Tourists avoid Scotland because of SNP crackdown on short-term lets

Tourists are being driven away from Scotland by the SNP’s crackdown on short-term lets, Airbnb claims.

The global travel company said that since a new licensing scheme came into force in October, hotel and rent prices had surged, families had lost an income source and tourists were instead booking accommodation in northern England.

After the licensing requirement was implemented, some councils such as Edinburgh introduced further regulations such as the need to apply for planning permission.

An analysis by Airbnb found that six months on from the new regime, hotel prices had increased, particularly in Edinburgh where there had been a 9 per cent rise in a year.

It blamed the increase on short-term lets coming off the market due to the new policies, meaning there is more pressure on accommodation.

The company also found that during large events, such as Taylor Swift’s upcoming concerts in Edinburgh, a shortage of accommodation meant prices surged by 84 per cent, far higher than in London and Cardiff, where the US singer is also performing.

“Data shows that Scotland’s short-term rental rules are not translating into benefits for local families,” Amanda Cupples, Airbnb’s general manager of Northern Europe, said.

“Since the licensing scheme has been in place, hotel and rental prices have increased, tourism is expected to suffer, and families have lost a vital source of flexible income.

“Airbnb has worked with governments across the world to balance the benefits of short-term rentals with local housing concerns, and we hope to work with Scotland on policies that benefit everyone.”

The crackdown on short-term lets was meant to increase the availability and affordability of properties for long-term residential letting.

However, data suggest that domestic rents have increased recently. This has been blamed partly on the SNP’s rent control policies, which incentivised landlords to bring in large rises between tenants.

Airbnb said searches for properties in Edinburgh remained high, but tourists had begun looking at places such as Liverpool or Newcastle instead as a result of the lack of options and cost in the Scottish capital.

Catherine Sutherland, an Airbnb host from Edinburgh, said the regulations were “poorly thought out” and described the process of obtaining a licence as challenging and time-consuming.

She added: “People are having to pay upfront costs which can amount to thousands of pounds for some, with no guarantee that their application will be approved, causing a huge amount of stress.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The number of overseas visitors to Scotland has recovered from the pandemic at a faster rate than the rest of Britain. The introduction of licensing provides assurance to guests on safety and quality.”