Hoteliers' Request for New Regulation: Barcelona Model

Mehmet İşler, Vice President of the Association of Turkish Hoteliers (TÜROFED), emphasized that regulations regarding short-term accommodation platforms are necessary. In his statements on this issue, İşler addressed the impacts of globally growing platforms like Airbnb on local economies.

Mehmet İşler pointed out that the uncontrolled increase in short-term vacation rentals poses a significant threat to existing hoteliers in the industry. The approach taken by the Barcelona Municipality serves as a noteworthy example for other cities. Barcelona has managed to protect its accommodation sector thanks to the radical measures it has taken against Airbnb.

İşler stressed that Turkey needs to understand how the growth of Airbnb negatively affects hoteliers in the sector by taking these regulations into account. He underlined the importance of making regulations to ensure the sustainability of the local hospitality sector and to provide more options for tourists.

İşler argued that especially in large cities, short-term rental applications need to be monitored, stating that such platforms should be structured in a way that not only provides services but also contributes to local economies. This aims to offer a better experience for both tourists and local residents.

TÜROFED advocates that Airbnb-style platforms should operate within certain criteria. Among these criteria are collaboration with local authorities and compliance with tax regulations by property owners. In other words, it is crucial for all stakeholders in the accommodation industry to fulfill their responsibilities.