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.

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.

Airbnb is urging Barcelona to reconsider the crackdown on short-term rental accommodation for tourists, as the city continues to struggle with the impact of overtourism