The rise of short-term rental platforms like Airbnb has sparked growing debate across Europe, especially in countries like Spain where tourism plays a major economic role. While these platforms offer convenience for travelers, they are also blamed for driving up housing costs, displacing local residents, and transforming authentic neighborhoods into tourist zones.
As cities like Barcelona and Madrid push back with new rules and license bans, the challenge is balancing tourism with residents’ rights to affordable, livable communities. This reveals an underlying struggle between profit-driven tourism and the long-term well-being of urban life.
Read the article to see how Spain is dealing with the impact of short-term rentals on local housing.
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/30/travel/why-airbnb-facing-trouble-spain
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “clampdown” mean here? “Some tourists, meanwhile, say they agree with a clampdown on Airbnb-style rentals, even if they find them a preferable option.” Use it in a sentence.
- What does the phrase “tip the balance” mean? “And not everyone is convinced it will tip the balance in favor of those struggling to find long-term accommodation.” Use it in a sentence.
- What does the word “contravene” mean? “Spain’s Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and 2030 Agenda Ministry demanded the removal of nearly 66,000 property rental listings on Airbnb, saying they contravene tourist accommodation regulations.” Use it in a sentence and give 2 synonyms.
Discussion Questions:
- How does short-term rental tourism (like Airbnb) affect housing availability in major cities like Barcelona or Madrid? What are the pros and cons?
- What do you think about Barcelona City Council’s plan to stop renewing licenses for tourist apartments after 2028, forcing more than 10,000 apartments to become available for locals?
- Should cities limit the number of Airbnbs to protect local communities, even if it means losing tourist income?
- How do you feel about this quote from the article:
“…cities are turned into theme parks for the excessive profit of a few investment funds”? Do you think profit should ever outweigh community needs? - What would you do if you had to share a flat in your 30s or 40s because of rising rental prices? Would you stay in the city or move away?
- Is tourism-based housing making your city or country less livable for residents? Explain why or why not.