Summer STR bookings rise in protest-hit cities, PriceLabs finds

US: Dynamic pricing and revenue management solution provider, PriceLabs, has revealed new data indicating a rise in short-term rental bookings despite anti-tourism protests.

Short-term rental bookings are rising across major European tourism hotspots despite anti-tourism protests and stricter regulations, according to new data from revenue management software provider PriceLabs.

Occupancy rates for summer 2025 are up in several cities that have seen vocal opposition to mass tourism. Tenerife, where activists last year staged hunger strikes to oppose new tourist developments, has recorded a 12.7 per cent increase in summer occupancy compared to the same time last year. In Barcelona and Athens, occupancy is up 1.9 and 2.1 per cent respectively, while Mallorca has seen a slight drop of two per cent.

This year, protestors in the Canary Islands have warned of “firmer, more direct and more uncomfortable” demonstrations targeting holidaymakers.

Meanwhile, destinations that have introduced stricter short-term rental regulations, such as Amsterdam and Venice, are experiencing sharp drops in occupancy. Summer bookings in Amsterdam are down 12.8 per cent year-on-year, while Venice has seen an 8.1 per cent decline.

Despite the regulatory crackdown, both cities continue to grapple with housing affordability. In Venice, average residential rents have risen by 30.9 per cent in under four years, from €11.32 per square metre in August 2021 to €14.82 in March 2025. Amsterdam, where short-term rentals have been heavily restricted for almost a decade, was the most expensive city in Europe to rent an apartment in 2024, according to Statista.

In contrast, more welcoming destinations appear to be benefitting. Crete has recorded a 21.8 per cent increase in occupancy for the upcoming summer, the largest gain among the markets analysed.

Average daily rates have also increased across all seven destinations reviewed. While rate growth was marginal in Amsterdam and Crete, cities like Athens (+11.2 per cent), Tenerife (+11.4 per cent), and Mallorca (+9.9 per cent) saw significant gains. In Barcelona, the average nightly rate rose by 9.4 per cent to €199.

PriceLabs suggests that rising prices in protest-hit cities may reflect a shift towards targeting higher-spending travellers in an effort to appease local sentiment while maintaining revenue.

Thibault Masson, head of product marketing at PriceLabs, said: “While protests against mass tourism make headlines across Europe, the impact on local markets is far less dramatic than the very real blow that strict regulations have had on cities like Amsterdam and Venice.

“Across Europe, locals, operators and governments must work together to find a balance for tourism, so that businesses can thrive, culture is preserved and we can all enjoy these beautiful places — sensibly and sustainably — for years to come.”

Key takeaways:

• Short-term rental demand remains strong in protest-hit destinations – Despite rising anti-tourism sentiment in cities like Barcelona and Tenerife, STR occupancy rates are up, highlighting the resilience of travel demand heading into summer 2025.

• Strict STR regulations may harm occupancy without solving housing issues – Data from Amsterdam and Venice shows that even with heavy restrictions on short-term rentals, rent prices continue to climb, suggesting regulation alone won’t fix the housing crisis.