EU moves to curb tourist rentals as Liguria coast feels squeeze

The European Union is set to lay out rules helping European cities to clamp down on short-term rentals such as Airbnb in a bid to tackle rising house prices, according to plans seen by AFP on Friday. The proposal, reported by The Local Italy, comes as popular destinations across the bloc struggle to balance tourism revenue against the needs of local residents priced out of housing markets.

For Liguria, the timing is significant. The region's narrow coastal strip, from the port of Genoa to the Cinque Terre villages, has seen a steady conversion of residential apartments into holiday lets over the past decade. Local administrators have watched property prices climb while young families find it harder to secure year-round accommodation in the very towns that depend on seasonal visitors.