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Barcelona mayor's crackdown puts Airbnb in firing line

City official fears uncontrolled tourism could drive out poor residents and spoil Catalan capital's charm

Published Thu, Aug 27, 2015 · 09:50 PM
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Barcelona

BARCELONA's new mayor is picking a fight with home rental websites as she tries to crack down on uncontrolled tourism that she fears could drive out poor residents and spoil the Catalan capital's charm.

Ada Colau is threatening to fine firms like Airbnb and Booking.com if they market apartments to tourists without a number showing that they are on the Catalan tourism register.

Ms Colau, a left-wing former housing activist elected in May, also wants rental websites to hand over information on the property owners.

"Everybody must comply with the same game rules," Ms Colau told Reuters in Barcelona's ci…

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