The Spanish government blocked 66,000 short term rental listings on Airbnb as protests against soaring rents and overcrowding intensify.

Journalist Jo Pierri, Assistant Managing Editor of TO BHMA International Edition, brings you the day's top headlines from Greece in a short and sharp English-language news bulletin on MEGA News

Strong demand is evident in short-term rentals (Airbnb-type accommodation) for this summer season, according to AirDNA data.

As the Easter holiday season approaches, Athens and Thessaloniki are expected to see a surge in foreign visitors as demand for short-term rentals across Greece is rising. According to the latest report from AirDNA, which collects short-term rental data from public and proprietary sources, including Airbnb and Vrbo, data the strong start to 2025 for short-term […]

The east Mediterranean country is also among the European states with the biggest increase in occupancy, along with Spain (+5,2%), Croatia (+6,5%) and Norway (+2%)

From January 1, Airbnb licenses will no longer be issued in several districts in downtown Athens.

Airbnb demand in Greece surges, with 2025 set to break records. Rising pre-bookings and expanded capacity boost the short-term rental market.

The findings showed the Greek capital recording a 31% rise in demand on a year-on-year basis for short-term bookings

More than 6,200 legal entities and individuals in Greece have declared more than three properties offered up for short-term leasing

Greece's growth in short-term bookings in Q4 2023 on platforms like Airbnb outpaced the EU average, recording a 28.7% increase compared to Q4 2022, higher than the EU's average growth of 22.7%

Short-term rentals have sparked debate within Greek society due to their perceived benefits and disadvantages

Another provision included in the proposed legislation includes a 'green' fee on practically all tourism-related activities

Greeks seeking Airbnbs this summer set sights on short stays in picturesque and serene locations with unique experiences and family-friendly amenities.

Finally, the traveler composition in short-term rentals varies throughout the year, with international visitors dominating in summer and domestic travelers holding a significant share in winter.

The Greek Finance Ministry will be increasing the Golden Visa threshold to 800,000 euros for some areas. A relevant bill is expected to be tabled in parliament this week

According to Airbnb data, the most popular destinations for Greeks traveling abroad this spring are Istanbul, Dubai, and Frankfurt, followed by Rome, Berlin and Warsaw.

The primary objective is to raise the investment threshold for obtaining the Golden Visa, to put a brake on the frenzied pace of demand recorded in the expensive areas of the two major urban centers (Athens and Thessaloniki).

A surge in inflation after the pandemic, the highly successful “Golden Visa” scheme and the ubiquitous “AirBnB” effect behind shortage of 212,000 units, according to one estimate

Revenue, details of accommodations listed on Airbnb, Booking.com, VBRO and others must be electronically submitted to Greece's tax bureau by Feb. 28