The European Commission has adopted a proposal for a regulation on data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services, as promised in the tourism transition pathway published in February.

The Commission said the new proposed rules will help to improve transparency on the identification and activity of short-term accommodation hosts, and on the rules they have to comply with, and will facilitate the registration of hosts.

They will also tackle the current fragmentation in how online platforms share data and, ultimately, help prevent illegal listings. Overall, this will contribute to a more sustainable tourism ecosystem and support its digital transition.

Margrethe Vestager, executive vice-president for a Europe Fit for the Digital Age, said: ” The short-term accommodation rental sector has been boosted by the platform economy but has not developed with sufficient transparency.

“With this proposal, we are making it easier for hosts and platforms, big or small, to contribute to greater transparency in the sector. These sector-specific rules will complement the general rules of the Digital Services Act, which establish a set of obligations and accountability requirements for platforms operating in the EU.”

Thierry Breton, the commissioner for the internal market, added: “Short-term accommodation rentals create benefits for hosts, tourists and the tourism ecosystem, but they shouldn’t be growing at the expense of local communities.

“Today’s proposal will ensure that local authorities have the data they need to support a sustainable short-term rental sector, fight illegal listings and contribute to a balanced tourism ecosystem.

“We are building upon the framework of the Digital Services Act, requiring platforms to share data and to help local authorities design and enforce proportionate rules on short-term rentals.”