Increasing pressure on the government for new regulations in the short-term leases with the involvement of municipalities, at a time when there seems to be no immediate plan for an issue that is dividing the market.
In many other European countries municipalities have central role limiting the number of apartments offered for rent through platforms such as Airbnb, while also collecting taxes from the activity. In Greece, municipalities have been reduced to a spectator role, although they are well placed to regulate the short-term rental market.
The Mayor of Athens, Costas Bakoyannis has repeatedly pointed out the need for regulatory intervention for Airbnb in the city, calling for the city to assume legal authority and political responsibility. A position now supported by the SETE.
Last week, during a presentation of SETE's strategy for Greek Tourism and the Action Plans for Athens, the Athenian Riviera and the Saronic Gulf, the president of SETE, Yannis Retsos was clear about the changes that need to be made.
«In addition to the individual activity there is also a grey institutional framework which must be changed, as it allows business groups under the guise of short-term rentals to engage in activities that are fully competitive with hotels or rooms to let, with all that this implies in terms of tax evasion», he says.
«Among the proposals that have been submitted is, following the model of other European cities, to give municipalities the possibility to set limits on the exercise of activity.», he adds.
Despite calls for an immediate solution that will bring balance to the housing market, there does not appear to be an action plan from the government, as it now embarks on a new communication round with platforms with questionable results.
At the same SETE event, the Minister of Tourism, Vassilis Kikilias stressed that in the coming days it will, in a letter to press platforms Booking and Expedia, to request the separation of advertising of hotels from accommodation available on short-term rental terms.
He also stressed that in the new framework to be adopted, a separation in the treatment of those who lease individually some properties and those engaged in business, renting out dozens of properties.
The Minister then pointed out that the new regulatory framework of the country will be in line with the one that will be formulated by the European Commission in the near future and which is expected to serve as a guide for the EU member states.
However, an official of the European Commission points out to Business Daily that no policy framework on short-term rentals is being developed in Brussels. What is being prepared is the preparation of a specific legislative proposal which will lead to increased transparency in the industry, as part of the Commission's efforts to promote a balanced tourism ecosystem.
The aim of this initiative is to ensure more access to information that will allow for better planning and enforcement of proportionate rules to suit each local market.
«This proposal will not regulate the short-term rental model, as this is the responsibility of Member States and regional authorities.», the official stresses.
Despair in Europe
There is a feeling in Europe that the European Commission is slow to address the issue, causing particular anguish in cities as tourism recovers from the pandemic.
In the summer, mayors, deputy mayors and other officials Barcelona, Bologna, Bologna, Brussels, Arezzo, Paris, Vienna, Amsterdam, Brussels, Lyon, Porto and Florence, as well as dozens of MEPs, signed and sent a letter to Brussels demanding action now.
«The availability and affordability of housing, as well as the sustainability of our cities is at stake.», they stress in the letter.
In a reply sent a few days ago, Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton stresses that the European Commission is preparing a legislative initiative on transparency, which will be ready in the second quarter of the year.
