.
Authorities in the Balearic Islands, an archipelago off the east coast of Spain in the Mediterranean, have decided to take action against holiday rental landlords who operate without the necessary licenses.
Unauthorized holiday rentals targeted by Spanish authorities
The Spanish government has actually officially declared war on illegal holiday rentals “to eradicate the scourge” of fraudsters who target tourists, the Express newspaper reported on Saturday, January 27.
In the Balearic Islands, which includes Mallorca, the largest of the islands, giant Booking.com has agreed to work with local authorities to combat fake ads encouraging tourists to book private accommodation at sometimes discounted prices.
This initiative aims to allow authorities to regulate the number of accommodations not only on Booking.com but also on Airbnb.
The Balearic Islands' tourism minister admits he doesn't know exactly how many illegal accommodations there are on the island, but believes the agreement with Booking will shed light on the situation. And this is to “eradicate this scourge of people” who offer accommodation without the necessary licenses.
The aim of the agreement is to offer foreign tourists more guarantees
“This is a problem that affects several regions and we must try to combat it,” said the top official of the islands' tourism sector. Caution is therefore advised when renting holiday accommodation.
The aim of the agreement is to increase transparency in the short-term rental accommodation sector and help authorities regulate this sector. The aim is also to offer more guarantees to foreign visitors to the Balearic Islands.
The decision by the authorities of the Balearic archipelago is not the first in this direction in Spain. Booking.com has already worked with the town halls of Seville and Ibiza, where the same problem occurs.
“Illegal deliveries are our main enemy and are non-negotiable. In addition, there are also hotels without opening licenses, illegal tour guides and taxis,” said a board member of the Association of Tourist Accommodation Associations.
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