Global Regulatory Notes (23)

Canada

Provinces across Canada are implementing higher accommodation taxes to fund tourism initiatives, major-event hosting, and public infrastructure upgrades.

Toronto, Vancouver, and Montréal are among the cities seeing some of the steepest increases, driven largely by preparations for FIFA 2026 and rising tourism demand. These hikes apply to both hotels and short-term rentals, pushing overall tax burdens to nearly 20% in several cities.

Huntsville, ON

Huntsville’s growing tourism industry is increasing demand on local services, including Huntsville Hospital, which treats residents, seasonal visitors and tourists alike.

Home | Huntsville Municipal Accommodation Tax Association

Promoting and developing tourism in Huntsville, Muskoka.

HMATA

To support that strain, the Huntsville Municipal Accommodation Tax Association donated $30,000 to the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, bringing its total contributions to $110,000 since 2023.

View Royal, BC

View Royal is considering a temporary pause on its short-term rental ban during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with council directing staff to study the impacts of a moratorium for June and July.

Supporters say allowing Airbnb and similar rentals could help attract fans traveling to Vancouver and Seattle while giving the town a chance to test potential policy changes. Staff will report back in January on licensing requirements, provincial registration, and administrative costs.

Ireland

Ireland is joining 24 OECD nations in a global crackdown on undeclared income from foreign properties, introducing automatic data-sharing on ownership and rental earnings.

The initiative aims to close transparency gaps that previously allowed both criminals and ordinary homeowners to avoid taxes on overseas rentals. Officials say the move will also curb criminal use of foreign properties as investment shelters, while exposing new loopholes such as unregulated home-swapping in Spain. Ireland expects to fully join the framework by 2029–2030.

England

England is set to join other European destinations in levying a local tourism tax, as new legislation allows city mayors to charge overnight visitors in hotels, B&Bs, and holiday lets.

Traveling to England? A New Tourist Tax Could Be Added To Your Hotel Bill - Travel Noire

Funds collected through the tourist tax will go toward upgrading infrastructure, strengthening public transport, and cultural programs.

Travel NoireFaith Katunga

Funds collected will support infrastructure upgrades, public transport, and cultural programs. The UK joins Scotland, where Edinburgh will introduce a 5% room tax in July 2026, and Wales, allowing local surcharges from April 2027. A 12-week consultation runs until February 18 to determine exemptions, caps, and levy design.

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Brisbane, Australia

Brisbane City Council is moving to restrict short-stay rentals in suburban neighbourhoods, ordering nearly 500 Airbnb-style homes to cease operating or obtain development approval by June 30, 2026.

The reform package creates a new permit system with strict requirements, including a 24-hour contact person, house rules, insurance, and display of permit numbers. Operators without permits could face fines over $140,000, and a three-strikes rule will revoke permits for those with repeated complaints. Public feedback will run from December 12 to February 16 before the plan goes to the state government for review.

Milan, Italy

Milan is banning self-check-in key boxes for short-term rentals starting in January, with owners facing fines of about £350 for noncompliance.

City officials say the boxes clutter public spaces and contribute to overtourism by enabling high visitor turnover through Airbnb and similar platforms. Milan follows Florence, which introduced a similar ban earlier this year.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh intends to direct £5m from its soon-to-launch tourist tax toward building 472 affordable homes, linking the visitor levy directly to mitigating the city’s housing crisis.

The 5% charge on hotels and short-term accommodations is expected to generate £50m per year starting in July 2026. Councillors say the funding will help reduce reliance on hotels and B&Bs for temporary housing, returning them to their intended tourism use. A final decision will be made at the February council budget meeting.

Canary Island, Spain

Following the passage of the Canary Islands’ new tourist-home regulation, President Fernando Clavijo defended Minister Jessica de León after she received threats and physical attacks tied to opposition against the short-term rental law.

Officials say the harassment has been ongoing for months, escalating as the regional government advanced stricter rules on vacation properties. Clavijo stressed that while residents may disagree with the regulation, violence has no place in democratic debate. The government maintains full support for De León as implementation of the law moves forward.

Bali, Indonesia

Bali is weighing a ban on Airbnb-style rentals as unregulated accommodations continue to strain infrastructure, reduce tax revenue, and worsen environmental damage.

Officials say thousands of villas and guesthouses operate without permits, undermining government efforts to manage tourism responsibly. The island has already introduced stricter rules, including tourist levies and crackdowns on illegal operators, but the surge in short-term rentals persists.

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