Call for Airbnb to stop holiday lets in Wales during Coronavirus lockdown

Airbnb should not take any holiday let bookings during the ongoing Coronavirus lockdown, Plaid’s Westminster Leader Liz Saville Roberts MP has said.

The holiday let booking site is still hosting hundreds of adverts for rooms and homes in picturesque parts of Wales. One recently removed post for a holiday let in Harlech explicitly targeted “escapees from covid19 city”.

Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP Saville Roberts said she had contacted Airbnb to raise the issue following concerns over the availability of healthcare facilities and medicine, particularly in areas popular with tourists.

‘Concerned’

“By continuing to allow holiday lets, Airbnb are facilitating the dangerous and selfish behaviour of a small but significant number of people that are ignoring the advice.” she said.

“This multi-million-pound international company must immediately stop bookings during the crisis, particularly in the run-up to the Easter bank holiday weekend.

“Rural communities do not have the healthcare and medical supplies to cope with a huge influx in holidaymakers. Local people are increasingly concerned and angry, this simply cannot continue.

“We want people to come and see our wonderful country, but just not now. Organisations like Airbnb should not be enabling this deeply irresponsible behaviour. This is not a national holiday, it’s a national emergency.”