Touristification, rent gap and the local political economy of Airbnb in Salzburg (Austria)

Abstract

Cities all over the world are experiencing a steady tension that from interlinked processes such as touristification, gentrification and the financialization of housing. This paper shows how short-term rentals (STR) are an accelerator to all these processes which pull in or redirect different forms of capital and short-term users on the one hand and push out long-term residents on the other. Based on fine-grained fieldwork this paper illustrates that a new platform real estate market has emerged which, in the case of Salzburg, is dominated by local, commercial providers. By taking one of the most touristified cities in Europe, I further illustrate how a short-term rent gap is fueling this process. Moreover, this paper reveals the motives of extraction, and actor-relations and analyses the impact of Airbnb on the housing market in general. Finally, it provides an overview and critique of recent policy measures that try to regulate STR.