Uber and Airbnb share some similarities, the share perhaps being the key, both having emerged from the movement towards the so-called sharing economy. They both have their fans and their critics, numbered among whom are the island’s hoteliers. Although they accept the presence of a holiday rental sector (a legitimate one), the hoteliers aren’t fans of Airbnb as it has become synonymous with tourist saturation. Legal and illegal letting, aided by Airbnb (and others), has contributed to the overcrowding in addition to housing problems, so the hoteliers argue (and correctly so).
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Airbnb is only one of a myriad of holiday letting companies operating here. Curiously, no one mentions any of them. Almost all of these lettings are in existing properties that already form part of the established housing stock, so whether occupied by resident or tourist, they should make no contribution to any so called saturation. Unlike the Pack ‘em, stack ‘em and rack ‘em hotels! It’s a fallacy peddled by the hoteliers, who are the real culprits.