Airbnb turns to Spain’s villages as cities tighten rules

MADRID >> Vacation rental firm Airbnb will invest in the promotion of inland towns across Spain over the next three years to tap into rural tourism, as major cities restrict short-term rentals in the world’s second-most visited country after France.

Cities such as Barcelona plan to ban all short-term rentals by 2028, while destinations including the Balearic Islands and Madrid have demanded platforms cut listings under new regulations.

Airbnb said in a statement late on Wednesday that it was shifting its local strategy and plans to invest $50 million to promote Spanish villages and expand rental options there.

The Spanish government has also launched a campaign to spotlight rural destinations, aiming to persuade the 94 million international tourists who flocked to beaches and big cities