Global holiday home rental company Airbnb has urged Barcelona's mayor to rethink a widening crackdown on short-term rentals, arguing that it only benefits the hotel sector while failing to address overtourism and a housing crisis.

Airbnb has implored Barcelona’s mayor to reconsider a severe crackdown on short-term rentals, claiming it disadvantages the housing market and benefits only hotels. Despite existing restrictions, housing and over-tourism issues remain unresolved,

Barcelona has implemented one of the strictest crackdowns on Airbnb and short-term rentals in the world. The measures are aimed at addressing skyrocketing rents and home prices, which city officials have said are the European city's "biggest problem.