“The short-term rental (Airbnb) is the pulse of small and medium Greece. They are not investors, they are not profiteers, they are families, couples, retirees, young people who take advantage of a house, a holiday home, an apartment left to them by their parents to supplement their income”, the Economy and Apartment Association (Airbnb) states in a statement.

In particular, as mentioned by the president of the Association, Theodora Dimas, the recent research of the Athens University of Economics and Business (OPA) leaves no room for misinterpretation: short-term rental supports the national economy, tourism, employment and the average Greek family.

The x-ray of short-term rental – Its contribution to the economy

– 11 billion euros per year – 1/20 of GDP: What is the short run’s total contribution to the economy.

Each guest leaves money in local markets, cafes, shops, taxis, mini markets, cleaning and maintenance crews. This is wealth that stays in the neighborhood, not the multinationals.

– More than 95,000 jobs: More than 95,000 people work or live thanks to the short term. From the technician who repairs the air conditioner to the cleaner, the driver, the baker and the supplier.

– Short-term also helps hotels, not the opposite: The data itself shows that in recent years the hotel Occupancies exceed 90%while new hotels are constantly opening. If their short-termism really suffocated them, they would close. Instead, coexistence brought new tourism flow, new visitors, and benefits for all. Short-term rental is part of the tourism ecosystem.

– Domestic tourism flourished thanks to short-term leasing: Thousands of Greeks who could not go on vacation before can now travel with their families. Short stays offer much more affordable rates than hotels, allowing the average worker to enjoy his country. This is tourism for everyone.

– Small and medium-sized businesses support the country: 80% of hosts have only 1 or 2 properties. They are not investors but a middle class struggling to get back on its feet.

– 0.4%-1% of housing is exclusively for short-term use: That is, for less than 1 house in 100 a fact that does not pose any threat to the housing issue. At the same time, 2.28 million homes remain vacant.

– Impact on rents: below 1.8%: The OPA study itself states that short-termism is not to blame for high rents but rather the fact that wages are stagnating and vacant homes are not opening.

In its extensive announcement, the Association asks the government to see the real data of the OPA study before legislating, to activate the 2.28 million empty houses and to invite the people of the short term to a dialogue before the legislation.