Mon May 19 18:10:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text:
**Spain Cracks Down on Airbnb, Orders Removal of Thousands of Tourist Rental Listings Amid Housing Crisis**
**Madrid, Spain** – The Spanish government is escalating its efforts to combat a severe housing crisis by ordering Airbnb to remove nearly 66,000 listings from its platform. Officials claim the listings violate regulations by lacking proper licenses, using false numbers, or failing to disclose whether the property is managed by a corporation or individual.
The move comes as housing affordability has become a major social and political flashpoint in Spain, with widespread demonstrations protesting the impact of real estate investors and tourist accommodations on housing availability. Critics argue that the conversion of residential properties into tourist rentals has exacerbated scarcity, driving up prices faster than wages and rendering affordable housing inaccessible for many.
Consumer Affairs Minister Pablo Bustinduy stated the government’s action is part of a wider effort to prioritize the right to housing over economic interests. His agency had previously notified Airbnb of the non-compliant listings, but the company’s initial appeal was recently rejected by Madrid’s high court.
The government will begin by requiring Airbnb to remove an initial batch of 5,800 listings, with further orders to follow until all illegal rentals are taken down.
Airbnb has stated its intention to continue appealing the decisions through the courts, with a spokesman indicating that the listings will remain active until the appeals process is complete. The company argues that removing the listings would negatively impact tourism and property owners.
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