The government took action after residents in tourist centers protested, blaming tourist rentals for a growing housing crisis.
The Spanish government fined Airbnb 64 million euros ($75 million) for failure to remove unlicensed short-term rentals from the online platform, according to a report from the Associated Press.
The country’s consumer rights ministry said the company violated the law by not including license numbers on listings, including incorrect numbers or host information, or otherwise violating new Spanish regulations for short-term rentals. Airbnb plans to challenge the fine in court and says it is complying with Spain’s new permitting and registration system.
Spain has seen some of the strongest backlash to Airbnb and other STR booking platforms as residents accuse them of driving up housing costs and displacing locals. Barcelona, one of Spain’s most popular tourist destinations, plans to phase out all 10,000 STRs in that city by by 2029.
FULL STORY: Spain fines Airbnb $75 million for unlicensed tourist rentals
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