India, May 23 -- Spain's Consumer Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy, on Monday, revealed the decision of the Consumer Rights Ministry to remove about 65,000 Airbnb listings in popular tourist spots of the country such as Madrid and Barcelona. The government cited reasons of violations in the form of missing license numbers, lack of distinction between individuals and corporations and differences between listed and official records. The move is part of a larger effort by the Spanish government to address the issue of over-tourism in the country which has led to an acute housing crisis- something the Spaniards blame lucrative short-term rentals for.

Airbnb plans on appealing against all such decisions made by the government which followed an...