Greek Hoteliers Say Short-term Rental Law Null

Greek hoteliers expressed their doubts over whether the government can curb illegal Airbnb-like operations days, after the country’s Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) announced that a law regulating short-term rentals had been put into effect.

In a letter addressed to Economy Minister Euclid Tsakalotos and to the head of AADE, George Pitsilis, the president of the Hellenic Federation of Hoteliers (POX) Grigoris Tasios underlined that “without clear terms of cooperation between the Greek State and Airbnb and with other hospitality platforms, there can be no real control over this particular activity”.

The president of the Hellenic Federation of Hoteliers (POX) Grigoris Tasios.

Tasios went on to note emphatically that the new regulation published in the Government Gazette this week is “void of content and will in no way be effective”.

According to the letter, “any development, declaration, taxation [of leasing activity] can be realized only with the cooperation of electronic platforms, which is a far cry from reality as Airbnb has stated that it will not cooperate, citing privacy issues”.

Online hospitality service Airbnb refused last month to turn over the personal data of its customers to the Greek finance ministry.

Tasios stresses that the new law is null and calls on the government to take the necessary actions to rectify the situation.