Greece Sees Available Airbnb-style Rentals Rise in 2022

The number of properties available online for short-term tourist rental increased in 2022 to 144,857 from 136,658 in pre-pandemic 2019, with overnight stays up by 6 percent, according to data presented last week by the Greek Property Managers Association (PASIDA).

The data was presented by PASIDA President Andreas Chios on Friday during a special event in Athens titled “Short Term Rentals – Statistics & Analysis – Problems, Solutions and Suggestions“.

According to Chios, there are currently 150,000 properties in Greece available for short-term rental – 12,000 of which in central Athens going for an average 95 euros per night. Top locations for Airbnbs in the Greek capital include Koukaki, Plaka, Acropolis, Zappeio, Neos Kosmos and Exarchia.

In the rest of Greece, popular tourist destinations marked the highest increases in Airbnb listings with Mykonos, Santorini and Corfu leading the way, PASIDA said. Indicatively, on Mykonos, of the total 9,591 properties available for rental 3,547 or 37 percent concerned short-term tourist rentals. Overall in Athens, of the 428,000 homes 9.5 thousand or 2.24 percent are available for short-term lease; in Thessaloniki 1.14 percent of the total; on Crete: 1.02 percent in Heraklion and 7.67 percent in Chania; 1.45 percent on Rhodes; and 9.11 percent on Corfu.

Photo © Greek Travel Pages

The association also tabled its proposals ahead of a government announcement that a law covering short-term rentals would be finalized in the upcoming period.

According to PASIDA, hoteliers have launched a “generalized attack” on property owners active in short-term rental activity. “It’s time to respond strongly and demonstrate that short-term rentals are here for good and to add to our tourism product a different form of accommodation that adapts to what global travelers are looking for,” said PASIDA.

According to data presented, short-term rentals in Greece generated more than 3.5 billion euros in revenues in 2022.

Meanwhile, according to media reports, association members are threating to stop bookings during Easter week and on August 15 if the government proceeds with a “one-sided” legal framework in favor of hoteliers.