This morning, ASSC Chief Executive Fiona Campbell joined BBC Radio 4’s Today programme to discuss Spain’s widely publicised move to force Airbnb to delist over 65,000 properties across the country. The decision comes amid mounting tensions around housing and tourism in key destinations such as Barcelona and Madrid – but Fiona urged policymakers not to mistake headlines for holistic solutions.
“Tourism isn’t the problem – poor destination management is,” she said. “What we’re witnessing in places like Mallorca is not simply overtourism, but a breakdown in long-term planning, regulation enforcement, and infrastructure investment. Crowds are the symptom. Misdiagnosing the cause risks doing more harm than good.”
Acknowledging Housing Pressures, Challenging Misplaced Blame
Fiona acknowledged that housing affordability is a critical challenge across Europe, including in Scotland – but warned against treating short-term lets (STRs) as a convenient scapegoat. “The evidence simply doesn’t support the claim that regulating STRs leads to affordable housing,” she noted. “In Edinburgh, despite one of the most restrictive STR regimes in Europe, rents have continued to climb steeply. If removing STRs improved affordability, we would see that in the data. We don’t.”
Spain’s Policy Risks Political Theatre Over Substance
Spain’s crackdown – while dramatic – risks becoming an example of “political theatre over policy substance.” Fiona pointed to more systemic causes of housing stress, such as underinvestment in public housing, a lack of supply to meet demographic change, and long-term vacant properties.
“Regulated visitor accommodation is not the root cause of structural housing shortages,” she said. “Knee-jerk restrictions may harm local businesses and communities more than they help.”
Tourism as Part of the Solution
In Scotland, the economic contribution of short-term lets is both measurable and significant. A typical two-bedroom STR contributes over £50,000 in Gross Value Added (GVA) annually and supports more than one local job — far surpassing the economic return of long-term residential use.
“Without STRs, many rural and island communities would lose not only income but identity. Tourism, when managed properly, can be a powerful part of the solution.”
Calling for Evidence-Based Strategy
The ASSC continues to advocate for balanced, data-driven approaches to managing the visitor economy and local housing needs. Fiona concluded: “What we need isn’t fewer visitors – it’s better planning. A long-term, evidence-based strategy that supports communities, sustains local businesses, and meets housing needs must be the way forward.”
Read the full article in The Independent.
Read the data on Scotland, below.