Spain cracks down on Airbnb operations

Spain has imposed a major clampdown on Airbnb short-term rental properties, ordering the removal of over 65,000 listings from the platform.

The government action comes after months of anger over a housing affordability crisis in major cities including Barcelona, news portal Travel Mole reports.

The Spanish Consumer Rights Ministry said many listings have violated record-keeping rules, citing discrepancies such as missing licence numbers and owner declarations.

Spaniards have increasingly blamed short-term rentals on housing shortages and surging rental costs.

Consumer Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy said the clampdown will address the general ‘lack of control and illegality’ in the holiday let market.

“No more excuses," he said. "Enough with protecting those who make a business out of the right to housing in our country." 

The move is mostly targeting what it calls "illegal listings" in Madrid, Barcelona and parts of Andalusia.

Airbnb is appealing the action and has filed a court motion.

Official data shows there are more than 320,000 licensed rental properties in Spain, but officials say there are many more operating illegally.

The Consumer Rights Ministry first opened an investigation into Airbnb late last year.

The housing shortage crisis has been at the centre of anti-mass tourism protests across Spain in the past year.

Barcelona has already taken measures to alleviate the problem, with plans to remove around 10,000 licensed short-term rental apartments within the next three years.

Image: Andre Oprea, Scop.io 

Horse racing to end in Singapore

Horse racing is often controversial. 

Animal welfare issues, cruelty, "wastage" and deaths from race falls are frequent topics - but the sport generates millions of dollars.

Singapore, which has hosted horse racing for two centuries, has, however, decided enough is enough.

The Singapore Turf Club will close its doors in October and racing will end after being a popular pastime since British Colonial days 180 years ago. It was founded in 1842.

The course will be used for public housing as the Singapore Government says housing needs are greater than the need for people to see horses being whipped for entertainment.

"Singapore is a city state with limited land,” the Finance and National Development ministries said in a media statement.

The Turf Club was in the past popular with visitors, expats and locals. It was visited by Queen Elizabeth II at its previous Bukit Timah location.

The current course is at Kranji, near the Woodlands district adjacent to the causeway overlooking Malaysia. The 124- hectare Kranji grounds opened in 1999.

Horse racing started to gradually lose its appeal about a decade ago when Singapore got its first casino, Travel Mole reported.

Spectator numbers have fallen by about half since 2010 and the pandemic closure also took its toll.