Thursday, January 2, 2025 Greece ’s short-term rental market reached unprecedented levels, overtaking the country’s hotel sector for the first time. With 1.022 million available beds recorded by August, short-term rental units outpaced the 887,740 beds available in hotels.
This surge highlighted the growing role of platforms like Airbnb in driving tourism while simultaneously sparking debates over their impact on local housing markets. The rapid expansion of short-term rentals brought significant challenges, particularly in Athens. Permanent residents voiced concerns about escalating rents and the dwindling availability of long-term housing.
Working-class neighborhoods such as Koukaki, Pangrati, and Exarchia were especially affected, with rising property prices and limited rental options forcing some residents to leave their communities. The Greek hotel sector also expressed dissatisfaction, arguing that the influx of short-term rental options diverted tourists and revenue away from traditional accommodations. These complaints underscored broader questions about the sustainability and fairness of the short-term rental boom.
Discover any news about travel , tourism , trade shows at the Travel And Tour World , including breaking travel news and weekly travel updates for travel trade , airlines , cruise , railways , technology , travel association , DMCs, and video interviews and promotional videos . In response, Greek authorities introduced several measures aimed at address.
