The island government of Mallorca has achieved a significant victory in the fight against illegal holiday accommodations. After intensive negotiations, a groundbreaking alliance between the Mallorca Island Council and Airbnb was sealed on Friday (June 20) in Madrid. This cooperation will significantly accelerate the process of removing unlawful listings from the platform. From Monday (June 23), Airbnb will also require a valid license number for every new short-term rental listing published on Mallorca.
A Milestone for Responsible Tourism in Mallorca
The agreement was signed by Island Council President Llorenç Galmés and Jaime Rodríguez de Santiago, General Director of Airbnb Marketing Services. The goal is not only to delete “obviously irregular listings” – such as provisional accommodations in tents, mobile homes, or yurts – but also to promote “more responsible and respectful tourism on the island.” This step is part of a broader strategy to regulate the holiday rental market in the Balearic Islands. Over 130 unlawful listings on Mallorca have already been removed from the platform in recent weeks.
Airbnb Focuses on Education and New Tools for Hosts
As part of the agreement, Airbnb is introducing a new tool to help hosts comply with the registration requirements of the new European regulations. The platform remains committed to removing listings that do not comply with local regulations. This alliance is consistent with similar agreements Airbnb has already made with the Island Councils of Ibiza, the Government of the Canary Islands, and the Region of Murcia.
The San Francisco-based multinational company will also launch a comprehensive educational campaign for its hosts in Mallorca. The focus will be on the new European regulations, which have been in force in Spain since January, as well as on mandatory registration and licensing requirements. Spain was the first EU country to implement these important rules.
Judiciary Backs Consumer Protection Ministry
A significant success for Spanish consumer protection: The Supreme Court in Madrid has dismissed Airbnb’s lawsuit, thereby confirming the Spanish Ministry of Consumer Protection’s order that Airbnb must remove more than 65,000 illegal listings. The ministry had sent a total of three resolutions to Airbnb’s European headquarters in Ireland in recent months, demanding the removal of these listings deemed illegal. The Supreme Court’s current decision refers to the first communication, which requested the platform to block 5,800 illegal listings. These listings concern the advertisement of holiday homes located in the Balearic Islands, Andalusia, the Community of Madrid, Catalonia, the Valencian Community, and the Basque Country.
The continued efforts of the Spanish authorities to regulate the holiday rental market and curb illegal practices are now showing clear success and could serve as a model for other European regions.
