Global Regulatory Notes (22)
Keep a pulse on global regulatory trends. Ottawa, ON proposes Major Festivals Fund; Vancouver, BC and Spain review enforcement; Wales handles pushback; Edinburgh, Scotland revisits rules; Australia tightens rules; The Bahamas adopts new tourism taxes; Malaysia; Budapest, Hungary. READ MORE.
Canada
Ottawa, ON
Ottawa is proposing a two-year Major Festivals Fund that would provide $1 million annually to festivals with the strongest tourism and economic impact.
The program, to be run by Ottawa Tourism, aims to boost events that generate significant tourism and economic activity. Funding would come from a proposed 1% rise in the Municipal Accommodation Tax in 2026, which also supports the Lansdowne 2.0 project.
Vancouver, BC
Vancouver’s newly approved World Cup by-law framework is creating a more flexible operating environment that’s likely to benefit short-term rentals during the tournament.
City of Vancouver
Although the city isn’t rewriting its STR regulations, the temporary easing of rules for event infrastructure and street activity supports a broader accommodation strategy that depends heavily on Airbnb-type rentals. The amendments focus on reducing logistical barriers during the event window and ensuring visitor-ready conditions across the city. All changes apply from early January through July 20, 2026.
Spain
Spain’s mandatory digital registration system for tourist rentals, introduced in July 2024, has already issued more than 370,000 identification numbers through its unified national portal.
By 2025, regions such as Catalunya, País Vasco, and Navarra formally joined the system, giving municipalities real-time access to updated property data. As more regions prepare to join, experts say the digital registry will reduce illegal listings, improve transparency, and strengthen trust for both hosts and tourists.
Wales
Airbnb and other industry voices are pushing back against Wales’ plan to introduce licensing for self-catering short-term rentals, saying the scheme is rushed, costly, and unnecessary.
Airbnb estimated significant income losses for hosts and said global evidence shows licensing rarely solves the issues it targets. Booking.com and local operators warned the proposal would burden small businesses and excludes other visitor accommodations. Platforms also objected to new criminal liability tied to registration numbers, arguing they cannot verify information they do not control.
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Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh has seen major changes to its short-let landscape following licensing rules implemented in 2023.
Landlords are now required to obtain a licence to keep operating. These rules were designed to curb the number of short-term rentals and improve safety. The policy also brings short-let oversight closer to that of the private rental sector. All types of short lets, including those with stays of 21–28 days, fall under the same rules.
Australia
Australian governments are increasingly tightening rules on short-term rentals as they look for ways to ease housing shortages.
The South Australian government is the latest to explore limits on short-stay accommodation. These policies include capping rental nights, adding extra taxes, and requiring licences for operators. Many investors are reassessing whether short-term stays can remain viable next to more stable long-term rental strategies
The Bahamas
The Bahamas has become the latest Caribbean country to adopt new tourism taxes as part of a regional push to improve travel infrastructure and sustainability.
Similar to measures in Jamaica, Barbados, and the Dominican Republic, these taxes provide crucial funding for upgrades, environmental protections, and visitor services. The Bahamas’ participation reinforces the region’s collective move toward long-term tourism stability.
Malaysia
Rising demand for short-term rental accommodations in Malaysia is renewing calls for a unified national law to regulate the industry.
Consumer advocates say the current fragmented system leaves renters exposed to unsafe conditions and scams. The government’s proposed Uniform Planning Guideline (GPP) would define which homes can be rented short-term, set safety rules, and outline licensing requirements for hosts.
Budapest, Hungary
New restrictions on short-term rentals in Budapest are reshaping neighbourhood preferences, especially after Erzsébetváros joined Terézváros in prohibiting new STR permits.
These limits are already linked to falling property prices in affected areas, where investor activity has slowed. Officials argue the rules help protect residents and stabilise housing conditions, and the Supreme Court has confirmed their legality.
🏈 2026 FIFA World Cup Update 🌎
Short-term rentals in host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are already seeing a surge in bookings, signaling strong demand months before the tournament begins.
Hosts can expect higher daily rates and occupancy, but rising prices and tighter local regulations may pose challenges. Cities and local economies stand to benefit from increased tourism spending, though concerns over affordability and displacement of long-term residents remain.
In case you missed it:
Genelaine Urbano
Crystel
Crystel
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