Will the Brussels government kill off thousands of tourist residences? | L’Echo (lecho.be)
A very comprehensive article by Pauline Deglume in L’Echo that clearly outlines the situation in the Brussels-Capital Region. On the one hand, a Minister-President and his administration turning a deaf ear to an entire sector; on the other, all the stakeholders in this sector represented by STR-Belgium, as well as the Horeca Federation and service companies, who are warning of the many risks posed by the current situation… and the future, as envisaged by the Government. The Minister-President and his administration are ignoring the request (tourist residences account for 25% of tourist accommodation in the European Union – “89% of EU citizens who have booked short-term rentals would recommend it to others”), in order to blindly protect housing (without any specific and objective justification – see all the documentation on this subject in the various sections of the website) on the one hand, and on the other hand – it is really no longer a secret – (part of) the hotel sector.
STR-Belgium points out that while 25% of the European Union’s supply consists of tourist residences and is growing steadily, all Brussels-based companies (hospitality, services—cleaning, laundry, etc.) involved in the tourism ecosystem would be deeply affected if the sector were to collapse. What is the ambition of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region? Is the interest of Brussels and its residents really at the center of this debate?
More than ever, STR-Belgium advocates for the implementation of a quota system, which is the only way to regulate (rather than ban) the sector (see examples from Lisbon, Barcelona, etc.). See the various aspects to consider on our website (involvement of the academic world, modification of the PRAS and use of Master Development Plans, etc.).
