Iceland plans Airbnb restrictions as visitors swarm the country
- 8 years ago
Iceland is poised to curb an Airbnb explosion as it tries to balance record tourist numbers with the protection of its spectacular unspoilt landscape and traditional lifestyle.
The new policy, which is reportedly going through the final stages of review and could become law this week, would require Airbnb hosts to pay business taxes if they rent out their properties—in full or in part—for more than 90 days per year.
The proposed legislation is a result of a huge influx of tourists into the island country with a population of 335,000.
The number of Airbnb flats available in Reykjavik had grown 126 percent from November 2014 to November 2015.
In 2016, the estimated number of visitors coming there will reach 1.6 million—29 percent more than year before.
The new policy, which is reportedly going through the final stages of review and could become law this week, would require Airbnb hosts to pay business taxes if they rent out their properties—in full or in part—for more than 90 days per year.
The proposed legislation is a result of a huge influx of tourists into the island country with a population of 335,000.
The number of Airbnb flats available in Reykjavik had grown 126 percent from November 2014 to November 2015.
In 2016, the estimated number of visitors coming there will reach 1.6 million—29 percent more than year before.