Catalonia clears Airbnb of illegal tourist accommodation

The Catalan government's Department of Business and Employment has provided municipalities with a digital tool to track tourist accommodation. Earlier, the regional government ordered booking platforms to remove 3,351 properties from their websites, writes the Spanish travel industry portal Hosteltur.

This tool allows for more effective identification of tourist rental offers that do not meet legal requirements and transmission of inspection data to the Department, which facilitates the fight against illegal tourist rentals.

The Tourism Act grants executive authorities the power to control and impose sanctions.

Spanish municipalities are fighting against illegal tourist apartments.

The municipalities that joined the action are: Lloret de Mar, Sitges, Castelldefels, Blanes, Vall de Boi, Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Llançà, Banyoles, Olivella, Ripoll, Tossa de Mar, L'Ametlla de Mar, Calella, Platja d'Aro, Santa Cristina d'Aro, Vilanova and la Geltrú, Malgrat de Mar, El Prat de Llobregat, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Igualada, Mont-roig del Camp, Canet de Mar, Gavà, Tremp, Palamos, Castelló d'Empúries, Palafrugell, Vilanova del Vallés, El Masnou, Santa Pau, Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Cambrils, Torroella de Montgrí, Vidreres and Talarn.