Travel operator hits back at Airbnb’s claim that it is being made a ‘scapegoat’ for problems in some holiday hotspots
Europe’s biggest travel operator, Tui, has hit back at an accusation by Airbnb that “overtourism” is the fault of the hotel industry, arguing that short-term home rentals companies are instead to blame.
Tensions have risen between rivals in the tourism industry after protests by local people against overcrowding, rising housing costs and bad behaviour by tourists in some holiday hotspots across the continent.
Theo Yedinsky, vice-president for public policy at Airbnb, said in an interview that the company was being unfairly blamed and being made a “scapegoat” by local authorities and protesters.
“We end up getting a lot of the blame, especially in city centres but the reality is overtourism is really driven by hotels,” Yedinskytold the Financial Times. “It is totally unfair. They are scapegoating Airbnb.”
